Important Factors To Know When You Apply For A Marriage License
When you plan on getting married, you may already know you must first apply for a license from the county. You need to have this license in place before your marriage can be considered legally valid.
However, if you have never before been married, you may not know much about applying for and getting one. It can help you to keep some important facts in mind when you go to the county office to apply for and get a marriage license.
Paying Fees
The first fact you may need to be aware of involves the cost of getting a marriage license. The county will charge you a fee to issue you one. You must pay this fee in full before a marriage license will be provided to you.
If you show up at the courthouse with no cash or any way to pay for the marriage license, you may be turned away and told to come back. This delay can force you to put your wedding plans on hold or change the date you get married.
Attesting to Relationship
When you apply for a marriage license, you also will be asked to attest to your relationship with your soon-to-be spouse. The county clerk will ask if either of you has been married before. They will also ask if you and your intended are biologically related to each other.
You must swear to your answers in front of the clerk handling your marriage license application. These answers will be recorded and can influence if the county can issue your marriage license. If, for example, you say you are first cousins with your intended, you may not get a marriage license if cousin marriage is outlawed in your state.
Applying in Enough Time
Finally, you need to apply for and get a marriage license in enough time prior to your wedding. Depending on where you live, you may need to get it issued to you at least two or three days in advance. You may be unable to get it issued the same day or the day before you plan on getting married.
When you intend on getting a marriage license, you need to keep some basic facts in mind. You may need to pay a fee to get one issued to you. You also may be required to attest to facts, such as not being related to your intended, in front of the county clerk. You likewise may need to apply for a marriage license several days prior to your wedding ceremony being held.
Contact your county office to learn more about getting a marriage license.