To get a marriage license, both applicants generally need to bring a current government-issued photo ID, their Social Security number, a certified birth certificate, and certified proof that any previous marriage has legally ended. Those four items are the core of marriage license identification requirements in every state. Counties add their own wrinkles on top, so the smartest move is to assemble this baseline packet first and then call the clerk’s office to confirm anything else specific to where you’re applying.
A Current Government-Issued Photo ID
Every state wants to see unexpired photo identification issued by a government agency. The usual options are a state driver’s license, a state-issued ID card, a U.S. passport, or a U.S. military ID. Any of these works as long as the photo is recognizable, the document hasn’t expired, and the name matches what you put on the application.
Foreign passports are widely accepted for non-U.S. citizens, though some clerk’s offices ask for a second form of identification to go with a foreign document. The clerk’s task is simple: match the person at the counter to the photo and name on the ID. An expired, damaged, or no-longer-recognizable ID will send you home to come back with a current one.
Your Social Security Number
Most jurisdictions require your Social Security number on the application. This isn’t bureaucratic habit. Federal law requires every state to record the Social Security number of anyone applying for a marriage license, as part of the child support enforcement framework established in the mid-1990s.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 666 – Requirement of Statutorily Prescribed Procedures to Improve Effectiveness of Child Support Enforcement Some offices want to see the physical Social Security card. Others accept a W-2, a tax return, or a verification letter from the Social Security Administration showing your number.
Not everyone has a Social Security number. Foreign nationals, certain visa holders, and some people who have never worked in the United States may not have one. The federal statute still requires states to record the number on the application, but most jurisdictions let applicants who genuinely don’t have one sign a notarized affidavit or sworn statement declaring their ineligibility.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 666 – Requirement of Statutorily Prescribed Procedures to Improve Effectiveness of Child Support Enforcement The exact process varies by county, so call ahead.
A Certified Birth Certificate
Clerk’s offices use your birth certificate to verify your date and place of birth, and the parents’ names on it often transfer directly onto the marriage certificate. A photocopy or printout will not be accepted. The document has to be a certified copy bearing the raised seal or registrar’s stamp from the vital records office that issued it.
If you don’t have one on hand, contact the vital records office in the state where you were born to order a replacement. Mail delivery typically takes a few weeks, so start that process early if your wedding date is close.
Proof That Any Previous Marriage Has Ended
If either applicant has been married before, the clerk needs proof that every prior marriage has been legally dissolved. This confirms you’re legally free to marry again. Acceptable documentation includes a certified copy of the final divorce decree, an annulment judgment, or a death certificate if the former spouse has passed away.
The key word is “final.” A temporary or interlocutory decree doesn’t count. The document must show the date the marriage officially ended, the court that issued the order, and bear the judge’s signature and court clerk’s stamp. If you can’t locate your divorce decree, the court that handled your case can usually issue a certified copy for a small fee.
One boundary worth knowing: a handful of states impose a mandatory waiting period after a divorce before you can remarry, ranging from 30 days to six months. The majority of states have no such restriction. If you’re recently divorced, check your state’s rule before scheduling your appointment.
Documents That Bridge a Name Change
Name discrepancies are one of the most common reasons applications get delayed. Your photo ID says one name, your birth certificate says another, and a divorce decree might use a third. This comes up often with people who took a spouse’s last name, reverted to a maiden name, or legally changed their name for another reason.
Bring the paperwork that explains each change. A prior marriage certificate shows how you went from a birth name to a married name. A divorce decree may include a name restoration clause. A court order for a legal name change covers everything else. The clerk needs an unbroken chain linking the name on your birth certificate to the name on your current photo ID. If a link is missing, you may need to contact the court or vital records office that handled the change to get a certified copy before you can proceed.
Additional Documents for Non-U.S. Citizens
There is no citizenship or residency requirement to get married in the United States. A non-citizen can marry a U.S. citizen or another non-citizen in any state, and the identification requirements are similar to those for citizens with a few additions.
A valid foreign passport is the primary ID most clerk’s offices accept from non-citizens. Some jurisdictions also ask for a visa or proof of lawful entry, and a few require an affidavit of eligibility to marry, which is a signed statement confirming you’re legally free to enter a marriage. If either party has been previously married abroad, the same dissolution proof applies: a certified divorce decree or death certificate from the relevant country.
Any document not in English will need a certified translation. The translator must attest in writing that they are competent in both languages and that the translation is accurate, then sign and date that certification. Some clerk’s offices also want the translator’s certification notarized, so it’s worth getting that done before you go. Showing up with untranslated documents guarantees another trip.
If Either Applicant Is Under 18
Every state sets 18 as the standard age at which a person can marry without additional approvals. Nebraska sets it at 19 and Mississippi at 21, and those are the only exceptions to the 18-year baseline. Below that age, the rules diverge significantly.
Roughly 14 states have eliminated all exceptions and set 18 as an absolute minimum with no parental or judicial workaround, as of mid-2024. In the remaining states, minors can marry with parental consent, judicial approval, or both, though specific minimum ages and conditions vary. Some states allow marriage as young as 15 or 16 with the right combination of parental signatures and court orders.
For applicants under the legal threshold, the clerk’s office will require the minor’s birth certificate to verify age plus whatever consent documentation the state mandates. That usually means a notarized parental consent form signed by at least one custodial parent, and in many states, a separate court order from a judge. Both the minor and the consenting parent typically need to appear in person.
A Quick Checklist Before You Go
- Current, unexpired photo ID: driver’s license, state ID, U.S. or foreign passport, or military ID.
- Social Security proof: card, W-2, or SSA verification letter. If you don’t have an SSN, be ready to sign an affidavit.
- Certified birth certificate with the issuing agency’s raised seal or registrar’s stamp. No photocopies.
- Certified final divorce decree, annulment order, or death certificate for every prior marriage.
- Court orders, prior marriage certificates, or divorce decrees that connect any name changes between your birth certificate and your current ID.
- Certified English translations for any document not in English, with the translator’s signed attestation.
Requirements differ not only between states but between counties within the same state. Many clerk’s offices list their specific document requirements on their websites, and a short phone call can confirm whatever those pages leave unclear. Fifteen minutes of research upfront beats a wasted trip to the courthouse.