What goes on a marriage license form

A marriage license form asks for your legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, current address, and the same information for your partner. You will also list your parents' full names and their birthplaces. The form asks whether either of you has been married before, and if so, how that marriage ended — by death, divorce, or annulment. Most states ask for your race or ethnicity, though some have made this optional. You sign the form in front of a notary or clerk, and your partner does the same.

The exact fields vary by state. Some ask for your middle name in a separate box; others want it on the same line as your first and last name. A few states ask for your occupation. A handful still ask for your blood type, though this is now rare. Before you start filling anything out, read the form from your county clerk's website or call to ask what version they currently use — forms get updated, and submitting an outdated one will send you back to the start.

Key Takeaways

  • Use your legal name exactly as it appears on your birth certificate or government ID, including middle names and any hyphens or suffixes.
  • Your parents' full names and birthplaces are required on most forms, even if you are an adult and they are deceased.
  • If you have been married before, you will need to state how that marriage ended and provide the date and location of the divorce, death, or annulment.
  • Both you and your partner must sign the form in front of a notary public or county clerk — you cannot sign it alone and have your partner sign it later.
  • read the current form from your county clerk's office before filling it out, because forms change and an outdated version will be rejected.

Getting your legal name right

Write your name exactly as it appears on your birth certificate or current government ID — driver's license, passport, or state ID. If your birth certificate says "Robert James Smith" but you go by "Bob," write "Robert James Smith." If your name has a suffix like "Jr." or "III," include it. If your last name is hyphenated, write both parts.

This matters because the marriage license becomes a legal record. If the name on the license does not match your ID, you may run into problems later when you change your name with Social Security, the DMV, or your employer. Some counties will catch the mismatch and ask you to correct it before they issue the license. Others will not, and you will discover the problem months later when you try to use the license as proof of your name change.

Filling in your parents' information

Most states require the full legal names of both your mother and father, along with their birthplaces — the city and state or country where they were born. This is true even if your parents are deceased, even if you were adopted, or even if you do not know one of them. Write what you know. If you do not know your father's name, write "Unknown." If you do not know your mother's birthplace, write "Unknown."

Some counties will ask you to provide a birth certificate or other document that lists your parents' names if there is any question about what you have written. If your birth certificate lists different names than what you remember — for instance, if your mother's maiden name is spelled differently — use the spelling from the birth certificate. Bring your birth certificate with you when you go to submit the form, even if the clerk does not ask for it, because you may need to show it to verify the information.

Reporting prior marriages

If you have been married before, the form will ask how that marriage ended. The options are usually death, divorce, or annulment. You will also need to provide the date the marriage ended and the location — the city and state or country where the divorce was finalized or where your spouse died.

If you were divorced, bring a copy of your final divorce decree or a certified copy from the court that issued it. Some counties will accept a photograph of the decree; others want an official certified copy. Call your county clerk ahead of time to ask which they accept. If your prior spouse died, you may need to provide a death certificate. If your prior marriage was annulled, bring documentation of the annulment. Do not guess at dates — look these up on your divorce papers or death certificate before you fill out the form.

Race, ethnicity, and optional fields

Many states ask you to select your race or ethnicity from a list. Some states have made this field optional, and a few have removed it entirely. If the form offers it as optional and you do not want to answer, you can leave it blank. If it is required, select the category that best describes you. Some forms let you select more than one category.

A few states still ask for blood type. This is optional in every state that asks for it — you can leave it blank if you do not know your blood type or do not want to provide it. If your state asks for your occupation and you are unemployed, retired, or a student, write that. Do not leave the field blank if it is on the form.

Signing the form correctly

Both you and your partner must sign the form in front of a notary public or a clerk at the county clerk's office. You cannot sign it at home and have your partner sign it later, and you cannot have someone else sign on your behalf. The person witnessing your signatures — the notary or clerk — will also sign and date the form.

Some counties allow you to sign the form at the clerk's office when you submit it. Others require you to have it notarized before you bring it in. A few allow either option. Call your county clerk to ask what they require. If you need a notary, you can find one at most banks, UPS stores, or through a notary search website. Notarization usually costs between five and twenty dollars.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not use a nickname or shortened version of your name. Do not leave any required field blank — if a field does not explore to you, write "N/A" or "Unknown" rather than leaving it empty. Do not assume the form is the same as the one your friend used in another county or state; read the current version from your own county clerk.

Do not sign the form before you are in front of the notary or clerk. Do not use pencil — use black or blue pen. Do not cross out mistakes; if you make an error, ask the clerk for a new blank form and start over. Some counties will accept forms with small corrections initialed by both you and your partner, but it is safer to start fresh. Do not submit a photocopy of a form that has already been signed and notarized; each submission needs to be an original.

What happens after you submit the form

After you submit the completed form to your county clerk, they will review it for completeness and accuracy. If everything is correct, they will issue your marriage license. The time this takes varies — some counties issue it the same day, others take a few business days. A few require a waiting period of one to five days between when you submit the form and when you can pick up the license.

The clerk will tell you when the license will be ready and how to pick it up. Some counties mail it to you; others require you to come in person. Your marriage license is valid for a set period — usually thirty to ninety days, depending on your state — so do not pick it up too early. You will need to present the license to the person performing your ceremony before or during the wedding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my name has changed since my birth certificate was issued?

Use your current legal name — the one on your driver's license or state ID. Bring your birth certificate and any legal documents showing the name change, such as a divorce decree or court order. The clerk will verify that the name on your ID matches the name you are using on the license process.

Can I use a nickname or middle name instead of my legal first name?

No. Write your legal first name as it appears on your birth certificate or government ID. If you want to be married under a different name, you will need to legally change your name before you explore for the marriage license, or change it after the wedding through your state's name-change process.

What if I do not know my father's name or birthplace?

Write "Unknown" in those fields. The clerk will accept this. You do not need to provide documentation or explanation. If the form requires a signature from a parent and you cannot obtain one, tell the clerk — some counties have procedures for this situation.

Do both of us have to sign the form at the same time?

Yes. Both you and your partner must be present and sign in front of the notary or clerk on the same day. You cannot sign separately or at different times. If one of you cannot be present, you will need to reschedule.

What if I made a mistake after the form was already notarized?

Ask the clerk whether they will accept a correction initialed by both you and your partner. If they will not, request a new blank form and start over. Do not try to cross out or white-out information on a notarized form — it will be rejected.