In What Ways Is A Marriage License Important In A Wedding?
When it’s time for a wedding, you have a lot of thinking that you might just miss one very tiny but very important detail, your marriage license. There are over a million and one things to do before your wedding but you must not forget to go down to the courthouse and gill out all the necessary legal paperwork before the day of the wedding ceremony. When you have obtained your marriage license, you are free the tie the knot and look forward to getting your marriage certificate and although they are not the same thing, they are very important nonetheless.
Marriage licenses are very important as without them, you would not be able to get married. They serve as a go-ahead for you get married and if it isn’t present at the wedding, your officiant isn’t allowed to perform the ceremony. You can apply for a marriage certificate in any county and state where you wish to get married and it doesn’t have to be one where you reside. It is important to get this prior to the wedding or the ceremony would most likely not hold. When you are done with this, you and your spouse, as well as the officiant and witnesses, will sign on it and in no time you would be getting your marriage certificate which is equally as important to be viewed as husband and wife in the eyes of the law.
What is a marriage license and why is it so important?
A marriage license is known as a very important legal document which shows that union between two people is recognized by the government as a legal union. When it has been obtained, it must be signed by the groom, bride, groom officiant and a number of witnesses according to the state of choice and then filed by the officiant to get your marriage certificate mailed back to you in a few weeks. You might be wondering just why a marriage certificate is as important but without it, you can not get legally married and you would not have a marriage certificate.
So When Can I Get My Marriage License?
Getting your marriage license is all dependent on where and when you would be getting married. If you plan on getting married in a different state, you would have to go to that state to file for a license. Each state have different waiting periods and requirements but the most common requirements include;
- ID card.
- Birth certificate.
- Proof of divorce.
You are expected to go there with your spouse too for proof of identity and each state offers different rules. Some marriage licenses last as long as 30 days and some last up to 90 days. It is important to note that these licenses come with expiration and if they are not used within this period, you would have to apply for another one. You cannot also apply for a license in the morning or the day before your wedding as each state has a waiting period as long as days. This is why it is advisable to pick a marriage license only when you are sure of the marriage date. This way you do not have to move the wedding forward or backward. A certain wedding date can prevent you from making another trip down to the county clerk’s office.
What about destination weddings?
Many people always wonder just how to go about a destination wedding and how to get a marriage license if so. If you are planning to have your wedding abroad, you can have a small civil ceremony where you can sign your marriage license before going over to do your wedding ceremony in another country. By doing so, you would rest assured that all your paperwork is legal and you don’t have to border yourself a lot with carrying your documents about and if they are in a certain language as well as how long it can take for translation.
Conclusion
This goes to show just how important a marriage license is if you want your marriage to be considered legal in the eyes of the law. If you need more information on this topic, be sure to visit www.usmarriagelaws.com
