What goes on a marriage certificate and where
A marriage certificate is a legal record that documents your marriage. The form itself is usually one or two pages and asks for the same information from both spouses: full legal names, dates of birth, addresses, parents' names, and whether either of you has been married before. Some states also ask for your Social Security numbers, race or ethnicity, and education level. The officiant — the person who performed the ceremony — fills in the date and location of the marriage and signs the form.
You do not fill out the entire certificate yourself. You and your spouse complete the sections marked for you, the officiant completes their section, and then witnesses sign if your state requires them. The county clerk or vital records office processes the completed form and issues the official certificate. What you fill out depends on whether you are completing the form before the ceremony or after, and whether your state uses a single unified form or separate documents for the process and the certificate.
Key Takeaways
- Use your legal name exactly as it appears on your birth certificate or government ID, not a nickname or shortened version.
- Write dates in the format your state specifies — usually month, day, and year — and use the full four-digit year.
- The officiant and any required witnesses must sign in blue or black ink on the lines designated for their signatures.
- Submit the completed form to your county clerk or vital records office within the timeframe your state requires, usually within days or weeks of the ceremony.
- Keep a copy of the filed certificate for your records; you will need it to update your name with Social Security, your employer, and your insurance.
Before the ceremony: the marriage license process
Most states require you to obtain a marriage license before the ceremony. This is a separate document from the certificate. You and your spouse go to the county clerk's office together, bring identification and proof of age, and fill out an process form. The process asks for your legal names, dates of birth, current addresses, and information about any previous marriages. Some states ask whether you have had an STI test or completed a premarital counseling course, depending on state law.
You will need to bring a government-issued ID — a driver's license, passport, or state ID card — and your birth certificate or a certified copy. If you have been married before, bring the divorce decree or death certificate of your previous spouse. The clerk will review your process, collect a fee (usually between $20 and $100), and issue a marriage license. This license is valid for a set period, often 30 to 90 days, so schedule your ceremony within that window. The license itself is not the certificate; it is the permission to marry.
Filling in your section on the certificate
After the ceremony, you and your spouse will receive the marriage certificate form to complete. Print or write clearly in black or blue ink. Use your full legal name — the name on your birth certificate or government ID — not a nickname, maiden name, or professional name. If your legal name includes a suffix like Jr. or III, include it exactly as it appears on your ID.
Write your date of birth in the format your state specifies. Most states use month, day, and year (for example, 03/15/1990 or March 15, 1990). Check the form to see which format is requested. Write your current address, the city and state where you were born, and your parents' full names. If a parent is deceased, write their name as it would have appeared on a birth certificate. Some forms ask whether you have been married before; answer yes or no and provide the date and location of any previous marriage.
Do not cross out or use white-out. If you make a mistake, ask the clerk for a new form. Sign your name on the line marked for your signature. Your spouse completes the same sections with their own information and signature.
The officiant's role and signature
The person who performed your ceremony — a minister, judge, justice of the peace, or other authorized officiant — fills in the date and location of the marriage. They write the city and county where the ceremony took place and the date in the format the form specifies. They then sign the form on the line marked for the officiant's signature and print their name and title below the signature. Some states require the officiant to include their license or registration number.
The officiant must sign in blue or black ink. If the officiant signs in pencil or another color, the form may be rejected by the county clerk. If your officiant is unavailable to sign after the ceremony, contact the county clerk's office when ready. Some states allow the officiant to sign the form later, but there are time limits, usually within a few days or weeks. Do not sign the officiant's line yourself.
Witnesses and their signatures
Some states require one or two witnesses to the marriage to sign the certificate. Witnesses must be present at the ceremony and be of legal age (usually 18 or older). They sign on the lines marked for witnesses and print their names below their signatures. Like the officiant, witnesses must use blue or black ink.
If your state requires witnesses and you do not have them present at the ceremony, you will need to locate them after the fact to sign the form. This can delay filing. If you cannot find a witness, contact the county clerk's office to ask whether you can proceed without the signature or whether you need to file an affidavit explaining the absence. Not all states require witnesses, so check your state's rules before the ceremony.
Submitting the certificate to the county clerk
Once you, your spouse, the officiant, and any required witnesses have signed the form, submit it to the county clerk's office in the county where the marriage took place. Most states require submission within a specific timeframe — often within 10 days to 30 days of the ceremony. Late submissions may be rejected or require additional paperwork.
You can usually submit the form in person, by mail, or sometimes online, depending on your county. If you submit by mail, use certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery. Include any required fee, which varies by state but is often $10 to $25 for processing. The clerk will review the form for completeness and accuracy. If something is missing or incorrect, they will contact you to correct it before filing.
After filing: getting your official certificate
After the county clerk files the marriage certificate, it becomes a public record. You can order official certified copies from the vital records office, usually the same office where you filed the form. There is a fee for each copy, typically $10 to $30. You will need certified copies to change your name with Social Security, update your driver's license, change your name with your employer, and update insurance policies and bank accounts.
Order multiple copies at once — at least three or four — because you will need them for different agencies and some may be lost or damaged. You can order copies in person, by mail, or online through your state's vital records website. Processing time varies; some offices issue copies the same day, while others take one to two weeks. Keep the original filed certificate in a safe place and use the certified copies for official purposes.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most common error is using a name that does not match your government ID. If your legal name is Margaret but you go by Maggie, use Margaret on the certificate. Mismatched names can cause problems later when you try to change your name officially or use the certificate for other purposes. Another frequent mistake is writing the date in the wrong format or using a two-digit year instead of four digits.
Signing in pencil or a color other than blue or black can cause the form to be rejected. So can crossing out information or using white-out. If you make a mistake, ask for a new form. Do not have the officiant sign before the ceremony or sign the officiant's line yourself. If the form is submitted late or with missing signatures, the clerk will contact you, but this delays the filing and can create problems if you need the certificate quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my name on the marriage certificate after it is filed?
No. Once the certificate is filed with the county clerk, you cannot change the names on it. If your name is misspelled or incorrect, you must file an amended certificate with the vital records office, which requires a court order in most states. This is a separate legal process and takes several weeks. To avoid this, verify that all names are spelled correctly and match your government ID before submitting the form.
What if the officiant will not sign the certificate?
Contact the county clerk's office when ready. Some states allow you to file an affidavit stating that the ceremony took place and was performed by the person named, even if they refuse to sign. Other states may require you to obtain a court order. The process varies by state, so call your county clerk to find out what options are available to you.
Do I need to bring the marriage license to the ceremony?
Yes. The officiant needs to see the marriage license to verify that you are legally permitted to marry. Bring the license itself, not a photocopy. After the ceremony, the officiant will use the license information to complete the certificate form.
How long does it take for the certificate to be official after I submit it?
Processing time varies by county, but most offices file the certificate within one to two weeks of receiving it. You can call the county clerk's office to check the status. Once filed, you can order certified copies, though some offices have a waiting period of a few days before copies are available.
What if I got married in one state but now live in another?
File the certificate in the county where the marriage took place, not where you live now. You will need to order certified copies from that county's vital records office. If you need copies quickly and cannot travel, you can usually order them by mail or online through the state's vital records website.