There is no federal marriage license. Each state sets its own rules, and in practice you apply to a county clerk, town clerk or similar office, usually in person with identification. That means waiting periods, how long a license stays valid, fees and who can officiate all depend on where you marry, not where you live. Always check the clerk's office for the county where the ceremony will take place.
No state currently requires a premarital blood test, and same-sex marriage is legal nationwide.
These examples, taken from county and state pages, show how much the rules differ.
California: no waiting period, and a license is valid for 90 days. Fees vary by county, with Siskiyou County listing about $71 for a public license and Los Angeles County listing about $91. Nevada (Clark County): no waiting period, a license valid for one year, and a fee of about $102. New York: a 24-hour wait between getting the license and the ceremony (a judge can waive it), and a license valid for 60 days; New York City charges $35.
Texas (Tarrant County): a 72-hour waiting period that can be waived, valid for 90 days, and a fee of $76 that drops to $16 with a premarital course certificate. Florida (St. Johns County): a three-day wait for residents unless a four-hour premarital course is completed, valid for 60 days and only within Florida. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania: a three-day wait in each, valid for 60 days.
Across these examples, fees run from roughly $25 to $102. Because counties update fees, confirm the current amount on the clerk's page before you go.
If your state has a waiting period, get the license early enough that it has passed by the wedding day. If the license expires within 60 or 90 days, do not apply too early. Applying two to four weeks ahead works in most states.
Bring the documents the clerk asks for: usually photo ID, and in some places a birth certificate or Social Security number. If either of you has been married before, you may need the date and court details of the divorce, or a death certificate. Check whether the office takes cards or cash only.
Clergy, judges and other officials can marry you in every state. Whether a friend or relative can officiate is where states differ, and it matters if you want someone you know to lead your ceremony.
Some states and counties offer a one-day route. California's Deputy Commissioner for a Day program lets a friend perform your ceremony for a fee, listed at about $75 in the counties we checked. Massachusetts offers a one-day marriage designation. Nevada requires officiants to be certified by the county clerk. Many states accept ministers ordained online, but a handful are stricter, so confirm with your county clerk before you rely on it.
Witness rules vary widely: some states require none, some one, and many two. Nevada requires someone other than the officiant to witness the vows, and Pennsylvania's self-uniting license requires two witnesses. Ask the clerk, and line up two adults you trust regardless, since many ceremonies and many venues expect it.
Most couples choose a religious ceremony, a civil or courthouse ceremony, or a non-denominational ceremony led by a friend or professional officiant. Courthouse weddings are popular as a legal ceremony before a larger celebration, and San Francisco City Hall alone hosts thousands a year, according to recent reporting.
A few states recognize common-law marriage, and a small number allow proxy marriage in limited circumstances, but these are specialized and you should take legal advice before relying on either.
Marrying in another state is simple, but the license is generally only valid in the state that issued it, so plan to apply where the ceremony will be. MarryHQ's checklist for the United States turns these steps into dated tasks from your wedding date.
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