Marriage license

A marriage license (or marriage licence in Commonwealth spelling) is an official document that allows a couple to get married. It is given by either a religious group or a government office. The way to get a marriage license is different in each place and has changed over time.

Marriage licenses started in the Middle Ages to allow marriages that would normally not be allowed. For example, they were used when the couple had not given the necessary period of notice for the marriage beforehand.

Today, some places require a marriage license before a couple can marry. In these areas, the license might also act as the official record of the marriage if it is signed by the couple and a witness. In other places, a license is not needed. Some areas even allow couples to marry without a license through common-law marriages or by cohabitation and representation. In a few places, there are no marriage licenses at all, and instead, the couple receives 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 can be found from 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 to get married, called a marriage license. 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 that people who wanted to get married had to tell the whole community in their parish church three times before the wedding. This gave others a chance to say if there was a problem, like if one person was already married. But even if they forgot to do this, the marriage was still allowed.

Later, in the 1300s, special papers called marriage licences were made. These let couples skip the waiting time and get married faster if they paid extra money. They could also get married in a different church far from home. Sometimes, people just got these licences to show off.

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 and was only given by important church leaders.

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. In the past, couples could promise to marry each other in front of witnesses without a special ceremony, but this is not allowed anymore. 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. Some states used to need couples to have a blood test before giving a marriage license, but this is no longer required. 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 does not count as a legal marriage. A civil wedding in Mexico is fully valid in the U.S. The Mexican civil registry issues marriage certificates instead of licenses because, under Roman law, marriage is a legal right that does not need a permit. Marriages are performed for free at the "Registro Civil" in most county and state halls in Mexico.