Things You'll Need:
- Birth certificate (or passport) and at least one photo ID.
- Payment for a marriage license and any additional fees. Prices will vary by state and service
- Officiant such as a priest or minister
- Marriage license and certificate
- Court order if you are under 18 and your state requires it
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Step 1
You'll want to verify that your state permits same sex marriages. At the moment, it is only possible for residents of Massachusetts to be granted a same sex marriage in the United States, but this could, of course, change with time. To find out whether your state currently authorizes same sex marriage, contact your state legislature’s office. If you’re state does not offer same sex marriages, it may still be possible to obtain a domestic partnership or civil union, both of which are offered in a number of U.S. states and affords same sex couples many of the same rights as those provided for married couples. Either way, make sure you know the law to avoid being turned down because of residency requirements or other legal loopholes.
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Step 2
You and your partner will need to get a marriage license. The county clerk or State Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (within the State Department of Health) can provide you with this. Don’t forget to bring a birth certificate or passport and a photo ID. To be safe, bring more than one photo ID. Depending on your state, both parties may need to appear in person to apply for your license, so find out this information before you go. Also note that marriage licenses are only valid for a certain number of days after they’ve been obtained. Therefore, make sure to find out when your license expires, so that you can plan your wedding accordingly.
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Step 3
Once you’ve received your marriage license, you’ll be well on your way to getting hitched. The next step you’ll need to take is finding an officiant to marry you. You have the opportunity to be married by a Justice of the Peace, in-state clergy or out-of-state clergy, depending on your preference. You may also have the option of bringing in a friend or family member to receive one-time permission to serve as your officiant, but this varies depending on where you’re being married. You may also need witnesses for the ceremony so check with your state to find out the law. For gay couples, it may be more difficult to find a willing practitioner, so check out some websites for same sex specific officiants (see Resources).
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Step 4
Once you’ve been married, you should receive a marriage license 60 to 120 days after the legal marriage has been performed.
Comments
diazmarvin said
on 6/22/2009 hi... am marvin 19 years old