Importance of Location for Marriage License

• Civil marriages require marriage licenses issued by state courts, clerk's offices or administrative offices. Issuance of a marriage license indicates that the couple meets the requirements for legal marriage according to state law. Though each state sets its own marriage laws, the requirements to get a marriage license often include a minimum age for each intended spouse, parental consent for someone who doesn't meet the age requirement and mental capacity to enter into a legal marriage. Some states also require blood tests, vaccinations or medical exams. The application forms to receive a marriage license often include questions regarding each party's ability to meet the requirements for legal marriage in the state.
  
  

Choice of State

• A couple might need to choose between more than one state when deciding where they will apply for their marriage license. For example, future spouses might reside in one state while planning a wedding in another state. A couple should research the marriage laws of each relevant state to find out whether the state issues marriage licenses to non-residents and, if so, learn whether the state requires additional procedures. Maine, for example, requires Maine couples to apply for their marriage license in a county where at least one of the intended spouses resides. Non-residents, however, may apply for marriage licenses in any Maine county.
  
  In addition, a same-sex couple likely needs to choose the state location of their marriage-license application according to laws of each state. Massachusetts, for example, changed its laws on July 31, 2008, to allow the issuance of marriage licenses to out-of-state couples without requiring that they affirm plans to live in the state.
  
  

Choice of City or County

• After choosing the state in which they plan to legally marry, each couple must identify the city, town or county where they will apply for a marriage license. Some states allow a couple to apply for a state-issued marriage license in any county within the state, even if neither future spouse resides in the county. For example, California allows a couple to apply for a marriage license in any county and use the issued license in a different county, as long as they marry in the state. Each couple should check the city, town or county requirements to find out whether the locality imposes restrictions on use of an issued license.
  
  

Clerk's Office

• After choosing the city, town or county where they plan to apply for a marriage license, each couple should contact the clerk's office where the locality issues licenses. Some cities and counties offer marriage licenses at local courthouses, while others provide license services at city halls or other administrative offices. The clerk's office might provide online versions of the application forms on a website or require completion of the forms in person. Some clerk's offices allow non-residents to submit their forms by mail.