How to Get a Marriage License, step by step
What to bring, where to go, how long it takes and when to apply, checked against real clerk offices and state law.
How do you get a marriage license? Together, in person
Go together to the county or city clerk in the state where you will marry, with government photo ID and your Social Security numbers. Apply, pay the fee and wait out any waiting period. Marry before it expires, your officiant files it, and you order certified copies.
Checked 29 September 2026. Rules change, so confirm with your own clerk before you go.
How soon before the wedding should you get a marriage license?
Two numbers set your window. The validity period says how early is too early. The waiting period says how late is too late.
Two to four weeks before the date clears both in nearly every state.
More states and renewal rules in how long a marriage license lasts. Checked 29 September 2026.
Nadia & Sam marry in Miami on June 12, 2027
Florida residents, no premarital course. Their dates follow Miami-Dade's rules.
- Tue, Apr 13Earliest useful dayA license issued today still covers June 12. Any earlier and it expires first.
- Thu, May 20They apply togetherPre-application done online, both at the clerk with photo ID. Fee $86.
- Sun, May 23License takes effectThe 3-day delay for Florida residents without the course is over.
- Wed, Jun 9Last safe day to applyThree days before the wedding. Cutting it this close leaves no room for a typo fix.
- Sat, Jun 12Wedding in MiamiThey sign, then the officiant completes and signs the license.
- Tue, Jun 22Return deadlineThe officiant has 10 days to get the license back to the clerk.
Rules from the Miami-Dade Clerk and Fla. Stat. 741.04. Checked 29 September 2026.
How and when to get your marriage license
The Knot runs through the basics in 57 seconds.
How to get a marriage license in 9 steps
The order is the same almost everywhere. Only the numbers change by state.
- 1
Pick the office in the state where you marry
Licenses are issued by the state where the ceremony happens, usually through a county or city clerk. Where you live does not decide it.
A Florida license works anywhere in Florida. A Colorado license has to be used in Colorado.
State by state requirements - 2
Gather your documents
Each of you needs a valid government photo ID and your Social Security number. If either of you was married before, know the date it ended.
Names go on the license exactly as they appear on your IDs, so fix mismatches first.
Full documents list - 3
Fill in the application online
Most big offices let you pre-apply online. Miami-Dade requires it before your visit, and Clark County keeps your saved application for one year.
Check spelling twice. Corrections after issue can cost a fee.
Can you apply online? - 4
Book a slot, or check the walk-in hours
Some offices are appointment only. New York City takes no walk-ins and books through Project Cupid. Clark County is walk-in, 365 days a year.
Look up your office's rule before you take the day off.
- 5
Go together and pay the fee
Both of you sign in front of the clerk at the same visit. Fees at the offices we checked run from $30 in El Paso County, Colorado, to $102 in Clark County, Nevada.
Florida and Texas cut the fee if you finish a premarital course.
Marriage license cost by state - 6
Wait out any waiting period
New York makes you wait 24 hours after issue. Texas waits 72 hours. Florida residents wait 3 days unless they took the course. 30 states and DC have no wait.
Count backward from the wedding date so the wait ends before the ceremony.
Waits in all 50 states - 7
Marry before the license expires
A license only works for a set window: 35 days in Colorado, 60 in Florida and New York, 90 in California, 89 in Texas, a full year in Nevada.
Miss the window and you start over, fee included.
How long a license lasts - 8
Sign it at the ceremony, then it gets filed
You, your officiant and any required witnesses sign. The officiant returns it to the office, within 5 days in New York and 10 in California, Florida and Clark County.
Colorado gives the longest window, 63 days, and El Paso County charges a late fee after that.
Who can officiate - 9
Order certified copies
Once it is recorded, order certified copies. A certified copy is your proof of marriage, and name change paperwork starts from one.
Order two or three at once. Extra copies are cheaper in the same order in New York City and Miami-Dade.
License vs certificate
Steps 7 to 9 on paper: signed on the day, void after the window, recorded once returned.
Office rules from NYC City Clerk, Clark County, Miami-Dade Clerk, Tarrant County and El Paso County. Checked 29 September 2026.
What do you need to get a marriage license?
Four things cover most offices. Bring originals, not photos of them.
Valid photo ID, each of you
Government issued, current, with your legal name and date of birth. Clark County lists the types it takes, shown below.
Clark County, Miami-DadeYour Social Security number
You rarely need the card, but you must know the number. Clark County asks for it if one was issued to you.
Clark County, Tarrant CountyThe date your last marriage ended
Only if either of you was married before. Miami-Dade wants the exact date of the divorce, death or annulment.
Miami-Dade ClerkA way to pay
Clark County takes cards with a convenience fee and no checks. Tarrant County takes cash or card. Ask your office first.
Clark County, Tarrant County
List from Clark County's requirements page. Other offices use shorter lists. A birth certificate is usually asked for only from applicants under 18. More in documents for marriage. Checked 29 September 2026.
Where do you get a marriage license? Five real offices
Always the clerk (county, city or town) in the state of the ceremony. Here is how five of them run it.
| Office | Start | Visit | Waiting period | Fee | Good for | Returned within |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City Clerk | Apply and book in Project Cupid | Appointment only, in person or virtual | 24 hours | $35 | 60 days | 5 days |
| Clark County, Nevada | Online application, kept one year | Walk in, no appointment | None | $102 | 1 year | 10 days |
| Miami-Dade County, Florida | Online pre-application required | Walk in, Mon to Fri, 9 to 4 | 3 days for residents without the course | $86 ($61 with course) | 60 days | 10 days |
| Tarrant County, Texas | Both apply together | In person or by video (formal license) | 72 hours | $76 ($16 with course) | 89 days | 30 days |
| El Paso County, Colorado | Online application first | No appointment needed | None | $30 | 35 days | 63 days |
Swipe for all 5 offices
From each office's own site, plus N.Y. DRL 13-b and Tex. Fam. Code 2.201 and 2.206. New York's 5-day return is from the Town of Victor clerk. Checked 29 September 2026.
Appointment only
New York CityNo walk-ins. Book in Project Cupid, in person or virtual.
Walk in
Clark County, Miami-Dade, El PasoPre-apply online, then turn up in opening hours with your IDs.
Video appointment
Tarrant County, New York CityBoth of you on camera at once, IDs ready. Offered for some license types only.
When the usual steps do not fit
Six situations that change the process, with the rule from a real office or statute.
Checked 29 September 2026.
Returning the license and getting certified copies
The license is not done at the kiss. It has to reach the clerk and be recorded before you can prove you are married.
What certified copies cost
| Office | First copy | Each extra copy | How to order |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City Clerk | $15 | $10 | Marriage record, from the City Clerk |
| Miami-Dade County, Florida | $9 | $7 | Online for licenses from 1971 on |
| Clark County, Nevada | $20 | $20 | Online or in person once filed |
| El Paso County, Colorado | $1 | $1 | Request form, in person or by mail |
Swipe for all 4 offices
From the NYC City Clerk fee list, the Miami-Dade Clerk, Clark County and El Paso County (mail handling fees extra). Checked 29 September 2026.
What the copies are for
A certified copy carries the clerk's seal and is your legal proof of marriage. Name change paperwork starts from one. A keepsake certificate from the ceremony is not the public record. Social Security can accept an original ceremony certificate in some cases, but plan on certified copies for everything else.
Name change after marriageLicense vs certificateThe license is filed,
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Marriage license mistakes that cost a trip
Each of these sends couples back to the clerk, or leaves the license unfiled.
| Do this | Not that |
|---|---|
| Get the license in the state where the ceremony happens | Picking one up at home for a wedding in another state |
| Check whether your office is appointment only | Taking a day off to walk in at an office that takes no walk-ins |
| Count the waiting period back from the wedding date | Applying the day before in a state with a 24 or 72 hour wait |
| Apply inside the validity window | Applying so early that the license expires before the date |
| Use your legal names exactly as they appear on your IDs | A nickname or new surname that does not match your ID |
| Hand the license to the officiant and confirm the return deadline | Assuming the license files itself after the party |
| Order certified copies for the name change paperwork | Counting on the keepsake certificate for every agency |
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Marriage license waiting period by state
How long you wait between getting the license and the earliest legal ceremony. Tap a state for its wedding guide.
No waiting period
Marry the day the license is issuedAbout one day
24 hours or next dayTwo to three days
48 to 72 hours or 3 daysA different rule
No license, or ask the clerk| State | Waiting period | Exceptions and waivers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No license issued | Since August 29, 2019 you sign a notarized marriage document and record it with the probate judge within 30 days. | Ala. Code 30-1-9.1 |
| Alaska | 3 days | The licensing officer may waive it for undue hardship. | AS 25.05.091, 25.05.161 |
| Arizona | None | Not needed | A.R.S. 25-121 |
| Arkansas | None for adults | 5 business days if one of you is under 18. | Pulaski County Clerk |
| California | None | Not needed | Cal. Fam. Code 350 to 359 |
| Colorado | None | Not needed | C.R.S. 14-2-107 |
| Connecticut | 48 hours after you apply (from Oct 1, 2026) | Counts from the application. You marry no later than 65 days after the license is issued. | Conn. Public Act 26-141, Secs. 6-7 |
| Delaware | 24 hours after issue | The Clerk of the Peace may shorten it for good cause. | 13 Del. C. 107 |
| District of Columbia | None | The old waiting period was repealed in 2014. | D.C. Code 46-409 |
| Florida | 3 days from application | Residents skip it with a premarital course. Out-of-state couples are exempt. Hardship or a judge's order also works. | Fla. Stat. 741.04 |
| Georgia | None listed | Not needed | Fulton County Probate Court |
| Hawaii | None | Not needed | Hawaii Dept. of Health |
| Idaho | None | The recorder issues the license once the fee is paid. | Idaho Code 32-403 |
| Illinois | Valid from the day after issue | Ask the county clerk. | Perry County Clerk |
| Indiana | Ask the county clerk | We could not open an official Indiana source on the wait. The license expires 60 days after issue. | Ind. Code 31-11-4-10 |
| Iowa | 3 days | A district judge may waive it for an emergency, with a $5 fee. | Iowa Code 595.4 |
| Kansas | 3 days | A district judge may order it waived for an emergency. | K.S.A. 23-2505 |
| Kentucky | None | Not needed | KRS 402.105 |
| Louisiana | 24 hours after issue | A judge may waive it for extenuating circumstances. | Calcasieu Parish Clerk |
| Maine | None | Not needed | 19-A M.R.S. 652 |
| Maryland | 48 hours after issue | The license takes effect at 6 a.m. on the second day. Ask the circuit court clerk about earlier dates. | Howard County Circuit Court |
| Massachusetts | 3 days after issue | A court can waive it, and Boston lists a $195 court fee. | Boston Registry |
| Michigan | 3 days | The county clerk may waive it for a $5 fee. | Oakland County Clerk |
| Minnesota | None | Not needed | Minn. Stat. 517.08 |
| Mississippi | None | Not needed | Miss. Code 93-1-5 |
| Missouri | None | Not needed | RSMo 451.040 |
| Montana | None | Effective the moment it is issued. | MCA 40-1-212 |
| Nebraska | None | Not needed | Neb. Rev. Stat. 42-104 |
| Nevada | None | Not needed | Clark County Clerk |
| New Hampshire | None | The old waiting rule was repealed in 2006. | RSA 457:26 |
| New Jersey | 72 hours before issue | The Superior Court may waive it for an emergency. | N.J.S.A. 37:1-4, NJ Health |
| New Mexico | None | Not needed | NMSA 40-1-10 |
| New York | 24 hours after issue | A judge may allow it sooner for an emergency or great hardship. | N.Y. DRL 13-b |
| North Carolina | None | Not needed | N.C.G.S. 51-8 |
| North Dakota | None | Not needed | N.D.C.C. 14-03 |
| Ohio | None | Not needed | Ohio Rev. Code 3101.05 |
| Oklahoma | None for adults | 72 hours if one of you is under age. | 43 O.S. 5 |
| Oregon | 3 days after applying | A judge or the county clerk may waive it for good cause. | ORS 106.077 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 days after applying | The court may waive it for an emergency or a Guard or reserve call-up. | 23 Pa.C.S. 1303 |
| Rhode Island | None | Not needed | R.I. Gen. Laws 15-2-1 |
| South Carolina | 24 hours before issue | No waiver in the statute. | S.C. Code 20-1-220 |
| South Dakota | None | Not needed | SDCL 25-1 |
| Tennessee | None | Issued the same day, good for 30 days. | Montgomery County Clerk |
| Texas | 72 hours after issue | Waived for active military, with a judge's order or a Twogether in Texas certificate. | Tarrant County Clerk |
| Utah | None | Not needed | Utah Code 81-2-302 |
| Vermont | None | Not needed | 18 V.S.A. 5131 |
| Virginia | None | Not needed | Va. Code 20-14.1 |
| Washington | 3 days after applying | King County says it cannot be waived. | RCW 26.04.180, King County |
| West Virginia | None | The old waiting rule is repealed. | W. Va. Code 48-2-103 |
| Wisconsin | 3 days after applying | The county clerk may issue sooner for an extra fee of up to $25. | Wis. Stat. 765.08 |
| Wyoming | None | Not needed | Wyo. Stat. 20-1-103 |
Swipe for more states
Each row checked against the state statute or a county clerk page. Checked 29 September 2026. Waits can also apply after a divorce, a separate rule covered in how many times you can get married.
License terms, and where to go next
- Marriage license
- Permission to marry, issued before the wedding and valid for a set window.
- Marriage certificate
- The recorded proof you are married, issued after the signed license is filed.
- Certified copy
- An official copy with the clerk's seal. The one agencies accept.
- Waiting period
- Time between issue (or application) and the earliest legal ceremony.
- Solemnize
- To perform the ceremony. Colorado lets couples solemnize their own marriage.
- Absentee affidavit
- A notarized form that lets one partner apply when the other cannot come.
What is a marriage license?
A marriage license is the permission a state gives two people to marry, issued before the wedding by a county, city or town clerk. It is valid for a set window, for example 35 days in Colorado and a full year in Nevada.
After the ceremony it is signed and returned, and the recorded version becomes your marriage certificate. That certificate, as a certified copy, is your legal proof of marriage.
How long does it take to process a marriage license?
The appointment or walk-in visit is usually quick. Clark County, Nevada says it typically takes less than an hour. Pre-applying online makes it faster in most offices.
Recording after the wedding depends on the return deadline, 5 days in New York up to 63 days in Colorado, plus the office's own processing time.
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Marriage license questions
Documents, timing, waiting periods and what happens after the wedding: short answers.
Go together to the county or city clerk in the state where you will marry, usually after filling in an online application. Show valid photo ID, give your Social Security numbers, pay the fee and sign. Wait out any waiting period, marry before the license expires, and your officiant returns the signed license for recording.
Each of you needs a valid government photo ID and your Social Security number, plus the fee. If either of you was married before, know the exact date the last marriage ended. Applicants under 18 need extra papers such as a birth certificate, parental consent or a court order, depending on the state.
The visit itself is usually under an hour. Clark County, Nevada says it typically takes less than one hour. After that, some states add a waiting period before you can marry: 24 hours in New York, 72 hours in Texas and 3 days for Florida residents who skip the premarital course.
Apply after the date that would make it expire too early and before the waiting period would run into the ceremony. Colorado licenses last 35 days, Florida and New York 60, California 90, Texas 89 and Nevada one year. Two to four weeks before the wedding fits nearly every state.
Usually yes, at the same visit. Clark County, Miami-Dade and New York City all require both applicants. A few places allow exceptions: Texas and El Paso County, Colorado accept a notarized absentee affidavit, and Tarrant County, Texas and New York City offer video appointments.
You can usually start online, but most offices still need you in person or on a live video call before they issue it. Miami-Dade requires an online pre-application before your visit, Clark County and El Paso County take online applications, and New York City books everything through Project Cupid.
Of the 50 states and DC, 30 let you marry the day the license is issued, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and DC. Arkansas and Oklahoma add a wait only for applicants under 18. Delaware, Louisiana, New York and South Carolina wait about a day, and 14 states wait two to three days.
You, your officiant and any required witnesses sign it, then it goes back to the office that issued it. The officiant has 5 days in New York, 10 days in California, Florida and Clark County, Nevada, 30 days in Texas and 63 days in Colorado. Once it is recorded, you can order certified copies.