With its focus on family, friends, food, flowers and the future, a wedding day is a wonderfully romantic celebration for a couple. Yet, there is also crucial paperwork to be attended to even at such an emotional, monumental time of life. In order for a wedded union in any state to be legally recognized, a marriage license is required. Marriage licenses can be obtained from state government offices or courthouses, but only when certain criteria, that differ between the states, are followed.
Waiting Periods And Blood Test Requirements For Getting A Marriage License
Although all states issue marriage licenses under the law, laws such as those that relate to the waiting period for issuing the license after an application is made vary from state to state. Currently, Wisconsin has a six day waiting period, while New York, South Carolina and Illinois have only one day. The majority of states do not have any waiting period, while many require a wait of three days. Iowa, Maine, New Jersey and Washington are some of the states that have a three day waiting period. The main reason for requiring a wait between applying for and receiving the marriage license is to allow a change of mind to help avoid a pressure-filled environment surrounding a wedding.
To get a marriage license, some states still require blood tests. This is done to try to help prevent the spread of diseases that are especially harmful to fetuses such as German measles and sickle cell anemia. Testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is not mandatory in any state, but is often recommended in many states for a couple applying for a marriage license. At the time of this writing, blood tests before marriage are still required in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Idaho, Virginia, Montana and Oklahoma as well as some others.
The Age Of Consent And Legal Proof For The Termination Of Past Marriages
The state office should always be contacted about any requirements needed before getting a marriage license in that state as the stipulations may change at any time. Common requirements for getting marriage licenses include reaching the age of consent in a particular state, which for most states is 18, or having a parents' permission if a person is under age. One or two witnesses to the marriage ceremony is also mandatory in many states.
Legal proof of divorce or spousal death is needed for any previous marriages if either individual applying for a marriage license has been married before. Online marriage records, searched through a professional government vital record provider, can be a quick and convenient way to access a certified copy of a marriage certificate to provide this proof.
Certified Versus Informational Copies Of Online Marriage Records
Certified copies of vital records such as divorce or death certificates are printed on official paper and are considered legal documents. Informational copies, on the other hand, are typically marked as such and are not admissible as proof of either a death or a divorce. In all states, the parties named on the document may access the record, and the same goes for accessing online marriage records. In closed record states, marriage documents are not accessible by the general public. Legal representatives and immediate family members are usually able to obtain certified copies of vital records even in closed record states.
Find Marriage License information for all states online at your convenience at a trusted web archive. Also locate Online Marriage Records officially and accurately through an Internet database, accurate search system.
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