What goes on a marriage license form and where
A marriage license form asks for your legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, current address, and basic information about your parents. Your fiancé provides the same details. Most states also ask whether either of you has been married before, and if so, how that marriage ended. The form itself is usually two to four pages, with one section for you, one for your fiancé, and a section for the officiant who will perform the ceremony.
The exact fields vary by state — some ask for your mother's maiden name, others do not. Some require your race or ethnicity; others have made that optional. Your county clerk's office has the specific form for your state and county, and it will show you exactly which blanks must be filled in and which are optional. You can pick up a blank form in person, read it from the county website, or request one by mail or email.
Fill the form in black or blue ink, print clearly, and use your legal name exactly as it appears on your birth certificate or ID. Do not use nicknames or abbreviations unless that is literally your legal name. If you have changed your name since your birth certificate was issued — through marriage, court order, or other means — bring documentation of that change when you submit the form.
Key Takeaways
- Use your legal name as it appears on your birth certificate or government ID, and fill in all required fields in black or blue ink with clear, legible handwriting.
- You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, parents' names, and current address, plus information about any previous marriages.
- Both you and your fiancé must sign the form in front of a notary or county clerk, depending on your state's rules.
- Submit the completed form to your county clerk's office in person, along with required documents like your ID and birth certificate.
- Processing takes one to several days in most states, and you will receive an official license that your officiant must sign during the ceremony.
Gather your documents before you start
Before you sit down to fill out the form, collect the documents you will need to bring when you submit it. Every state requires a government-issued photo ID — a driver's license, passport, or state ID card. You will also need your birth certificate, usually an official certified copy from your state's vital records office, not a photocopy from your parents' files.
If you have been married before, bring the divorce decree or death certificate of your former spouse. Some states ask for the county and state where the previous marriage took place; others want the exact date it ended. If you have changed your name since your birth certificate was issued, bring the court order or marriage certificate that documents that change.
A few states require a premarital health screening or proof that you have had one. Check your county clerk's website or call ahead to ask whether your state is one of them, and if so, what the screening covers and where you can get it done. Having all documents ready before your appointment saves time and prevents you from having to make a second trip.
Fill in your personal information accurately
Start with your legal first name, middle name, and last name. Write them exactly as they appear on your birth certificate. If your birth certificate lists a middle name you do not use, include it anyway — the form is asking for your legal name, not the name you go by. If you have no middle name, leave that field blank or write "none," depending on what the form instructs.
Enter your date of birth in the format the form specifies — usually month, day, and year. Use the full four-digit year, not a two-digit abbreviation. Write your Social Security number in the boxes or blanks provided, with no dashes unless the form shows dashes. Your current street address, city, state, and ZIP code go in the address section. Use your actual residence, not a mailing address or P.O. box, unless the form specifically allows a mailing address.
For your parents' names, write their legal names as they appear on your birth certificate. If one parent is deceased or unknown, write "deceased" or "unknown" in that field. Some forms ask for your mother's maiden name separately; others ask for both parents' names as they appear on your birth certificate. If your parents' names on your birth certificate differ from what you know them as now — because of remarriage, name change, or other reasons — use the names on the birth certificate.
Answer questions about previous marriages
If you have never been married, mark "no" or "never" in the section asking about prior marriages. If you have been married before, the form will ask how many times, when, where, and how the marriage ended. Write the county and state where you were married, and the year. For the end of the marriage, specify whether it was by divorce, death of spouse, or annulment.
If the form asks for the date the marriage ended, provide the date the divorce was final or the date of your spouse's death — not the date you separated. Some states ask for the name of your former spouse; others do not. If your state asks, write their legal name as it appeared on your marriage certificate. Have your divorce decree or death certificate in front of you when you fill this section so you have the exact dates and locations.
If you have been married more than once, list each marriage in order. Do not skip any, even if one was very brief or ended a long time ago. The form is checking that you are legally free to marry, and omitting a previous marriage can delay processing or, in rare cases, invalidate the license.
Have both signatures witnessed or notarized
After you and your fiancé have filled in all the blanks, you both must sign the form. The signature rules vary by state. Some states require both of you to sign in front of a notary public. Others allow you to sign in front of the county clerk when you submit the form. A few states let you sign at home and then have your signatures notarized separately.
Check your county clerk's website or call to find out your state's rule before you sign anything. If you sign in the wrong place or in front of the wrong person, the form may be rejected and you will have to start over. If your state requires a notary, you can find one at a bank, law office, UPS store, or online notary service. The notary will watch you sign, verify your ID, and stamp the form. This usually costs five to fifteen dollars.
Do not sign the form until you have filled in all the blanks and you are sure the information is correct. Once you sign, you cannot erase or cross out mistakes — you will have to request a new blank form and start over. Have your fiancé review the form before signing as well, to catch any errors in their information.
Submit the form to your county clerk
Take the completed, signed form to your county clerk's office in person. Bring your ID, birth certificate, and any other documents the clerk told you to bring. Some counties let you mail the form, but submitting it in person is faster and lets you ask questions if something is unclear. The clerk will review the form to make sure all required fields are filled in and all signatures are in place.
If there are errors or missing information, the clerk will tell you what needs to be fixed. Minor mistakes — like a middle initial written as a full name — can usually be corrected on the spot. If you signed in the wrong place or the form is damaged, you may have to request a new blank form. The clerk will collect a fee, which ranges from about twenty to one hundred dollars depending on your state and county.
Ask the clerk how long processing will take. In most states, you will receive your marriage license within one to five business days. Some counties offer rush processing for an extra fee. The license will be mailed to you or held at the clerk's office for pickup. Your officiant will need the original license to sign during the ceremony, so make sure you have it before your wedding date.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most common error is using a nickname or informal version of your name instead of your legal name. If your birth certificate says "Robert" but you go by "Bob," write "Robert." If your legal name includes a suffix like "Jr." or "III," include it. Mismatched names between the form and your ID will cause the clerk to reject the process.
Another frequent mistake is leaving a required field blank or writing "unknown" when the form requires an answer. If you do not know your parent's full name, call a relative or check your birth certificate again before submitting. Do not guess or abbreviate. If a field truly does not explore to you — for example, you have no middle name — write "none" or "N/A" rather than leaving it blank, unless the form says blank is acceptable.
Signing in the wrong place or having the wrong person witness your signature will delay processing. Read the instructions on the form carefully, and if they are unclear, call your county clerk before you sign. Writing in pencil, using correction fluid, or crossing out mistakes also causes rejection — if you make an error, request a new blank form and start over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a maiden name or former married name on the license?
Only if that is your current legal name. If you changed your name through marriage or court order, use your current legal name as it appears on your ID. If you want to change your name as part of getting married, you will need to do that through a separate legal process after the wedding, not on the marriage license form itself.
What if I do not know my Social Security number?
Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.gov to request a replacement card or verify your number before you fill out the form. Some states allow you to leave the field blank if you do not have a number, but most require it. Check your county clerk's website to see whether your state makes it optional.
Do I need to bring my fiancé when I submit the form?
Most states require both of you to appear in person at the clerk's office to sign the form and show ID. A few states allow one person to submit a form that the other has already signed and had notarized. Call your county clerk to ask whether you can submit separately or whether you both must be present.
How long is a marriage license valid before I have to use it?
Most states issue a license that is valid for thirty to ninety days from the date it is issued. Some states have longer validity periods. Check your county clerk's website or ask when you pick up the license. If your wedding is more than ninety days away, you may want to wait to submit the form until closer to your wedding date.
What happens if I make a mistake after I have already submitted the form?
Call your county clerk's office right away and explain the error. If the form has not been processed yet, the clerk may be able to issue a corrected form. If the license has already been issued, you will need to contact the clerk about whether it can be amended or whether you need to explore for a new one.