Marriage Licenses

Marriage License Information per State

A marriage license is the legal permission given by an established authority for two people to become married.  Marriage licenses date back from the middle ages, and now every state in the United States issues marriage licenses, although the requirements do vary from municipality to municipality.  Some of the most popular marriage locations include Nevada, California, Florida and Texas.

Las Vegas Marriage License

Nevada requires:

• ID: State drivers license or ID, birth certificate, passport, military ID, or resident alien card.
• Applicants must be male and female, at least 18, and not related closer than second cousins
• The participants must have the ceremony performed in Nevada within one year of the issuance of the license
• Divorced people must know the date and location of their divorce, but need not provide documentation.
• A $55 cash fee
• Nevada even allows people to apply for marriage online

Nevada has some of the most liberal rules on marriage and divorce in the nation, and as such has made the Las Vegas Marriage License a popular goal for people who want to get married in a hurry and without the legal restraints of other states. 

Texas Marriage License

In order for people to receive a Texas marriage license, they must:

• Provide identification: Drivers license, birth certificate, passport, military ID.  U.S. citizens must also provide their Social Security number
• Provide a $37 filling fee
• Be female and male, over 18, and not related
• Wait three days after the issue of the license to marry
• Recently divorced people must wait 30 days to marry, or show the court that your divorce decree waives the 30 day period.
• Texas allows proxy weddings.

Texas law also recognizes “common law marriage”.  In order to qualify for a common law marriage, two people must live together as husband and wife within Texas, declare they are married to others, and sign a declaration of marriage under oath.

Florida Marriage License

In order to qualify for a Florida marriage license, people must meet a few criteria.

• The state mandates that prospective spouses provide a valid photo idea such as a driver’s license or state ID, as well as a social security card, valid passport, or I-94 card. Some municipalities require a certified birth certificate copy.
• If one of the spouses was previously married, people must supply the date of divorce or death, but if the divorce or death occurred within 30 days of the marriage spouses must supply certified copies of the divorce decree or death certificate.
• Prospective spouses must complete a state sanctioned marriage preparation course or wait three days before getting married.
• The fee for a Florida marriage license is $93.50, but couples who completed the marriage course in the past 12 months can receive a discount on this fee.
• Unlike many other states, Florida allows cousin marriages.

Florida marriage licenses are valid for 60 days, so couples must get married within that time period or must pay the $93.50 fee to receive another certificate.

California Marriage License

A California marriage license requires:

• Two unmarried participants of each sex over the age of 18
• Authentic ID that contains a photograph, date of birth, issue and expiration date.  Some counties may require a birth certificate as well
• Divorced parties must provide the date and cause of their divorce, and some counties may require a copy of the resolution of your marriage.
• Participants marry within 90 days off the issuance of the license.

It is important to know the particularities of the laws in your location before you decide to get married.  If you have any questions about particular jurisdictions or other legal family matters, consult a knowledgeable family lawyer today.