A lot of individuals who are planning on getting married in the United States often face the problem of dealing with having to obtain marriage licenses. In most cases, this is because a lot of people do not have the slightest idea of what a marriage license is. This article is put in place to explain to you what a marriage license is, how it is different from a marriage certificate, and how important it is for the intending couple trying to tie the knot.
A marriage license is a legal document, which may be given by a religious body, the authority or a legal entity allowing the couple to get married. In a lot of places, the procedure for obtaining a marriage license varies, and over the years, these procedures have seen a lot of changes. In most states, especially states in the US, a marriage license is not required.
Getting a marriage license is not an entirely difficult process. In general, to get a marriage license, the intending couple must have to appear personally for the license to be given, the couple must be above marriageable age and must be getting married totally out of personal consent. They are also required to present a form of proper identification, and they must prove that they have not been married before. In a case where they have been married before, they are required to provide proof of divorce or proof of the death of the spouse. This license is proof that the marriage took place in that particular state.
Over the years, there has been a lot of issues raised concerning the presence of this marriage license. A lot of people have come out to disagree with the concept stating clearly that people do not need permission to get married because marriage is supposed to be of free will.
MARRIAGE LICENSE vs MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE.
To get things cleared up, there is a very big difference between marriage license and marriage certificate. A marriage certificate is described as a document showing the proof of marriage between two people. Although they are often mistaken for one another, they are not the same thing. Usually, a marriage certificate is given to the couple after the marriage has taken place. It is signed by the bride and groom, together with the witnesses and the officiator of the marriage. It is issued 2-4 weeks after the wedding. A marriage license is a permission to proceed with the wedding. This is usually issued before the wedding ceremony, and in most cases, there is a space for the officiant to sign on before submitting it back to the issuer’s office. U.S marriage laws can help clarify any questions you may have.
IMPORTANCE OF MARRIAGE LICENSE
- Once you obtain your marriage license, you are assured that you are doing the right thing. The marriage license is issued by a higher authority, so you are not afraid that you are breaking any kind of law. In some states, failure to obtain a marriage license may attract a mild or a severe penalty which may not be good for you. Getting a marriage license helps you avoid all these.
- Getting a marriage license is surely bound to make you happy. This is because you will tend to enjoy your wedding and your marriage to the fullest without having any legal issues trailing you. This is very important. Failure to obtain a marriage license when it is necessary could cause several legal issues for you, especially later in the future. So, to avoid these problems, get a marriage license before getting married.
- A lot of things are bound to be done when you have a marriage license. For example, if you want to seek the help of an event planner for your wedding, a lot of people require that you come with your marriage license to show that the wedding is authentic. If you want to book flights and accommodation for your honeymoon, you may be asked to show your marriage license before the process starts. It is very serious. To avoid unnecessary public embarrassment, it is advised that you do what is right in the sight of everybody and get a marriage license before tying the knot.
