How to Obtain a Copy of Your Marriage License
A marriage license seals the commitment between two people for life, or at least until they decide to part. It is a legal document signed by the officiant once the bride and groom says, "I do." Your County Clerk's office, town hall, or other vital records office archives a copy of your marriage license. By completing a few forms and submitting some personal identification, you can retrieve a copy of your marriage license in a few days.
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Instructions
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Contact the department in your county that handles vital records. In most states, it is the County Clerk's office, although in other states it can be the town hall. Be sure to contact the location in the county that you were married at. This can be done by phone, writing or by visiting the location in person. Some offices even offer an online method.
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Inform the receptionist of your intent to retrieve a copy of your marriage license. Complete the marriage certificate request and provide the clerk with proof of identity. In addition, you will have to provide the clerk with the full name of the husband and wife, the date, city, county and state where the ceremony took place and your relationship to the couple, which includes providing the recording office with proof of address, phone number and the reason why you would like to have a copy of the record. However, if you contacted the office by phone or mail, the documents will be mailed to you to complete and return. If the office offers online requests you can complete requests via the web form.
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Provide the clerk with a photocopy of your identification card or driver's license. If you submitted your documents online, you can submit a scanned or faxed copy of your identification card. You may also be required to pay a fee to obtain your license. The fees vary by state and county. If there is a fee imposed, the monies must be paid before the clerk can issue you a copy of your license.
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Wait for the license to arrive in the mail. Because the documents are usually archived, it may take a few days to a few weeks depending on the office to receive a copy of your marriage license.
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- Photo Credit the marriage image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
