How Much Is a Wedding License?
No matter where you’re planning to get married or your budget, there’s one cost you won’t be able to avoid: the marriage license fee. If you want to make it official, you’ll have to pay.
A marriage license is a legal document that shows that your local government has okayed you and your fiance to marry. (It’s different from a marriage certificate, which comes later and proves you and your soon-to-be spouse are legally married.)
Luckily, the worst part of obtaining a wedding license and certificate is that it’s a bit of paperwork and usually requires multiple steps. The marriage license fee is typically minimal (at least, it is compared to the costs of the average wedding). However, it’s still a factor to include within your wedding budget.
So, how much is a wedding license in your state, and how do you get one? Here’s what you need to know.
What You Will Learn
- Step 1: Get All Your Details in Order
- Step 2: Gather Your Documents and Meet with the Appropriate People
- How Much Does It Cost for a Marriage License?
- Things to Remember When Getting a Marriage License
- How Much Is It For a Marriage License FAQs
- Another Affordable But Necessary Wedding Cost: Wedding Insurance
Step 1: Get All Your Details in Order
Before you fill out a marriage license application, you’ll need to confirm your wedding date and where the marriage ceremony will take place. This is because you only have a certain number of days to use the marriage license after it’s issued, and you usually must file the marriage license with the county clerk’s office where you’re getting married.
This can prove a bit tricky for those planning a destination wedding in another country where the requirements may differ or where a wedding won’t be recognized stateside. As such, some couples decide only to host a symbolic wedding ceremony in an international destination. Then, they’ll hold an additional brief civil ceremony in their home county, before or after the destination wedding, just to make things legal.
Step 2: Gather Your Documents and Meet with the Appropriate People
When you’re ready to apply for your marriage license, you’ll need to present the county clerk’s office with various legal documents. You can sometimes start the application process online, but you may need to appear in person to finalize the process.
Once you pay for and receive the license, you, your officiant, and your witnesses will sign the legal document. The officiant takes the license from there, and sends it to the appropriate parties. Soon after, you’ll receive a certified copy of your marriage certificate in the mail.
(Not so) fun fact: Historically, some states required couples to have blood tests completed before issuing a marriage license. This was to ensure couples didn’t transmit certain diseases. However, this practice has mostly been phased out. However, New York State does still require some applicants to get a blood test for sickle cell anemia.
How Much Does It Cost for a Marriage License?
So, how much can you expect to pay for all this? The marriage license cost, as well as the exact law surrounding how to get one, may differ according to state.
Here are the base fees for all 50 states:
- Alabama: $40–$80
- Alaska: $60
- Arizona: $72–$83
- Arkansas: $60
- California: $60–$110
- Colorado: $30
- Connecticut: $30–$50
- Delaware: $70–$120
- Florida: $86
- Georgia: $50–$60
- Hawaii: $65
- Idaho: $30
- Illinois: $60–$75
- Indiana: $25
- Iowa: $35
- Kansas: $85.50
- Kentucky: $35
- Louisiana: $27.50
- Maine: $40
- Maryland: $35–$85
- Massachusetts: $50
- Michigan: $20
- Minnesota: $115
- Mississippi: $20–$23
- Missouri: $50
- Montana: $53
- Nebraska: $25
- Nevada: $102
- New Hampshire: $50
- New Jersey: $28
- New Mexico: $25
- New York: $40
- North Carolina: $60
- North Dakota: $65
- Ohio: $36–$76
- Oklahoma: $50
- Oregon: $60
- Pennsylvania: $50–$80
- Rhode Island: $24
- South Carolina: $30–$100
- South Dakota: $40
- Tennessee: $100
- Texas: $60-$81
- Utah: $40–$50
- Vermont: $60
- Virginia: $30
- Washington: $59
- West Virginia: $57
- Wisconsin: $110
- Wyoming: $30
Some states may charge more for licenses for couples who do not live in the state but plan to be married there. Some states may also offer fee discounts if you can prove you sought out premarital counseling in advance of applying for your license.
Things to Remember When Getting a Marriage License
Now that you know how much are wedding license costs in your state or wedding locale, you can set aside the appropriate amount in your wedding budget. However, beyond the price, you also need to know a few more things that will ensure that getting your marriage records goes smoothly.
- When completing the in-person part of the application process, both parties must be present.
- There may be a required waiting period between when you get your license and when you can get married. This may be as short as a day or as long as several days. This is just to ensure that couples don’t run into a hastily planned marriage.
- Marriage licenses also typically expire 30 to 90 days from the issue date. If you allow it to expire before you get married, you’ll have to start the application process all over again.
Additionally, you should research the laws surrounding wedding licenses where you plan to get married as early in the wedding planning process as possible. Different states and counties have different rules, which may be updated at certain times, so your best bet is to check directly with the county clerk’s office for current requirements.
How Much Is It For a Marriage License FAQs
How Do You Get a Marriage License?
To get a marriage license, you’ll need to file an application with your county clerk’s office (or the county clerk’s office where you want to get married). After the application is completed, your license will be issued. You’ll then take that paper to your officiant on the day of your wedding ceremony when all relevant parties will sign it. Then, the officiant will submit it on your behalf, so you receive a final marriage certificate.
How Much Is a Wedding License in Florida?
Florida’s marriage license fee is $86. If you and your spouse-to-be are both Florida residents and if you take a premarital class, it can be reduced to $61. Florida marriage licenses come with a three-day waiting period between the issue date and the wedding ceremony, but it can be waived if you take a four-hour premarital preparation course.
How Much Is a Wedding License in California?
California is one of a handful of states that do not have a consistent marriage license fee across all counties. Instead, you’ll find that the cost depends upon the area you are marrying. For example, the public marriage license fee is $91 in Los Angeles County, $97 in Sacramento County, and $61 in Orange County.
How Much Is a Wedding License in Texas?
The cost of a marriage license will differ in Texas depending on where you’re getting married. Each county has its own fee, but most are around $80, with some counties offering a discount if you complete premarital counseling.
How Much Is a Wedding License in New York?
The marriage license fee in New York State is $40, while the marriage license fee in New York City is $35.
Another Affordable But Necessary Wedding Cost: Wedding Insurance
While a wedding license isn’t expensive, it is necessary to move forward with your wedding. The same could be said of wedding insurance. It’ll require a small portion of your wedding budget, but it could save you endless headaches during the wedding planning process and money in the long run.
Learn more about BriteCo’s wedding insurance, including why you might need it, what it covers, how much it costs, and how to get a policy.
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