Marriage is an incredible journey of commitment, love, and endless possibilities. That’s why it’s been around for as long as we can think back in time.
But before you can begin your new life together, you’ll need to do two very important things: first you’ll need to obtain a marriage license, and second, you’ll need to officially get married so you can get your marriage certificate. These documents create the legal record of your married status and are essential to things such as changing your last name, applying for visas, and proving certain rights that only come from being married.
In this article, we want you to understand the difference between a marriage license and a marriage certificate, knowing when to get what, when to apply for it, and how to finalize it.
Marriage License v. Marriage Certificate
So, let’s first jump in to the differences between the two:
Marriage License
Before you receive your marriage certificate, you must obtain a marriage license. The marriage license comes first and is the legal document that states both persons meet the requirements to be legally married.
Marriage Certificate
Once you are married, the license is signed and returned to the country clerk’s office, where they then issue a marriage certificate. The marriage certificate is the document that proves you are officially recognized as married by the government.
What is a marriage license?
The marriage license is essentially your application to be married.
The couple will apply through their local county clerk’s office and submit a marriage license application either in person or online, depending on what your county offers.
You should be prepared to provide your government-issued identification, basic personal information such as full name, social security number (if you have one), parent information, and birthplace.
Once both persons are approved, the county clerk’s office will issue your wedding license. If you complete the process in person, they will either hand you a printed copy of your marriage license or mail it to you. If you obtain the license online, they will send you an email with your marriage license.
The marriage license is what is presented to the wedding officiant who is going to marry you on your special day.
What is a marriage certificate?
The marriage certificate is the signed agreement between two people, issued by the courts, stating they are married to each other.
After your wedding ceremony, the marriage license is submitted back to the county clerk’s office where they certify and recognize the license, officially accepting it to issue you your marriage certificate.
You then are issued a “certified copy” of your marriage certificate for your own records, and for the local government as proof of your married status in the United States. It is either mailed to you or they will have you come to the county clerks office to pick it up.
If you are getting married virtually through an online wedding company, you will also receive a digital copy of your marriage certificate shortly after the marriage license is submitted by the officiant to the courts.
The marriage certificate not only validates your marital status, but it can be used to change your name after marriage, or for any other legal purposes.
When is the best time to apply for a marriage license?
Each state is a little different when it comes to how long the marriage license are valid for, but a marriage license is usually valid for 30-32 days from when it is issued. So, the best time to apply for a marriage license is within 30 days before your wedding date.
Within those 30 days, before the expiration date, you will need to get married, sign the wedding license, and return it to the proper county clerk’s office in order for the license to be recorded to receive the marriage certificate.
How to finalize a marriage license.
A marriage license must be finalized in order for the marriage to be legally binding. This is usually done by each person signing the license in front of an officiant, the wedding officiant signing it as well, and submitting the document. Only the officiant can submit the license back to the county clerk's office.
Online ceremonies are signed digitally by all parties and submitted by the officiant online. This shortens the timetable to receive the marriage certificate.
Just remember, the officiant must be authorized by the state or county in order to be able to sign the license and submit it to the county.
Who is a marriage officiant?
A marriage officiant is a person who is authorized by the state or county to perform marriage ceremonies. Whoever legally performs your wedding ceremony, whether it is a judge, religious leader, or certified officiant; that person must be ordained by the state in order to legally perform the ceremony and sign the marriage license.
Most counties will have a way to find out who is authorized to be an officiant so that your license will be accepted. This can be found online through your counties website. If not, call your county clerks office to determine who can perform the ceremony for you.
How to Get a "Certified Copy" of Marriage Certificate
If you didn’t receive your marriage certificate, want another copy, or just plain lost your origional, how can you get a certified copy of your certificate? Before you get more confused on what we mean by a certified copy, let’s define what this is.
A "certified copy" of a marriage certificate is a copy of the marriage certificate that has been signed and sealed by the county or state clerk. The county clerk keeps the original signed marriage license for their records and then issues a certified copy of the marriage certificate. This will act as your legal document to prove you are legally married in the US and is the document you will use to record your married status in another country or for any legal action such as changing your name, applying for benefits, or applying for a visa.
To obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate, you'll need to contact the county clerk office that you got married though or through the state’s office of vital records. They will have you fill out an application, online or in person, with your personal information that was on the marriage certificate and pay a fee to obtain a copy of the certificate. You may also need to provide proof of identity and the date of the marriage.
Once you do this, the county clerk will mail you a certified copy of your marriage certificate.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between marriage licenses and marriage certificates is important for anyone getting married. But none of it should be overwhelming or take much thought. This simple article should help you know the differences and navigate the process effortlessly.