States that Perform Online Marriages

Looking to get married online? Not sure where and how you can get married online? Let's dive into this and see how you can make this happen. But first, let's talk about this idea of getting married online.

Since the COVID pandemic hit the world, and with the advancement of technology and changing societal lifestyles, virtual marriages are on the rise.

Some people think that virtual weddings were only allowed and performed during the pandemic. That’s not the case! 

There is a reason why couples are searching for where they can have a virtual ceremony and whether they are legal. The pros of an online wedding are quite appealing:

• Save money
• Relatively quick process from start to end
• No travel required
• Those who cannot attend physically can join virtually
• Location where the couple marries opens up greatly

Arizona

You can legally get married online through a virtual call in Pima County. 

The couple has several options to choose from when getting married through Zoom by a Judge in the Superior Court. First, the couple will need a marriage license from Pima County and must provide two witnesses.  The couple will have to appear in person at Pima County Superior Court or Ajo Justice Court to get the marriage license. You and your fiancé will need to be physically present in the state of Arizona when getting married. 

“No Cost” weddings are available on Tuesdays and Fridays (excluding recognized government holidays) between 8am-5pm. There is limited availability and the courts are a few months out to when they can perform a no-cost virtual wedding. You can pay for a virtual wedding and get added into their calendar sooner, but still a waiting list.

The Justice of the Peace also conducts private weddings via Zoom, Monday thru Friday beginning at 5 pm. The couple needs to contact the Clerk of the Superior Court to schedule any virtual ceremony.

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California

California has several counties where you can get married through on a virtual call: Alameda County, Orange County, and Santra Clara. There are no residency restrictions, meaning neither party needs to be a resident of California, but the couple must be physically located in the state when getting married. Most counties in California have the ability to obtain a marriage license online, but this varies from country to county. Some counties allow the applicant to do everything virtually, while others require applicants to go in person, or have a video call for the application process. There is no waiting period to get married after being issued a marriage license.

In Alameda County, you need to first obtain an online marriage license. Both parties must appear together via video conference and be 18 years of age and older. Applicants must present a valid government-issued ID or certified copy of a birth certificate. If either applicant was previously married, and divorced, annulled, or dissolved in the past 30 days, they must present a certified copy of the final judgment. When issued a marriage license, it is valid for 90 days. For virtual ceremonies, expect delays of 2-3 weeks. You request for a virtual ceremony online and must have Microsoft Teams and be physically located in the state of California.

In Orange County, Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen offers virtual marriage services to the public by appointment only. The department offers virtual marriage appointments from 8:30am to 4pm, Monday through Friday, except holidays, and on a first come, first served basis and are limited. Couples must purchase a marriage license and have a virtual civil marriage ceremony performed during their appointment. Couples must be on the same video call together and be physically in the state of California, have two working email addresses, have one form of a valid government-issued photo ID, can be able to purchase a marriage license and have a marriage ceremony performed during their appointment. Appointments for license and ceremonies can be scheduled through the county's online appointment system. 

In Santa Clara County, you can obtain a marriage license online without having to appear in person and should be done before the ceremony. The couple will fill out the license application online and select either confidential or standard. After completing the application, the couple will click on “Next Steps” and email the requested information with the required attachments to the email provided; then, a clerk from the County Clerk’s Office will assist in scheduling a virtual appointment for the marriage service. Both applicants must be present in the state of California when the ceremony is performed. 

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Florida

In Lee County, marriage ceremonies are available through a virtual process for couples with a valid Lee County marriage license. After you are issued a marriage license, there is no waiting period to get married. Ceremonies are performed Monday through Friday only at 9am, 10am. 11am, 1:30om, 2:30pm and 3:30pm. 

To get the marriage license before your ceremony, the couple must complete the Marriage License Online Application, read the Family Law Handbook, fill out the Marriage License Virtual Packet, and email the completed unsigned packet to the county clerk. The county clerk will call to schedule the Zoom appointment to finalize the license. 

The marriage license is valid for 60 days, but the marriage license online application is only valid for 30 days. The couple will then contact the county clerk to schedule a virtual ceremony. 

Be prepared to provide both names of the applicants, both email addresses, both phone numbers, 9-digit Lee County Marriage License, and the date and time of requested ceremony. 

Couples must be present in the state of Florida during the ceremony and sign an affidavit swearing to this information during the video call, so be prepared to have another device with access to email during the ceremony.

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Illinois

Cook County allows virtual ceremonies in Illinois. However, the couple must be physically present in Cook County when having the ceremony. Couples can pre-register for a Marriage License on the Clerk’s office website and will be emailed their scheduled appointment time and URL to access and submit an online marriage application. The couple will then be contacted via phone during their scheduled appointment to complete the Marriage License process by virtual video meeting to have the license issued. After you the couple is issued a marriage license, they must wait 24 hours before their wedding ceremony. The license is valid for 60 days, giving you time to plan ahead.

The virtual wedding is done through Cook County Marriage and Civil Union Court, Mondays and Tuesdays. The couple can schedule appointments by calling the Court. They are limited on how many online weddings they will perform so plan accordingly.

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Texas

Now this gets a bit interesting. Texas law does not provide many details about the actual marriage ceremony and how it may be conducted. The law does not explicitly say whether an officiant can conduct a ceremony from a remote location using software like Zoom or Skype. So, this could open up a lot of possibilities. However, in some counties like Travis and Tarrant, the justices of the peace offer ceremonies using videoconferencing software.

For Tarrant County, Justice of the Peace Court 1 will perform virtual ceremonies 7 days a week between the hours of 10am to 5pm. Any valid Texas marriage license can be used to finalize the wedding. These licenses can be obtained through any county. You can schedule the virtual wedding ceremony. The couple can obtain the marriage license online through a virtual video conference in the counties that offer them. 

Once the marriage license is obtained, there is a 72-hour waiting period before the ceremony can happen. Couples who can’t prove Texas residency when applying for a marriage license will be issued an additional $100 fee. To schedule the virtual ceremony through Tarrant County, you will need to call the Justice of the Peace Court 1. 

In Travis County, virtual ceremonies are performed in precincts 3 and 5. All ceremonies require a valid marriage license that can be obtained at any Texas county clerk’s office, regardless of where you reside. The couple would need to mail or hand deliver the marriage license to the courts before their ceremony, with the courts having the license at least 3 days in advance of the ceremony. In precinct 3, the couple will schedule their ceremony via phone, email, or in person. 

Any ceremony with exchanging of vows and rings will be scheduled only on the weekends. In precinct 5, Judge Chu is available by appointment only by calling or emailing the judge. All ceremonies can be conducted in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language (with advance notice to schedule an interpreter). 

Once again, a valid marriage license from any county in Texas can be used but must be delivered by mail or in person at least 3 days before the ceremony. 

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Virtual weddings are here to stay.

As the United States and the world start to see the benefits of getting married through a virtual call, we will see the number of states that perform them increase.

Weddings are meaningful and significant for any couple starting a new chapter in their lives.