To get a marriage license in the United States, each applicant needs a valid government-issued photo ID, proof of age, a Social Security number, and, if either person was married before, certified proof that the prior marriage ended. Those are the documents needed for a marriage license almost everywhere, though individual counties add their own wrinkles. Call the clerk’s office where you plan to apply before you go.
A Valid Government Photo ID
Both applicants have to show an unexpired photo ID. A driver’s license or state ID card is the usual choice. A passport, passport card, or military ID also works. The document needs your photograph, date of birth, and the issue and expiration dates printed on it. Expired IDs get rejected at the counter.
If your current legal name doesn’t match the name on your ID because of an earlier name change, bring the paperwork that connects the two: a court order, a previous marriage certificate, or whatever document made the change official. Name mismatches are one of the most common reasons applications get held up.
Proof of Age
Many counties want a certified birth certificate on top of your photo ID, especially when the ID alone doesn’t make your date of birth clear. The birth certificate is also the backup if any question comes up about meeting the minimum age. Bring an original or a certified copy. Photocopies and printouts from genealogy sites won’t be accepted.
If your birth certificate is in a language other than English, you’ll usually need a certified English translation, and some counties require it to be notarized. Confirm the translation rules with the clerk’s office before your appointment.
Social Security Number
Most states ask both applicants for a Social Security number during the application. It’s used for identity verification and vital records reporting, and in many places it’s collected on a separate form that isn’t printed on the license itself.
Non-U.S. citizens without a Social Security number can still apply. Depending on the jurisdiction, you may sign an affidavit stating you don’t have one, or you may give an alternative identifier such as a passport number or an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Call ahead to find out which the office accepts.
Proof a Prior Marriage Ended
If either applicant has been married before, every previous marriage has to be legally closed before a new license will be issued. The document you bring depends on how that marriage ended.
- For a divorce or annulment, bring a certified copy of the final divorce decree or annulment judgment. That’s the court order, though some jurisdictions also accept a divorce certificate. You can request a certified copy from the court that granted it.
- For the death of a former spouse, bring a certified copy of the death certificate, issued by the state vital records office or by the county where the death occurred.
You’ll also need the date and location each prior marriage ended, which the application form asks for. If you’ve been married more than once, bring the paperwork for every prior marriage, not just the most recent one.
Information You’ll Fill in on the Application
Some of what the application needs isn’t a document you hand over, it’s information you write down. Expect to be asked for:
- Full legal names of both parents, including the mother’s birth surname. Some forms also ask where each parent was born.
- Your current residential address.
- Your occupation. A general description is fine.
- Your place of birth: city and state, or country if you were born abroad.
- Your complete marital history: the number of previous marriages, how each ended, and when.
None of this requires an extra document, but people get tripped up by details like a parent’s birthplace or the exact date a prior marriage ended. If the county posts the application form online, review it before your appointment.
If You Are Not a U.S. Citizen
No state requires U.S. citizenship or permanent residency to marry here. A foreign national usually uses a valid passport as the primary ID. Some counties also ask for a visa, a residency permit, or a birth certificate with a certified English translation.
A few jurisdictions require non-citizens to sign an affidavit of eligibility to marry, a sworn statement that you’re legally free to marry. If either partner was divorced in another country, bring the foreign divorce documents with a certified English translation; some counties also require those documents to be authenticated or apostilled by the issuing country. That process can take weeks, so start early.
If One Applicant Is Under 18
You can marry at 18 without anyone’s permission in every state except Mississippi, where the age of full consent is 21, and Nebraska, where it’s 19. Below those ages the rules split sharply by state. Many states allow 16- and 17-year-olds to marry with parental consent, and a few go lower with a judge’s approval. Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, Rhode Island, and West Virginia have banned marriage under 18 entirely.
Where a minor can still marry, the clerk’s office will require a signed parental consent form from at least one parent or legal guardian, and some jurisdictions also require a judge’s approval. The parent usually has to appear in person with their own government ID.
Where to Bring Everything
You apply at a local government office, most often the county clerk. In some states it’s the city or town clerk, and in others it’s a dedicated vital records office. Both applicants almost always have to appear together in person to sign the application. Contact the vital records office in the state where you plan to marry for the specific process.1USAGov. How to Get a Certified Copy of a Marriage Certificate
A growing number of counties let you fill out the application online and finalize it in person, which cuts your counter time. Even with an online pre-application, both partners should plan to show up with original documents for the final step.
Fees and Payment
Marriage license fees run from roughly $10 to over $100, with most counties between $30 and $90. Payment options vary. Some offices take only cash or money orders, others accept credit and debit cards. Confirm by phone or on the county website so you aren’t caught short at the window.
What You Don’t Need to Bring
No U.S. state currently requires a blood test for a marriage license. The requirement was once common for screening sexually transmitted infections, but every state has dropped it. A few states ask applicants to read a pamphlet about inherited and sexually transmitted diseases as part of the application, with no medical appointment or lab work involved.
Witnesses are a ceremony issue, not an application issue. About half of U.S. states require one or two adult witnesses to sign the license during or right after the ceremony, usually the best man, maid of honor, or another adult present. You don’t bring witnesses to the clerk’s office when you apply, but if your state requires them, the officiant can’t complete the paperwork without them on the wedding day. The clerk can tell you how many witnesses your state requires and any qualifications beyond being a legal adult.