Certificate of Marriage-The First Step towards a Happy Marriage

You are tying the knot with your beloved and wish to know some legal aspects of marriage. In many administrative zones of the United States, a certificate of marriage is required as an official document to qualify that two people have undertaken the marriage ceremony. In many other jurisdictions, a marriage license itself serves a dual purpose of granting permission for a marriage to solemnize and then recording the fact that it has done so.

In most American states, the certificate of marriage is recorded on the same document as the marriage license which is an application for marriage, thus allowing for all information relating to the marriage to be recorded on one single document. While each state has its own form for use with the recording of marriages, most states have a specific portion of the record to be completed by the official solemnizing the ceremony. In some states, this portion of the certificate of marriage also includes places for the parties to indicate a change in name, if any. If there isn’t a place in the certificate for a name change, the name is changed as requested on government documents with proof of marriage.

The certificate of marriage records the previous marital status of the bride and groom. Those not previously married are treated as “bachelor” or “spinster.” From 1858 to 1952 a previously divorced groom was listed as “the divorced husband of…” with his ex-wife’s maiden name listed, and vice versa for a divorced bride. The currently used wording is “previous marriage dissolved” with no further details given.

The certificate of marriage also lists the date of the marriage, the full names of both the bride and groom, their respective ages (it is also permissible to write “full”, meaning of age, and until 1850 some 75% of certificates said that; if the certificate reads “minor” or “under age”, it means that, until 1929 when the law changed to 16, the bride was between 12 and 20 and the groom 14 and 20 years of age).

In some regions, once a marriage license is signed and filed with the county clerk, the license becomes the certificate of marriage. Sometimes, in order to receive an additional copy of a certificate of marriage, you need to send your request along with the required fee to the County recorder or clerk’s office of the county where the marriage took place. In order to be acceptable as a legal document, a certificate of marriage needs to show the state seal or be imprinted with a seal/stamp. Keepsake marriage certificates are not taken as legal documents or public records.

It is generally the responsibility of the official who has performed the marriage ceremony to make sure that your signed marriage license is delivered to the recorder's office. Since the recorder's office has to process the filing and recording of the marriage license, you usually have to wait several weeks before receiving your certificate of marriage. Till then start enjoying your happily married status!