Marriage certificate vs. getting married?

Question

if i go to get a marriage certificate/license at the courthouse on a certain day am i officially married on that day or can i be officially married the day of my ceremony? i am confused on how this process works.

thank you!

Answer 1

How to Get a Marriage License:

It appears that you get a license to get married and a certificate after your married.

Check out this website:

Answer 2

The marriage certificate and license are 2 different things.

The license is what you need to buy so that you can get married.  You are not married until the papers you are giving are sign by you, your fiance, your 2 witnesses and a judge/priest/reverend, etc.   When that's done, whoever officiated the ceremony will send those papers in to get registered.  You'll be getting a certificate later on.

As to whether you can get married the same day you buy the license, that all depends on where you live.  Here in Canada, you most definitely can get married the same day if you want.  Other places, you need to wait a few days to a few weeks.

Answer 3

The marriage certificate just gives you the legal paper work to get married.  They check to make sure that you don't owe child support and that you or your SO isn't married.  The marriage certificate contains a place for the preacher, officiant, or judge to sign stating that they performed the service to marry you.  Then they mail it to the court house.  The court house enters it into their system and mails it back.  You will need this to change your name legally.

That would depend on the state you are in.  Some states such as Texas requires you to wait 3 days before you can marry, unless you get a judge to waive that waiting period.  Active duty can wave it usually with no issues.

Answer 4

Of the ceremony (which can be done at the courthouse if you have a courthouse wedding)

An officiant has to sign your marriage license.

Answer 5

You will be officially married after the ceremony.

Answer 6

The marriage license you apply for & purchase from the courthouse is PERMISSION to marry.

You must have someone legal solemnize your marriage & sign that license for you to actually be married.

If you let the license expire before getting married, you must get another marriage license.

Answer 7

You apply for a marriage LICENSE...when it's issued you have the permission to MARRY. After you marry, then you file the paperwork that  the marriage has taken place...then you will be sent a Certificate of Marriage which is your proof that you are legally  married and that the marriage was registered with the county/city you were married in....the license is not a marriage certificate until you have been married by a legal officiate in front of adult witnesses, and the proper paperwork has been filed after the ceremony has taken place....You will be sent your certificate of marriage after the paperwork has been filed.

Edit: Some towns/city have no waiting period....other have a waiting period of anywhere from 24 hours up to three days.......you must ask the clerk issuing the license how soon it can be used....and many officiates require a shedualed ceremony, especially if it's the town judge...you have to ask.