Both of you apply in person at a county clerk's office, bring photo ID, pay a fee usually between $30 and $120, and receive the license. The two details that catch couples out are that licenses expire — commonly 30 to 90 days — and that some states impose a waiting period between issue and ceremony.
What you need, roughly everywhere
Government photo ID for both of you, and often your Social Security numbers. If either of you has been married before, the date the previous marriage ended and sometimes the divorce decree or death certificate. Some counties require the names and birthplaces of your parents.
Rules vary by state and sometimes by county, and the county clerk's own website is the authority - not a wedding blog, and not us. Read it once, a few months out, and note exactly what it asks for.
Timing, which is where it goes wrong
Expiry. Licenses are valid for a limited window - frequently 30 to 90 days. Applying six months ahead to be organised is how couples arrive at the ceremony with an expired one.
Waiting periods. Some states require a gap between issuing and the ceremony, often 24 to 72 hours. That matters for a Friday wedding with a Thursday application.
Office hours. Clerk offices keep short weekday hours, are closed on public holidays, and often do not take appointments late in the week. Destination and out-of-state couples should plan an extra day.
The usual sweet spot is applying two to four weeks before the wedding.
Afterwards
Your officiant signs it, witnesses sign if your state requires them, and someone files it with the county - usually the officiant, within a stated number of days. Confirm who is filing and by when, because this is the one part of a wedding that cannot be fixed later.
Order certified copies of the marriage certificate once it is recorded. You will need them for a name change, and ordering two or three at once is cheaper and faster than going back.
What to actually do about it
- Read your county clerk's own page, not a summary
- Requirements vary by state and sometimes county. The clerk's site is the only authority, and it takes five minutes.
- Apply two to four weeks out
- Late enough that it will not expire, early enough to absorb a closed office or a missing document.
- Confirm with your officiant who files it
- Usually them, within a set number of days. Get the answer before the wedding, not after.
- Order certified copies straight away
- You need them for a name change, and ordering several at once is cheaper than a second request.
Common questions
How long is a marriage license valid?
Commonly 30 to 90 days, depending on the state. Applying months in advance is a frequent mistake - couples arrive at the ceremony with an expired license. Two to four weeks before the wedding is the usual sweet spot.
Is there a waiting period for a marriage license?
In some states, yes - often 24 to 72 hours between issuing and the ceremony. Check your county clerk's own page, because it varies by state and sometimes by county.
Who files the marriage license after the wedding?
Usually the officiant, within a number of days set by the state. Confirm who is responsible before the wedding - it is the one part of the day that cannot be corrected afterwards.
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