In between your wedding preparations take out time from the decorations, make up, choosing a dress for a marriage license. It may be just a piece of paper but it is the most important document to be obtained before anything else. A marriage license is permission from a legal authority for the marriage of two people to be performed.

In the United States marriage license is issued in every state. But the requirement for getting a marriage license may vary from state to state. In brief the procedure is that before the marriage ceremony the couple should obtain a marriage license, then the ceremony takes place, after which both spouses and the officiant sign the marriage certificate (some states require a witness). The officiant or couple then files for a certified copy of the marriage license and a marriage certificate with the government.

Basic Procedure

-The first step for couple to enter into a ceremonial marriage is to obtain a marriage license from the county clerk of any county of the state.

-Each person applying for a marriage license must have the following documents:

1 Appear before the county clerk and submit proof of identity and age
2 Applicant’s birth certificate issued by the United States or any other foreign government.

-Fill in the necessary information in the space provided in the application of the marriage license and also mark the appropriate boxes provided in the application.

-Also the person is required to take the oath printed on the application and sign the application before the county clerk.

Scrutiny of the application by the clerk

- The county clerk shall determine that the application is properly filled , that no space is left unfilled.
- Also he should make sure that all the necessary documents have been sumitted.
- Administer the oath to each applicant appearing before the clerk.
- Application should be signed in the clerk’s presence.
- Make sure the clerk’s certificate is executed on the application.
- A person appearing before the clerk on behalf of an absent applicant is not required to take the oath on behalf of the absent applicant.

In certain cases the authority may not issue a license if the person fails to provide the information required to submit proof of identity and age, under 14 years of age and is not granted a court order, fails to provide an affidavit in case the applicant is absent.

If the applicant has filled in the application properly and submitted the required documents then the clerk will prepare the license, enter the names, the date and time of issuing of the license. The license issued in most of the states is valid for a period of 30 days .

The license may be issued to a person who has obtained 18 years of age .The person above 14 years of age can also obtain a marriage license if the court permits along with parental consent.

Return the License

The person who conducts the marriage should mention the date and the county name where the ceremony is performed.

The person who performed the marriage ceremony shall return the license to the county clerk within 30 days after the ceremony is performed.

The county clerk shall record a returned marriage license and mail the license to the address indicated on the application.

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