Q: How do you go about getting a Marriage License ?

A:

Every state in the United States issues marriage licenses. After the marriage ceremony, both spouses and the officiant sign the marriage license (some states require a witness). The officiant or couple then files for a certified copy of the marriage license and a marriage certificate with the government.

The requirements for getting a marriage license vary widely between governments. While many US states require a waiting period of 1 to 6 days, in Brazil, for example, the process can take 60 days. During this time the state conducts an investigation, which may include checking prior marriage records, analyzing any relationship between the fianceés, and checking each partner's blood to make sure they are not likely to produce diseased offspring due to both being likely to have the same recessive disease-causing gene.

International human rights law, and many constitutions guarantee the right to marry a partner of one's choice. The rationale in such states for marriage licenses is that the state has an overriding right on behalf of its other citizens to protect them from disease or improper marriages being performed, to keep accurate state records, or even to assure that marriage partners have had adequate time to think before marrying, in the interests of the greater society.

Make sure to check with your State and Town Hall to see what specific requrements and possible limitations they have on obtaining a marriage license. Most states have age standards as to when two people can be married.

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