Can you use a marriage license in another state?

Can you apply for a marriage license in one state, but get married in another? And do you have to get married in the state where you live?

 

Listen now: 

 

 

In almost every state, couples must apply for a marriage license from their local government office in order to marry. 

 

This marriage license is the document that makes the marriage a legally binding contract, and it must be signed by the couple, the wedding officiant, and any required witnesses following the wedding ceremony, and then returned.

 

• Marriage License Basics: An Introduction to the Marriage License

 

But for engaged couples planning a destination wedding ceremony in another state, applying for a marriage license can get pretty confusing: Should they apply for their license where they live, or in the state where their wedding ceremony will be held? 

Can you use a marriage license that’s issued in another state? 

 
No, in general, marriage licenses can only be used in the state where they are issued. Sometimes, licenses must even be used in the same county where they are issued.

 

There is one exception to this rule, however: a Texas marriage license can sometimes be used in another state. This depends on the issuing county's guidelines, however, as some counties do require licenses to be used in the state of Texas, with a Texas venue recorded as the legal place of marriage on the license. For this reason, we recommend you check with the clerk's office before you apply for your license and ask where it can be used. 

 

Can you apply for a marriage license in another state? 

 

Yes, you can apply for a marriage license in any state, regardless of where you hold residency. Once your wedding takes place and your marriage license is recorded with the local clerk's office, your marriage is legally recognized in all states.

 

This means that a couple living in California can get married in a destination wedding in Texas, and will apply for their marriage license in Texas. In most cases, couples need to apply for their license together in-person at the clerk's office, but some jurisdictions now offer virtual appointments as well.

 

To summarize:

 

In general, you must apply for your marriage license in the state where your wedding ceremony will be held. In some cases, you will need to apply in the same county where your wedding will be held. 

 

Find out which county a wedding venue is located in with the help of this great tool from USPS: 

 

• How to Find Out What County a Wedding Venue is In -- Marriage License Tips

 

(Photo by picjumbo.com  / Pexels)

 

 

Advice for Wedding Officiants on Out-of-State Marriage Licenses & Destination Weddings: 

In general, a wedding officiant should only sign a marriage license if it's issued in the same state where the ceremony is held, and in some cases, in the same county.  A Texas marriage license is sometimes an exception to this guideline, depending on where it was issued, but we recommend you verify this with the issuing clerk's office before the ceremony. 

 

In addition, officiants who want to perform a wedding in another state should always check the local minister registration requirements before the ceremony. You must register in each state where it's required to officiate weddings there.

 

• Find out if minister registration is required in your destination state here: Minister Registration Requirements by State

 

• AMM FAQs: Can I Officiate Weddings in Other States?

 

• More about performing destination weddings: A Wedding Officiant's Guide to Performing Destination and Cruise Ship Weddings

 

AMM Ministers are authorized to perform marriage in every state and U.S. territitory (excluding Virginia), however each state makes its own laws regarding minister registration. Traveling officiants may be required to register in each state where they wish to perform a ceremony. 

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Plan your dream destination wedding with the help of a trusted friend! Friends can get ordained online to officiate a wedding with American Marriage Ministries!

 

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