How to Get Married in Wisconsin

Wisconsin is best known as the dairy state. Its renowned dairy products have saturated even its sports fans (the Green Bay Packer fans are affectionately labeled cheeseheads). It’s this down home atmosphere that makes Wisconsin appealing to so many couples living there or coming for a destination wedding. Follow these steps to get married in Wisconsin.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• marriage license
• identification

1. Decide on who you want to perform your ceremony. You’ll need this information in applying for your marriage license.

2. Choose a date. Decide loosely when you want to be married. Then, based on the availability of your chosen location, cement the date.

3. Choose a venue. You will need to provide this information also when applying for your marriage license.

4. Make a guest list. More guests cost more money, but the more the merrier. Strike a balance between these two forces if you can.

5. Get a marriage license for the state of Wisconsin. One of the two of you needs to have lived in the county you’re applying in for at least 30 days. Also, you’ll need your social security cards, valid driver’s licenses, the contact information for the person performing the ceremony and the names and birthplaces of each of your parents.

Tips & Warnings

• Bring $60 in cash for the marriage license fee to the county clerk’s office when you’re ready to apply.
• Marriage to cousins is illegal in Wisconsin.
• Same sex unions/marriages are not recognized by the state of Wisconsin.
• Wisconsin is one of the more stringent states when it comes to issuing marriage licenses. They are by no means difficult to acquire, but the process can certainly be time consuming.
• There is a six day waiting period after the application for your marriage license before it is valid. The marriage license expires in 30 days.

[carniby]

on 9/3/2008 Marriage to cousins is not illegal, just limited in Wisconsin.
Marriage license fee varies greatly by county.
The waiting period is a minimum five days AFTER the filing of the application.