Marriage license

A marriage license (or marriage licence in Commonwealth spelling) is an official document that lets a couple get married. It is given by a religious group or a government office. The steps to get a marriage license are different in every place and have changed over time.

Marriage licenses began in the Middle Ages to allow special marriages that would not normally be permitted. For instance, they were used when the couple had not given the necessary period of notice for the marriage before.

Today, some places need a marriage license before a couple can marry. In these areas, the license can also be the official record of the marriage when it is signed by the couple and a witness. In other places, a license is not required. Some areas let couples marry without a license through common-law marriages or by cohabitation and representation. In a few places, there are no marriage licenses, and instead, the couple gets a marriage certificate after their wedding ceremony.

History

In some parts of the United States, living together as a couple was once enough to be considered married. Records of people asking for marriage licenses from government offices go back to the mid-1800s. Some records even go back to the 1600s in colonial America. People in Massachusetts have needed marriage licenses since 1639, and over time, more places started requiring them too.

Australia

Main article: Marriage in Australia

In Australia, people do not need a special paper, called a marriage license, to get married. But if someone is younger than 18, they need a judge to say it’s okay for them to marry. Before getting married, couples must tell the person who will perform the wedding, called a marriage celebrant, that they plan to marry. They need to do this at least one month before the wedding, but it can be up to 18 months ahead of time.

United Kingdom

Main article: Marriage in the United Kingdom

England and Wales

A rule called "banns of marriage" started in England and Wales in 1215. This meant people who wanted to marry had to tell their parish church three times before the wedding. This gave others a chance to say if there was a problem.

Later, special papers called marriage licences were made. These let couples skip waiting and get married faster if they paid extra money. They could also get married in a different church far from home.

There were two types of licences. One let people marry in one or two chosen churches. The other, called a "special licence", let them marry in any church.

In 1753, a law said marriages were only real if they followed these rules or had a licence, except for Jewish and Quaker marriages. For a long time, weddings had to happen in special churches. But since 1837, people could also have civil weddings. This means they could get married without a church, just with a government official. The couple would tell the official about their plans, and after waiting two weeks, they could get married.

The licence itself didn’t prove they were married. After 1837, a piece of paper called a marriage certificate proved the marriage. Before that, the church records showed the marriage.

Scotland

In Scotland, the rules for marriage were different. Now, couples usually need to tell the local government official about their plans two to six weeks before the wedding. If they want to get married sooner, they need special permission. Church weddings in Scotland don’t need to happen in a certain place.

United States

Main article: Marriage in the United States

In the United States, rules about marriage have changed over time. Before the mid-1800s, some couples could marry without a special paper from the government, called a marriage license. Now, most states need couples to get this paper before they can marry.

To get a marriage license, both people must usually show up together and prove they are old enough to marry, usually at least 18 years old. They also need to show some identification, like a driver’s license, and prove they are not already married to someone else. After getting the license, there is often a short wait before the wedding can happen. After the wedding, the couple and the person who performed the ceremony sign the license, and it is sent to the government to record the marriage.

Some people and groups think that needing a marriage license is not necessary. They believe that getting married should be a personal choice, not something the government needs to approve. There have also been debates about who can get married, with some groups working to make sure everyone has the right to marry who they love.

The Netherlands

In the Netherlands, couples who want to get married must first register their plans. This step is called "ondertrouw".

Mexico

In Mexico, only civil marriages are legally recognized. People can also have a religious ceremony, but it is not a legal marriage. A civil wedding in Mexico is valid in the U.S. The Mexican civil registry issues marriage certificates instead of licenses. Marriages are performed for free at the "Registro Civil" in most county and state halls in Mexico.