| Getting a marriage license can actually be trickier than | | | | widowed, you need to bring with you the death |
| one might think. For one thing, they can expire | | | | certificate. In either case, a copy should be sufficient |
| quickly. For another, there can sometimes be | | | | (though you should check). If you have had a legally |
| unexpected impediments to a marriage that you | | | | annulled marriage, the rules vary from state to state, |
| might not have considered. My suggestion in this | | | | but you should bring with you any documentation |
| article is to actually go to city hall twice. The first trip | | | | available in case. |
| is to find out the rules that apply in the case of your | | | | Third, some states require health examinations |
| marriage. The second is to actually get the licence. | | | | before marriage. Because finding a physician can be |
| First, you need to be able to prove your age. The | | | | time consuming, you should make sure to find out |
| age of consent to marry varies from state to state, | | | | about any rules in your state before you get married. |
| but in no state is it higher than eighteen years old. | | | | The goal isn't to stop you from getting married. |
| However, even if you are clearly in your late sixties, | | | | Rather, the goal is to ensure that the spouse knows |
| proof of age is still required. You can do this with any | | | | about any conditions that might affect his or her own |
| of the standard sources of identification, including | | | | health. |
| your birth certificate, passport or immigration record. | | | | The marriage license itself can expire anywhere from |
| Second, if you have been married before, you need | | | | one to sixty days after it has been issued, so you |
| to be able to prove that your previous marriage has | | | | should find out how long such a license lasts in your |
| ended. If you are divorced, you need to bring with | | | | area. In addition, be aware that some states have |
| you a "Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage" (the | | | | waiting periods (designed to deter sudden weddings), |
| formal name for your divorce certificate). If you are | | | | so don't just show up the day before your wedding. |