Marriage license is an important part of the wedding procedure. All states require a marriage license before the actual wedding ceremony is commemorated. The procedures and fees of each state marriage license is very different from the other, but all licenses can be obtained from the clerk’s office where you wish to get married. The general time span taken for the complete procedure to take place is one month to sixty days.

Here are some of the important things that the couple should keep in mind while working out the proceedings of a marriage license.

Conditions for Obtaining a Marriage License

Although every state has its own specific rules and regulations for obtaining a marriage license, there are some grounds that are very much the same nearly everywhere. These are as follows.

Minimum Age: The minimum age to get a marriage license without parental consent is 18 in most areas. In certain states, a couple may be allowed to marry at 16 or younger with parental consent.

Mental Health: Both the parties must fully understand and accept the legal and emotional commitment they are about to make. Decision taken under the influence of drugs, illness or alcohol can be grounds for the denial.

Blood Test or Health Examination: The law cannot legally stop a person with a communicable disease like HIV to get married. However, certain states can and do require that a spouse be informed of potentially harmful and contagious medical conditions before the license is issued.

Divorcee or Widower: the law states that before obtaining a license the person has to give proof of separation in case of divorce or widower.

Documents required for a Marriage License: To get a marriage license, one needs to present one or several forms of ID. Some accepted forms of legal identification include:

Passport
Driver’s License
Birth certificate
Green Card

In addition to identification, some states require a witness to complete the application process. You may want to bring a friend or family member with you to the courthouse to sign the necessary documents.

Wedding without a Marriage License

A wedding without the marriage license is possible, however it is advisable to get a marriage certificate. There are some religious officials that will not marry two parties without the legal documentation of a marriage license. On the other hand there are other religious houses where you do not require a marriage license to get married.

With changing times marriage license has become a significant part of the wedding. Right from banks, passport authorities to the value given to divorces, marriage license is important. So it is always better to take care of these legal formalities and get a marriage license.