Hawaii State Wedding Rules
The state encourages visitors and residents alike to marry on its shores, providing them with a fairly simple preparation process. Additionally, it requires no waiting period period between receiving the application and issuing the marriage license. However, there are a few state-mandated laws that couples must adhere to before tying the knot.
Other People Are Reading
-
Eligibility
-
The state of Hawaii does not require that couples be in residency in the state for any period of time, nor does it have any restriction on foreigners marrying there. Both parties must be over 18 years of age, or 16 with parental and judicial consent. Same-sex couples are not allowed to marry in Hawaii. However, beginning in January 2012, they will be able to enter into civil unions which will provide the same rights as marriages.
Application Requirements
-
Both the bride and groom must appear before a marriage license agent to apply for a license. They may either obtain the application form from the Hawaii Department of Health or download the form and present it together. (Please see Resources.) A marriage license is issued when the application and application fee are presented; the license will be filled in by your officiant after your ceremony. The license allows you to marry anywhere within the state of Hawaii. Blood tests are not necessary.
-
Necessary Documents
-
Before appearing before the marriage license agent, gather together the necessary paperwork, to avoid the hassle of making a second trip. Proof of age is imperative, although the type required depends on the age of the applicant. If 19 or over, a state-issued driver's license will suffice. However, for those 18 and under, a birth certificate must accompany photo I.D. Lastly, if either party was previously married, a proof of divorce or spouse's death certificate must be presented to prove that the previous marriage was dissolved at least 30 days before the new application was made.
Your Officiant
-
Your officiant must be licensed to wed by and within the state of Hawaii. If you are unsure as to whether your chosen marriage performer meets this requirement, ask that his license be inspected by the State Health Department. The department happily performs this service, to save you the stress of needing to book a last-minute officiant. However, if you do need to look for another marriage performer, the state provides native Hawaiian officiants who remain on-call for just such occasions.
-
References
- Photo Credit Digital Vision/Digital Vision/Getty Images
