Obtaining the marriage certificate

To be married in the United States, your bride and groom must obtain a Marriage License.
The state issuing the license determines who may legally marry. It is necessary to obtain the
license before any ceremony, whether civil or religious.

Marriage licenses are valid only for a specified period of time. The length of validity of the
license varies depending on the state, and determines the maximum time allowed between
securing a license and getting married. In many states, the validity is between 30 and 60
days, although some states have a longer validity period.

People frequently choose to obtain the license a week or two before the wedding ceremony.
The county clerk at city or town hall usually issues the marriage license. The marriage
license must be issued in the state in which the wedding will be held. The bride and groom
must appear together when applying for the license.

Steps to get a Marriage License and getting Legally Married in the United
States:

1. The bride and groom must bring identification, necessary paperwork, fees, and sometimes
blood test results to the county clerk.
2. The marriage license is either mailed or picked up by the bride and groom. There is sometimes a waiting period, depending on the state.
3. You can only get married by someone legally allowed to do so in your state.
4. The person entitled to perform the duties, usually two witnesses, and sometimes the bride and groom sign the marriage license.
5. The marriage license is returned to the county clerk’s office.
6. About a week later, copies of the certified marriage certificate can be purchased from
the clerk’s office.