How to
Marriage license requirements by state: waiting period, how long it lasts, age and fees
Short answer
Most states let you marry the day the license is issued. Some make you wait: 24 hours in New York, Delaware and Louisiana, 72 hours in Texas and New Jersey, 3 days in Kansas, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. A license lasts from 30 days (Delaware, Hawaii, Missouri) to 1 year (Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming), and both partners usually apply in person.
Date calculator · 51 states
Your marriage license dates: the earliest wedding day, when the license runs out, and the return deadline
Each state read from its statute, or from its health department, courts or a county clerk where the statute site could not be reached · checked Oct 22, 2026
Which state?
Each rule comes from the official source linked in the result. It runs on your device: nothing you type is stored or sent. General information, not legal advice.
Key points
- Waiting period
- Same day in most states. 24 hours in New York, Delaware and Louisiana; 72 hours in Texas (none with a premarital course certificate) and New Jersey; 3 days in Kansas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin; 2 days in Maryland.
- How long it lasts
- From 30 days (Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New Jersey, Tennessee) to 90 days (California, Texas, Maine, New Hampshire, South Dakota), 6 months (Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota), 180 days (Montana) and 1 year (Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming). Idaho and Mississippi licenses do not expire.
- Minimum age
- 18 with no exceptions in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Vermont and Virginia among the states checked here. Elsewhere, 16 or 17 with a parent's consent, a court order, or both.
- After the wedding
- The officiant returns the signed license, usually within 4 to 30 days; then the record office issues certified copies of your marriage certificate, which you need to change your name.
A marriage license is the permission to marry; the marriage certificate is the record that you did. You get the license from a county clerk (a probate court, a town clerk or a register of deeds in some states) before the wedding, usually together and in person, with ID and a fee. Then you hold the ceremony before the license runs out, the officiant signs it and returns it, and the office records the marriage. Each state sets its own waiting period, license term, minimum age and fee, and counties set many of the fees.
Below: the calculator that turns the day you apply into the earliest wedding day, the day the license runs out and the officiant's return deadline in every state; what to bring; the waiting periods and how long licenses last; the age rules and the states that set 18 with no exceptions; fees and premarital-course discounts; license vs certificate; what to do after the wedding, with a letter to order certified copies; worked examples; a table of all 50 states and D.C.; and answers to common questions. Part of the Family & divorce guide. This page explains the law; it is not legal advice.
How to get a marriage license, step by step
The order is the same everywhere; the numbers change by state. Pick your state in the calculator above for its own dates, or see the table.
- Pick the place. Apply in the state where the wedding will happen. Most licenses work anywhere in the state, but a Maryland license is valid only in the county that issued it, a Cook County, Illinois license only in Chicago and suburban Cook County, and a New Jersey license for two non-residents only in the issuing municipality.
- Check the age rule. Both of you must be 18 in the states that set 18 with no exceptions. Elsewhere a 16- or 17-year-old needs a parent's consent, a court order, or both: see the age rules.
- Gather your documents. Photo ID, your Social Security numbers, the date your last marriage ended (and the decree if it was recent), and a premarital course certificate if you took one. See what to bring.
- Apply together. In most states both of you appear in person and sign under oath; many counties let you fill in the form online first. In Maryland, Montana and Wyoming one of you can apply.
- Pay the fee. From $25 in Indiana for residents to $125 in Minnesota, with county fees in between; a premarital course lowers it in several states. See fees.
- Wait, then marry before it runs out. Count any waiting period, and hold the ceremony before the license expires. Texas, for example, needs 72 hours and the ceremony before the 90th day.
- Make sure the license goes back. After the ceremony the officiant (in a few states the couple) signs and returns the license by the state's deadline, and the office records it. Then order certified copies: see after the wedding.
What to bring to the clerk
Clerks ask for the same core papers, and the checklist below lets you tick them off. Federal child support law requires every state to have procedures for recording the Social Security number of any applicant for a marriage license on the application, which is why the clerk asks for it; if a state uses another number on the face of the license, it must tell you. 42 U.S.C. § 666(a)(13)
- Photo ID and proof of age. Kentucky, for example, accepts a birth record or certificate, a passport, a driver's license, a government or school ID, or an immigration or naturalization record. California asks for valid picture ID with a photo, date of birth and issue and expiration dates.KRS § 402.210(1)(b) · CDPH
- Social Security numbers. Both numbers go on the application; if you have none, say so (Minnesota has you certify it, Idaho asks for a letter from the Social Security Administration).42 U.S.C. § 666(a)(13) · Minn. Stat. § 517.08, subd. 1a
- How a prior marriage ended. Bring the date and how your last marriage ended. Maine wants a certified copy of the divorce decree or annulment, or the death record; Illinois (Cook County) a certified decree if the divorce was in the last six months; North Carolina (Wake County) if it was finalized within the last 30 days.19-A M.R.S. § 651(4) · Md. Code, Fam. Law § 2-402(b)
- A birth certificate, in some states. Louisiana requires a certified copy of each party's birth certificate with the application; elsewhere it is often needed only for a minor.La. R.S. 9:225
- Both of you. Kentucky law says both parties shall be present for a license to be issued; New York says no representative can apply even with a power of attorney. A few states take an absent applicant's sworn affidavit, such as Texas for a service member stationed abroad and Missouri for an applicant who is incarcerated or on active military duty.KRS § 402.210(1) · Tex. Fam. Code § 2.006 · RSMo § 451.040
- A witness, in New Jersey. New Jersey's application calls for a witness who is 18 or older.New Jersey Department of Health
Checklist
What to bring to the clerk
Tick what you have; each item points to the part of this page that explains it.
Every point comes from this page and its official sources. Your ticks are not saved or sent anywhere. Not legal advice.
Waiting periods: same-day states and the 24-hour to 3-day waits
In most states there is no waiting period: you can marry the day the license is issued. The calculator counts a state with no waiting period as 0 days. Where there is a wait, it runs either from the moment the license is issued (Texas, New York, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Iowa, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, Illinois) or from the application, before the license is even issued (Kansas, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Florida).
- 1 day (24 hours). New York: no ceremony within 24 hours from the exact time the license was issued. Delaware: get the license at least 24 hours before the ceremony. Louisiana: no ceremony until twenty-four hours have elapsed since issuance. Illinois (Cook County): the license is effective 1 day after issuance. South Carolina: file the application at least 24 hours before the license is issued.13 Del. C. § 107(a) · La. R.S. 9:241 · S.C. Code § 20-1-220
- 2 days. Maryland: the license is not effective until 6 a.m. on the second calendar day after it is issued.Md. Code, Fam. Law § 2-405(d)
- 3 days (72 hours). Texas: no ceremony in the 72-hour period right after issuance. New Jersey: a 72-hour wait before the license is issued, from the application. Kansas: no license before the third calendar day after the application (weekends and holidays count). Iowa: the license becomes valid three days after it is issued. Massachusetts: three days after you file your intention. Pennsylvania: the license is valid on the third day after you apply. Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin: three days after the license is issued or signed.Tex. Fam. Code § 2.204 · K.S.A. § 23-2505(b) · Iowa Code § 595.4
- Florida: 3 days unless you took a course. Without a premarital course certificate the clerk delays the license's effective date by 3 days from the application; with one there is no delay. Non-Florida residents and couples asserting hardship get an exception, and a county judge may waive it for good cause.Fla. Stat. § 741.04(5)
Getting a wait waived. Texas waives its 72 hours for active-duty military, Department of Defense employees and contractors, a judge's written waiver for good cause, or a premarital education course completed in the year before you apply. New York's 24 hours can be waived by a Supreme Court justice or the county judge, Louisiana's by a judge or justice of the peace for serious and meritorious reasons, Maryland's by a circuit judge for good cause if one of you is a resident or a service member, Kansas's and Iowa's by a district judge in an emergency (Iowa charges $5 for the order), and Massachusetts's by a Probate and Family Court or District Court. Oregon and Wisconsin let the county clerk waive it (Lane County charges $10; Waukesha County $25). Washington's cannot be waived under any circumstances. Tex. Fam. Code § 2.204 · La. R.S. 9:242 · Md. Code, Fam. Law § 2-405(d)
Same-day states checked for this page include Arizona, Arkansas (both 18 or older), California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia (its waiting-period law was repealed by D.C. Law 20-148 in 2014), Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming. Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee list no waiting period on the official pages we read. Alabama has no license at all: see license vs certificate.
How long a marriage license is valid
A license that runs out cannot be used, and in most states there is no refund: you apply and pay again. Plan the wedding before the expiry date the calculator shows, because states count the last day differently (Kentucky counts the day of issue; Texas needs the ceremony before the 90th day; Tennessee moves a weekend or holiday last day to the next business day).
- 30 days
- DE, HI, KY, LA, MO, NJ, TNKentucky's 30 days include the day it is issued; New Jersey's run from issuance after the 72-hour wait.
- 32 to 65 days
- UT 32 · CO 35 · CT 65Connecticut counts 65 days from the application.
- 60 days
- AR, FL, IL, IN, MA, NC, ND, NY, OR, PA, VA, VT, WA, WINew York: 180 days if one of you is on active military duty. Oregon counts from the effective date; Massachusetts from the application.
- 90 days
- CA, ME, NH, SD, TXMaine counts from the day the intentions were filed.
- 3 to 6 months
- RI 3 months · KS, MD, MN 6 monthsMaryland counts from the effective date, and the license works only in the issuing county.
- 180 days and 1 year
- MT 180 days · AZ, NV, WY 1 yearMontana: effective on issuance, expires after 180 days.
- No expiration date
- ID, MS, NM; none in the statute in DC, IA, SCIdaho, Mississippi and New Mexico county clerks say the license does not expire.
How old you have to be to get married
Every state checked here sets 18 as the age to marry without anyone else's permission. Since 2017 many states have closed the exceptions that let younger teens marry with a parent's consent. A married minor may also become legally an adult in some states: see emancipation.
- Connecticut: 18, no exceptions, since July 1, 2023. P.A. 23-44 deleted the probate court route for 16- and 17-year-olds.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-20a(2)
- Delaware: 18, no exceptions, since 2018. No individual under the age of 18 shall be granted a marriage license; the consent provisions were repealed by 81 Del. Laws c. 235 (2018).13 Del. C. § 123(a)
- District of Columbia: 18, no exceptions, since March 21, 2025. The age of consent is 18 and the Clerk shall not issue a license to anyone under 18 (D.C. Law 25-311).D.C. Code §§ 46-403(4), 46-411
- Maine: 18, no exceptions, since 2025. P.L. 2025, c. 47 repealed the exception for 17-year-olds.19-A M.R.S. § 652(8)
- Minnesota: 18, no exceptions, since 2020. A person who has attained the full age of 18 years is capable of contracting a civil marriage (2020 c 76).Minn. Stat. § 517.02
- Missouri: 18, no exceptions, since August 28, 2025. No recorder shall issue a license to anyone under eighteen.RSMo § 451.090.1
- Vermont: 18, no exceptions. A town clerk shall not issue a license when either party is under 18 years of age (as amended effective July 1, 2023).18 V.S.A. § 5142(1)
- Virginia: 18, no exceptions, since July 1, 2024. The minimum age is 18; a marriage on or after July 1, 2024 of anyone under 18 is void (the old emancipation route ended).Va. Code §§ 20-48, 20-45.1(C)
- New Jersey, New York and Oregon: 18. New Jersey's Department of Health lists “Be at least 18 years of age”; New York's says a license cannot be issued if either applicant is under 18; Lane County, Oregon says you must be 18 years or older to marry in Oregon.New Jersey Department of Health · New York State Department of Health · Lane County Clerk
States that still allow younger marriages, as read for this page: 17 with a court order or consent in Arkansas, Georgia (limited conditions), Kentucky (family court order, since July 14, 2018), Maryland, Nevada (District Court order) and Tennessee; 16 and 17 with consent or a court order in Alabama, Arizona (spouse no more than 3 years older), Florida (17 only, partner no more than 2 years older), Idaho (age gap under 3 years since July 1, 2020), Illinois, Indiana (juvenile court order that emancipates, gap of at most 4 years), Iowa, Louisiana (gap under 3 years), Montana (court order and counseling), North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota (gap of at most 4 years, SL 2026, ch 118), Texas (only with a court order removing the disabilities of minority, since September 1, 2017), Utah, Wyoming and Kansas (15 with a judge). Colorado requires a court order for anyone under 18, and Hawaii a parent's or guardian's consent. In California a minor needs parental consent and Superior Court approval, and cannot use a confidential license. Mississippi requires parental consent for anyone under 21. We could not read the current age law for Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington or Wisconsin, or for the five states marked not checked; ask the clerk.
What a marriage license costs, and the premarital-course discounts
Some states set one fee in statute; in others the county sets it, so the table shows a county example with its source. Fees change: Sarpy County, Nebraska raised its fee to $50 on July 18, 2026.
- Fees set by state law. Arizona $83 (license and its return), Connecticut $50 ($15 plus a $35 surcharge), Kansas $59, Minnesota $125, Missouri $30 ($10 plus $20), Montana $53, New Hampshire $50, North Dakota up to $30 plus a $35 supplemental fee, South Dakota $40, Texas $60, Vermont $80, Virginia $30 ($20 tax plus a $10 clerk fee). Maryland: $10 plus a county fee of up to $25. Indiana's courts list $25 if either of you lives in Indiana and $65 if not.A.R.S. § 12-284 · K.S.A. § 23-2510 · MCA § 40-1-202 · SDCL § 25-1-10 · 32 V.S.A. § 1712 · Va. Code § 20-15
- Texas: no fee and no wait with a course. A premarital education course of at least 8 hours (the statute says at least eight hours), taken in the year before you apply, waives the 72-hour wait, and the county clerk issues the license without the $60 fee to an applicant who shows the certificate and proves Texas residence. The Health and Human Services Commission keeps the website where course providers register.Tex. Fam. Code §§ 2.013, 2.204(b)(4) · Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 118.018(b-1)
- Florida: $32.50 off and no delay. A premarital preparation course of at least 4 hours reduces the fee by $32.50 and removes the 3-day delay.Fla. Stat. §§ 741.0305(1), 741.04(5)
- Minnesota: $50 instead of $125. Couples who completed at least 12 hours of premarital education pay $50.Minn. Stat. § 517.08, subd. 1b(b)
- Tennessee: $60 less. Davidson County takes $60 off its $99.50 fee for a notarized certificate of a four-hour premarital preparation course taken within a year.Davidson County Clerk
- South Carolina: a tax credit. A qualifying premarital preparation course earns a one-time $50 state income tax credit.S.C. Code § 20-1-230(B)
Marriage license vs marriage certificate
USA.gov puts it in two sentences: “A marriage license legally allows you to marry. A marriage certificate proves you got married.” Hawaii's Department of Health adds that the license permits a marriage to take place, while the certificate indicates that a legal marriage has been performed. USA.gov · Hawaii Department of Health
- The license comes first. You get it before the ceremony; it names you, is valid for a set time, and authorizes an officiant to marry you.USA.gov
- The certificate is the record. After the ceremony the officiant completes the certificate part and returns it; once the office records it, you can order certified copies. A certified copy of the record is prima facie evidence of the marriage in Kansas, and presumptive evidence in Montana.K.S.A. § 23-2512 · MCA § 40-1-322
- Alabama has no license. Since August 29, 2019 couples sign the Alabama Marriage Certificate form before a notary and deliver it to a probate court within 30 days of the later signature; a ceremony is optional.Geneva County Probate Court: Alabama Marriage Certificate FAQ
- A marriage without a license. A few states still recognize a marriage formed by agreement and living together, without a license: see common-law marriage.USA.gov
The best proof of marriage is a certified copy of the recorded marriage certificate from the county or the state vital records office. Most marriage licenses expire within 30 days to a year, depending on the issuing state; if yours expires or is lost before the wedding, you apply for a new one. USA.gov
After the wedding: the return deadline, certified copies and your new name
The officiant (or, in a few states, the couple) must return the signed license on time: 4 days in Delaware, 5 days in New York, Virginia, Maryland, Minnesota and North Dakota, 6 days in New Hampshire, 10 days in California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont and the District of Columbia, 15 days in Iowa and South Carolina, 30 days in Arizona, Georgia, Texas, Utah and Washington, 63 days in Colorado, and 90 days in New Mexico (Bernalillo County); 15 business days in Maine, 3 business days in Wisconsin and one month in Kentucky. Missouri counts 15 days and Arkansas 60 days from the day the license was issued. In Colorado a late return can cost a $20 fee plus $5 a day, up to $50.
- Check that the license went back. Ask the officiant to confirm the date it was mailed or filed. In New Hampshire clerks suggest allowing about two weeks after the ceremony before ordering copies.
- Order certified copies. Ask the county clerk or recorder that issued the license, or the state vital records office. Fees are local: Cook County charges $15, then $4 for each extra copy ordered at the same time; New Hampshire $15, then $10. Use the letter below: it asks for an answer within 14 days, or 30 days if you choose.
- Change your name, if you choose to. Start with Social Security, then your driver's license, passport, bank and employer. See how to change your name after marriage.
- Social Security before taxes. The IRS says to notify the Social Security Administration of a name change before you file your tax return, using Form SS-5 from SSA.gov, at a local office or by mail, with a document that supports the change such as a certified marriage certificate. New York's Department of Health notes there is no charge for this service.
- Update the rest. Health insurance and benefits, beneficiaries on accounts and policies, and your tax filing status for the year.
Letter generator · 2 letter types
Request certified copies of your marriage certificate
Built on USA.gov and county clerk guidance: ask the office that holds the record, name both spouses, the date and the place · checked Oct 22, 2026
Who holds the record?
Each rule comes from the official source linked in the result. It runs on your device: nothing you type is stored or sent. General information, not legal advice.
Worked examples
Texas, with and without a premarital course. Dana and Lee apply at a Texas county clerk on Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Earliest ceremony
- Monday, November 9, 202672 hours after the license is issued. With a premarital course certificate: the same day, November 6.
- Fee
- $60, or $0No license fee for Texas residents with a course certificate from the year before.
- Marry before
- February 4, 2027The license expires if the ceremony has not happened before the 90th day after November 6.
- Return by
- January 11, 2027They marry on December 12, 2026; the officiant returns it not later than the 30th day.
California: public or confidential. Sam and Ari already live together in Sacramento and want a private record. They choose a confidential license on Monday, November 2, 2026.
- Earliest ceremony
- The same dayNo waiting period.
- License expires
- January 31, 2027Valid for 90 days from the date of issuance.
- Witnesses
- NoneA public license needs one witness; a confidential one none, and both must be 18 or older and living together.
- Return by
- December 15, 2026They marry December 5; the officiant returns it to the County Clerk within 10 days.
Nevada: a same-day wedding. Two visitors get a license at the Clark County Marriage License Bureau in Las Vegas on Friday, November 13, 2026.
- Earliest ceremony
- That eveningThere is no waiting period and no blood test.
- Fee
- $102Clark County's fee; both must come in person at the same time.
- License expires
- November 13, 2027One year from the date it is issued.
Kansas: the wait comes before the license. A couple files the application on Monday, November 2, 2026.
- License issued
- Thursday, November 5, 2026Not before the third calendar day after the application; the ceremony can follow at once.
- License expires
- May 5, 2027Six months from issuance.
- Fee
- $59Set by K.S.A. § 23-2510.
- Return by
- December 1, 2026They marry November 21; the officiant returns the license within 10 days.
Marriage license requirements by state: all 50 states and DC
Each row was read on October 22, 2026 from the state's statute, or from its health department, courts or a county clerk where the statute site could not be reached from where this page was researched; the Source column names it. "Not checked" means we could not reach an official source for that rule, so ask the clerk. A row that names a county is that county's figure; other counties may differ.
| State | Waiting period | License lasts | Signed license returned | Minimum age | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No license: you sign the Alabama Marriage Certificate form | No license to expire | 30 days after the later signature (the couple delivers it) | 16 and 17 with a parent's or guardian's consent | Probate recording fee, set by the county ($80 in Houston County) | Geneva County Probate Court: Alabama Marriage Certificate FAQ |
| Alaska | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | Official sites could not be reached |
| Arizona | None | 1 year | 30 days after the ceremony | 16 and 17 with a custodial parent's consent or emancipation, if the other spouse is not more than 3 years older | $83 (statute) | A.R.S. §§ 25-121, 25-123, 25-102, 12-284 · A.R.S. § 25-121(B) |
| Arkansas | None if both are 18 or older | 60 days | 60 days after issuance, used or unused (the couple) | 17 with both parents' notarized consent (A.C.A. § 9-11-102) | Set by the county ($60 in Pulaski County) | A.C.A. § 9-11-102 · Pulaski County Clerk |
| California | None | 90 days | 10 days after the ceremony | Under 18: parental consent and Superior Court approval (public license only) | Set by the county | Cal. Fam. Code §§ 359(e), 420, 511 · CDPH |
| Colorado | None | 35 days | 63 days after the ceremony (anyone may return it) | Under 18 needs a court order | Set by the county | C.R.S. § 14-2-109(1) · Garfield County Clerk |
| Connecticut | None | 65 days from the application | Before or during the first week of the month after the wedding | 18, no exceptions (since Jul 1, 2023) | $50 ($15 fee + $35 surcharge, statute) | Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 46b-24(b), 46b-25, 46b-34(a), 46b-20a, 7-73 |
| Delaware | 24 hours | 30 days | 4 days after the ceremony | 18, no exceptions (since 2018) | County clerk of the peace (the statute lists a $10 base fee) | 13 Del. C. §§ 107, 108, 117, 123 · 13 Del. C. § 107(a) · 13 Del. C. § 107(c) |
| District of Columbia | None (repealed in 2014) | No expiration date in the D.C. Code | 10 days | 18, no exceptions (since Mar 21, 2025) | Set by the D.C. Superior Court Marriage Bureau | D.C. Code §§ 46-403, 46-409, 46-411, 46-412, 46-417 |
| Florida | 3 days from the application; none with a premarital course certificate, for non-residents, or for hardship | 60 days | 10 days | 17 with written parental consent, if the other party is not more than 2 years older | Statutory fees; $32.50 off with a 4-hour premarital course | Fla. Stat. §§ 741.04, 741.041, 741.08, 741.0305 · Fla. Stat. § 741.04(5) |
| Georgia | None listed | Not checked for this page | 30 days | 18; 17 only if certain conditions are met | Set by the county probate court | Georgia.gov (with the Council of Probate Court Judges) |
| Hawaii | None | 30 days | Not listed by the Department of Health | 18; under 18 needs parental or guardian consent | $65 ($60 application fee + $5 portal fee) | HRS § 572-1.7 · Hawaii Department of Health |
| Idaho | None | No expiration date (use it only in Idaho) | Not listed | 16 and 17 with a parent's consent and an age gap under 3 years (since Jul 1, 2020); none at 15 or under | $28 (Canyon and Bonner counties) | Idaho Code § 32-202 · Canyon County Recorder |
| Illinois | 1 day (effective the day after issuance) | 60 days (in the issuing county) | 10 days | 16 and 17 with both parents' sworn consent in person | Set by the county ($60 in Cook County) | Cook County Clerk |
| Indiana | None (same day) | 60 days | Not listed | 16 and 17 only with a juvenile court order that also emancipates, and a spouse not more than 4 years older (IC 31-11-7) | $25 if either of you lives in Indiana, $65 if not | IC 31-11-7 · Indiana Judicial Branch |
| Iowa | 3 days after issuance (a judge may waive it) | No expiration date in chapter 595 | 15 days | 16 and 17 with parental consent approved by a district judge | Set by the county registrar | Iowa Code §§ 595.2, 595.4, 595.13 |
| Kansas | 3 days from the application (weekends and holidays count) | 6 months | 10 days | 16 and 17 with consent; 15 only with a judge | $59 (statute) | K.S.A. §§ 23-2505, 23-2510, 23-2511 · K.S.A. § 23-2505(b) · K.S.A. § 23-2505(f) |
| Kentucky | None | 30 days, counting the day it is issued | 1 month | 17 only with a family court order (since Jul 14, 2018); never under 17 | Set by the county clerk | KRS §§ 402.020, 402.105, 402.205, 402.210, 402.220 |
| Louisiana | 24 hours (a judge may waive it) | 30 days | Not set in R.S. 9:221 to 9:245 | 16 and 17 with consent or court authorization and an age gap under 3 years | Set by the parish clerk of court | La. R.S. 9:221, 9:225, 9:235, 9:241, 9:242, 9:244 |
| Maine | None | 90 days from filing the intentions | 15 business days | 18, no exceptions (2025) | Set by the municipal clerk | 19-A M.R.S. §§ 651, 652, 654 · 19-A M.R.S. § 652(1) · 19-A M.R.S. § 652(3) |
| Maryland | 2 days (effective 6 a.m. on the second day) | 6 months from the effective date | 5 days | 17 with consent and a court order; never under 17 | $10 plus a county fee of up to $25 (up to $45 in Anne Arundel County, up to $75 in Baltimore City) | Md. Code, Fam. Law §§ 2-301, 2-402, 2-403, 2-404, 2-405, 2-409 · Md. Code, Fam. Law § 2-405(d) · Md. Code, Fam. Law § 2-403(a)(2) |
| Massachusetts | 3 days from filing the intention (a court may waive it) | 60 days from the application | Not listed | Not checked for this page | Set by the city or town ($50 in Cambridge) | City of Cambridge City Clerk |
| Michigan | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | Official sites could not be reached |
| Minnesota | None | 6 months | 5 days | 18, no exceptions (2020) | $125; $50 with 12 hours of premarital education | Minn. Stat. §§ 517.02, 517.08, 517.10 |
| Mississippi | None | Does not expire once issued | Not listed | Parental consent for anyone under 21 | Set by the county ($37 in DeSoto County) | DeSoto County Circuit Clerk |
| Missouri | None | 30 days | 15 days after the license is issued | 18, no exceptions (since Aug 28, 2025) | $30 ($10 + $20, statute) | RSMo §§ 451.040, 451.080, 451.090, 451.150, 451.151 |
| Montana | None | 180 days | The officiant forwards it (no day count) | 16 and 17 with a court order and two counseling sessions | $53 (statute) | MCA §§ 40-1-202, 40-1-212, 40-1-213, 40-1-301 |
| Nebraska | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | $50 from Jul 18, 2026 (Sarpy County) | Sarpy County Clerk |
| Nevada | None | 1 year | Not listed | 17 only with a Nevada District Court order | Set by the county ($102 in Clark County) | Clark County Clerk |
| New Hampshire | None | 90 days | 6 days | Not checked for this page | $50 (state-set) | RSA 457 · City of Concord City Clerk |
| New Jersey | 72 hours from the application (3 days) | 30 days from issuance | Not listed | 18 (Department of Health) | $28 | New Jersey Department of Health |
| New Mexico | None | Does not expire | 90 days | Not checked for this page | Set by the county ($55 in Bernalillo County) | Bernalillo County Clerk |
| New York | 24 hours (a judge may waive it) | 60 days (180 days for active-duty military) | 5 days | 18, no exceptions | $40 outside New York City | New York State Department of Health |
| North Carolina | None listed | 60 days | Not listed | Under 18: extra steps (ages 16 to 20 bring a birth record) | $60 (Wake County) | Wake County Register of Deeds |
| North Dakota | None | 60 days | 5 days | 16 and 17 with parental consent; never under 16 | Up to $30 plus a $35 supplemental fee (statute) | N.D.C.C. §§ 14-03-02, 14-03-10, 14-03-21, 14-03-22 |
| Ohio | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | Official sites could not be reached |
| Oklahoma | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | Official sites could not be reached |
| Oregon | 3 days (the county clerk may waive it) | 60 days from the effective date | Not listed | 18 | Set by the county ($60 in Lane County; $10 to waive the wait) | Lane County Clerk |
| Pennsylvania | 3 days from the application | 60 days | 10 days | Not checked for this page | Set by the county ($90 in Philadelphia; $100 self-uniting) | Philadelphia Register of Wills |
| Rhode Island | Not checked for this page | 3 months | Not listed | Not checked for this page | Set by the city or town clerk | City of Newport City Clerk |
| South Carolina | 24 hours from the application | No expiration date in the statute | 15 days | 16 and 17 with a consent affidavit; never under 16 | Probate court fee; a $50 state tax credit for a premarital course | S.C. Code §§ 20-1-100, 20-1-220, 20-1-230, 20-1-250, 20-1-330 |
| South Dakota | None (30 days after a court approves a minor's marriage) | 90 days | 10 days | 16 and 17 with a court order or parental consent; age gap no more than 4 years | $40 (statute) | SDCL §§ 25-1-9, 25-1-10, 25-1-10.1, 25-1-13, 25-1-24, 25-1-35 |
| Tennessee | None listed | 30 days (a weekend or holiday last day moves to the next business day) | Not listed | 17: ask the county clerk | Set by the county ($99.50 cash in Davidson County; $60 less with a 4-hour course) | T.C.A. § 1-3-102 · Davidson County Clerk |
| Texas | 72 hours; none with a premarital course certificate, for active-duty military or with a judge's waiver | 90 days (marry before the 90th day) | 30 days | 18; under 18 only with a court order removing minority (since Sep 1, 2017) | $60 (statute); no fee for Texas residents with a premarital course | Tex. Fam. Code §§ 2.002, 2.006, 2.009, 2.013, 2.101, 2.201, 2.204, 2.206; Tex. Loc. Gov't Code §§ 118.011, 118.018 |
| Utah | None | 32 days | 30 days | 16 and 17 with parental consent and juvenile court approval | Set by the county (includes two certified copies) | Utah Code §§ 81-2-302(4), 81-2-305 · Utah State Courts |
| Vermont | None | 60 days | 10 days | 18, no exceptions (since Jul 1, 2023) | $80 (statute) | 18 V.S.A. §§ 5131, 5142; 32 V.S.A. § 1712 · 18 V.S.A. § 5131(b) |
| Virginia | None | 60 days | 5 days | 18, no exceptions (since Jul 1, 2024) | $30 ($20 tax + $10 clerk fee, statute) | Va. Code §§ 20-14.1, 20-15, 20-45.1, 20-48, 17.1-275, 32.1-267 |
| Washington | 3 days after issuance (no waiver) | 60 days | 30 days | Not checked for this page | Set by the county ($169 in King County) | King, Snohomish and Pierce county pages |
| West Virginia | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | Not checked | Official sites could not be reached |
| Wisconsin | 3 days (the county clerk may waive it for $25) | 60 days | 3 business days | Not checked for this page | Set by the county clerk | Waukesha County Clerk |
| Wyoming | None | 1 year | Not set by day count | 16 and 17 with a parent's consent and a judge's approval | Set by the county clerk | W.S. §§ 20-1-102, 20-1-103, 20-1-107 · W.S. § 20-1-103(b) · W.S. § 20-1-103(d) |
Special cases: proxy marriage, absent partners and minors
- Montana: proxy marriage. If a party cannot be present, they may authorize a third person in writing to act as proxy; one party must be on federal active military duty or a Montana resident.MCA § 40-1-301(2), (4)
- Texas: absent applicant and military proxy. If one of you cannot appear, the other or any adult may apply with the absent applicant's notarized affidavit; both may be absent only for a service member stationed abroad in support of combat or another military operation, who may also name a proxy for the ceremony.Tex. Fam. Code §§ 2.006, 2.007
- California: proxy only for service members. Marriage by proxy is not allowed, except that a member of the Armed Forces stationed overseas in a conflict or war may marry through an attorney-in-fact.Cal. Fam. Code § 420
- After a divorce. Texas: no license if either of you was divorced within the last 30 days, unless you divorced each other or a court waived it. If your marriage is void from the start, see annulment; to end a valid one, see filing for divorce.Tex. Fam. Code § 2.009(a)(5)
Before the license: money, debts and names
The license appointment is a good deadline for the conversations couples put off: debts and credit, joint or separate accounts, who owns what before the wedding, and whether either of you will change your name (New York's Department of Health notes that you can choose your new surname on the license application). If you want to keep property separate, a prenup has to be signed before the wedding, and how property is divided later is covered in property division. You can practise the talk with an AI mediator first: it is practice only.
What to do next
| If… | What to do | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| You want to marry this week | Pick a same-day state or a state whose wait you can meet, and check whether a premarital course or a judge can waive the wait (Texas, Florida, New York, Maryland). | Washington's wait cannot be waived. |
| The wedding is months away | Count back from the date: apply after the earliest day that still leaves the license valid on the wedding day (only 30 days in Delaware, Hawaii or Missouri). | An expired license means a new fee. |
| One of you cannot come to the clerk | Ask about an absent-applicant affidavit (Texas, Missouri) or proxy (Montana); otherwise both of you must appear. | See special cases. |
| One of you is under 18 | Read the age rules: in the no-exception states no license can be issued; elsewhere a court order or consent is needed. | Ask the clerk for the forms. |
| You married but never got copies | Send the letter in after the wedding to the office that issued the license or the state vital records office. | You need certified copies for a name change. |
| You lived together without a license | Check whether your state recognizes common-law marriage. | Most states do not. |
Common questions
How long is the wait to get a marriage license?
In most states there is none: you can marry the day it is issued. New York, Delaware and Louisiana wait 24 hours; Maryland 2 days; Texas and New Jersey 72 hours; Kansas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin 3 days. See waiting periods.
How long is a marriage license valid?
From 30 days (Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New Jersey, Tennessee) to 1 year (Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming); 60 or 90 days is common. Idaho, Mississippi and New Mexico licenses do not expire. See how long it lasts.
What is the difference between a marriage license and getting married?
The license is permission to marry; you are married once the ceremony is performed (or, in Alabama, once the signed form is recorded). The marriage certificate is the record that you got married, and certified copies of it are your proof.
What is the best proof of marriage?
A certified copy of your recorded marriage certificate, from the county office that issued the license or the state vital records office. Agencies such as Social Security ask for an original or certified copy.
How much does a marriage license cost?
From $25 (Indiana residents) to $125 (Minnesota), with many counties setting their own fee: $28 in New Jersey, $40 in New York outside New York City, $59 in Kansas, $60 in Texas, $83 in Arizona, $102 in Clark County, Nevada. Premarital courses cut it in Texas, Florida, Minnesota and Tennessee.
Do both of us have to be there?
Usually yes: both appear and sign under oath. Maryland, Montana and Wyoming let one of you apply, and Texas and Missouri allow an absent applicant's affidavit in some cases.
Do you need a blood test to get married?
Not in the states whose rules we read: California, Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, New York and Arkansas (Pulaski County) say no blood test is required, North Dakota repealed its premarital syphilis test in 1983 and the District of Columbia its blood test law in 2008 (D.C. Law 17-222).
How old do you have to be to get married?
18 without anyone's permission everywhere checked. Connecticut, Delaware, D.C., Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Vermont and Virginia allow no exceptions; other states allow 16 or 17 with consent or a court order. See the age rules.
Can you get married the same day you get the license?
Yes in the same-day states, such as Nevada, California, Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Utah and Virginia. Not in states with a waiting period unless it is waived, for example with a premarital course in Texas or Florida.
Official sources
- USA.gov: How to get a copy of a marriage certificate or license (license vs certificate; licenses expire within 30 days to a year), read Oct 22, 2026 usa.gov
- 42 U.S.C. § 666(a)(13): Social Security numbers recorded on marriage license applications (govinfo, 2023 edition), read Oct 22, 2026 govinfo.gov
- IRS: Changed your name after marriage or divorce? (notify Social Security with Form SS-5 before filing), read Oct 22, 2026 irs.gov
- K.S.A. § 23-2512: a certified copy of the marriage record is prima facie evidence, read Oct 22, 2026 ksrevisor.gov
- MCA § 40-1-322: a certified copy of the marriage record is presumptive evidence (Montana Code Annotated 2025), read Oct 22, 2026 archive.legmt.gov
- Cook County Clerk: marriage licenses ($60) and certificates ($15, $4 each extra), read Oct 22, 2026 cookcountyclerkil.gov
- Alabama: no license, returnBy, age, effective (agency (Geneva County Probate Court FAQ on the 2019 law)), read Oct 22, 2026 genevacountyal.gov
- Alabama: fee example, divorce wait (agency (Houston County Probate)), read Oct 22, 2026 houstoncountyal.gov
- Arizona: valid, ids, wait (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 azleg.gov
- Arizona: returnBy (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 azleg.gov
- Arizona: age (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 azleg.gov
- Arizona: fee (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 azleg.gov
- Arizona: witnesses (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 azleg.gov
- Arkansas: valid, returnBy, wait, age, fee, present, blood (agency (Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk)), read Oct 22, 2026 pulaskiclerkar.gov
- California: valid, blood, present, ids, proxy (agency (California Department of Public Health)), read Oct 22, 2026 cdph.ca.gov
- California: returnBy, extra (agency (CDPH)), read Oct 22, 2026 cdph.ca.gov
- California: returnBy, extra (agency (CDPH)), read Oct 22, 2026 cdph.ca.gov
- California: age, extra, returnBy (agency (Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder)), read Oct 22, 2026 ccr.saccounty.gov
- Colorado: wait, valid, returnBy, age, extra (agency (Garfield County Clerk and Recorder)), read Oct 22, 2026 garfieldcountyco.gov
- Connecticut: valid, present, age, returnBy (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 cga.ct.gov
- Connecticut: fee, ids (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 cga.ct.gov
- Delaware: wait, valid, returnBy, age, fee (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 delcode.delaware.gov
- District of Columbia: age (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 code.dccouncil.gov
- District of Columbia: age (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 code.dccouncil.gov
- District of Columbia: returnBy (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 code.dccouncil.gov
- District of Columbia: wait (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 code.dccouncil.gov
- District of Columbia: ids (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 code.dccouncil.gov
- District of Columbia: blood (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 code.dccouncil.gov
- Florida: wait, valid, returnBy, age, course, fee, ids (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 leg.state.fl.us
- Georgia: age, present, returnBy (agency (Georgia.gov, with the Council of Probate Court Judges)), read Oct 22, 2026 georgia.gov
- Hawaii: wait, valid, fee, blood, age, present, license vs certificate (agency (Hawaii Department of Health)), read Oct 22, 2026 health.hawaii.gov
- Idaho: wait, valid, age, fee, blood (agency (Canyon County Recorder)), read Oct 22, 2026 canyoncounty.id.gov
- Idaho: wait, fee, ids, age (agency (Bonner County Recorder)), read Oct 22, 2026 bonnercountyid.gov
- Illinois: wait, valid, returnBy, age, ids (agency (Cook County Clerk)), read Oct 22, 2026 cookcountyclerkil.gov
- Indiana: wait, valid, fee, age (agency (Indiana Judicial Branch)), read Oct 22, 2026 in.gov
- Iowa: wait, valid, returnBy, age, ids (direct (Iowa Code 2026, chapter 595)), read Oct 22, 2026 legis.iowa.gov
- Kansas: wait, valid, age (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 ksrevisor.gov
- Kansas: fee (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 ksrevisor.gov
- Kansas: returnBy (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 ksrevisor.gov
- Kentucky: valid (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 apps.legislature.ky.gov
- Kentucky: present, ids, age (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 apps.legislature.ky.gov
- Kentucky: age (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 apps.legislature.ky.gov
- Kentucky: age (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 apps.legislature.ky.gov
- Kentucky: returnBy (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 apps.legislature.ky.gov
- Kentucky: blood (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 apps.legislature.ky.gov
- Louisiana: wait (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 legis.la.gov
- Louisiana: wait waiver (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 legis.la.gov
- Louisiana: valid (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 legis.la.gov
- Louisiana: age (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 legis.la.gov
- Louisiana: ids (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 legis.la.gov
- Louisiana: extra (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 legis.la.gov
- Maine: valid, age, wait (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 legislature.maine.gov
- Maine: returnBy (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 legislature.maine.gov
- Maine: ids (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 legislature.maine.gov
- Maryland: wait (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 mgaleg.maryland.gov
- Maryland: valid (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 mgaleg.maryland.gov
- Maryland: returnBy (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 mgaleg.maryland.gov
- Maryland: age (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 mgaleg.maryland.gov
- Maryland: fee (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 mgaleg.maryland.gov
- Maryland: present, ids (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 mgaleg.maryland.gov
- Massachusetts: wait, valid, fee, present (agency (City of Cambridge City Clerk)), read Oct 22, 2026 cambridgema.gov
- Minnesota: age, valid, fee, course, returnBy, present, ids (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 revisor.mn.gov
- Mississippi: wait, valid, present, fee, age, blood, ids (agency (DeSoto County Circuit Clerk)), read Oct 22, 2026 desotocountyms.gov
- Missouri: wait, valid, present, ids (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 revisor.mo.gov
- Missouri: age (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 revisor.mo.gov
- Missouri: returnBy (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 revisor.mo.gov
- Missouri: fee (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 revisor.mo.gov
- Missouri: fee (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 revisor.mo.gov
- Montana: wait, valid (direct (Montana Code Annotated 2025, Legislative Services)), read Oct 22, 2026 archive.legmt.gov
- Montana: fee, present, age (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 archive.legmt.gov
- Montana: age (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 archive.legmt.gov
- Montana: proxy (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 archive.legmt.gov
- Nebraska: fee, present (agency (Sarpy County Clerk)), read Oct 22, 2026 sarpy.gov
- Nevada: age, wait, blood, present, fee (agency (Clark County Clerk)), read Oct 22, 2026 clarkcountynv.gov
- Nevada: wait, valid (agency (Clark County Clerk)), read Oct 22, 2026 clarkcountynv.gov
- New Hampshire: wait, valid, fee, returnBy, present, extra (agency (City of Concord City Clerk)), read Oct 22, 2026 concordnh.gov
- New Jersey: wait, valid, age, fee, ids (agency (New Jersey Department of Health factsheet, June 2018)), read Oct 22, 2026 nj.gov
- New Jersey: present, age (agency (NJDOH)), read Oct 22, 2026 nj.gov
- New Mexico: wait, valid, returnBy (agency (Bernalillo County Clerk)), read Oct 22, 2026 berncoclerk.gov
- New Mexico: present, fee (agency (Bernalillo County Clerk)), read Oct 22, 2026 berncoclerk.gov
- New York: wait, valid, fee, blood, age, present, name change (agency (New York State Department of Health)), read Oct 22, 2026 health.ny.gov
- New York: returnBy (agency (NYSDOH)), read Oct 22, 2026 health.ny.gov
- North Carolina: valid, present, fee, ids, age (agency (Wake County Register of Deeds)), read Oct 22, 2026 wake.gov
- North Dakota: valid, returnBy, age, fee, ids, blood (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 ndlegis.gov
- Oregon: wait, valid, fee, age, present (agency (Lane County Clerk)), read Oct 22, 2026 lanecountyor.gov
- Pennsylvania: wait, valid, fee, returnBy, extra (agency (City of Philadelphia Register of Wills)), read Oct 22, 2026 phila.gov
- Rhode Island: valid, ids (agency (City of Newport City Clerk)), read Oct 22, 2026 newportri.gov
- South Carolina: wait, returnBy, age, course, ids (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 scstatehouse.gov
- South Dakota: valid, fee, returnBy, present, age (direct (the site's own JSON/HTML endpoint sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/25-1.html?all=true)), read Oct 22, 2026 sdlegislature.gov
- Tennessee: valid (agency (Metro Nashville-Davidson County Clerk)), read Oct 22, 2026 nashville.gov
- Tennessee: present, fee, course (agency), read Oct 22, 2026 nashville.gov
- Tennessee: course (agency), read Oct 22, 2026 nashville.gov
- Tennessee: age (agency), read Oct 22, 2026 nashville.gov
- Texas: wait, valid, returnBy, age, course, ids, present, proxy (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 tcss.legis.texas.gov
- Texas: fee, course (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 tcss.legis.texas.gov
- Utah: wait, valid, present, ids, fee, age (agency (Utah State Courts self-help page)), read Oct 22, 2026 utcourts.gov
- Utah: returnBy, valid cite (agency (Utah County Clerk)), read Oct 22, 2026 utahcounty.gov
- Vermont: valid, returnBy, age, present (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 legislature.vermont.gov
- Vermont: fee (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 legislature.vermont.gov
- Virginia: valid, fee (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 law.lis.virginia.gov
- Virginia: age (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 law.lis.virginia.gov
- Virginia: age since (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 law.lis.virginia.gov
- Virginia: fee (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 law.lis.virginia.gov
- Virginia: returnBy, ids (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 law.lis.virginia.gov
- Washington: wait, valid, returnBy (agency (Snohomish County Auditor)), read Oct 22, 2026 snohomishcountywa.gov
- Washington: wait, present, fee, returnBy (agency (King County Recorder's Office)), read Oct 22, 2026 kingcounty.gov
- Washington: valid, wait (agency (Pierce County Auditor)), read Oct 22, 2026 piercecountywa.gov
- Wisconsin: wait, valid, returnBy, present (agency (Waukesha County Clerk)), read Oct 22, 2026 waukeshacounty.gov
- Wyoming: valid, present, age, ids (direct), read Oct 22, 2026 wyoleg.gov
Related
This page explains the law in general terms. It is not legal advice about your situation. Justice is not a law firm and is not affiliated with any court or government agency.