Marriage certificates are important documents that verify your marital status. They also serve as proof of identity and citizenship. If you are looking to prove that you are legally married, then you should get a copy of your marriage certificate.
Marriage is one of the most sacred relationships in any society. It is an institution that has been around for centuries. In fact, it was even mentioned in the Bible.
However, many people still do not know how to obtain a copy of their marriage certificate. This article will help you learn about this process.
Who Can Obtain A Certified Copy Of A Marriage Certificate?
You can only apply for a certified copy of your marriage certificate if you were officially married by a government official. You must be able to provide proof that you were lawfully wed. The following individuals have the right to request a certified copy of your wedding certificate:
- Your spouse
- Your parents
- Your children
- Your siblings
- Your grandparents
- Your legal guardian
- Any other person who claims to be related to you
The law does not require anyone else to provide proof of relationship to you. For instance, a friend or relative cannot ask for a copy of your marriage record unless they claim to be related to you.
What Are Some Reasons Why People Want To Get Their Marriage Certificates?
There are several reasons why someone might want to obtain a copy of his/her marriage certificate. Here are some examples:
- To prove that he/she is legally married.
- To prove that she/he is divorced.
- To prove paternity.
- To prove that he/or she is widowed.
- To prove immigration status.
- To prove citizenship.
How Do I Obtain A Copy Of My Marriage Certificate?
Obtaining a copy of your marriage license is easy. All you need to do is go to the local county clerk’s office. There, you will find all the necessary forms.
You can either fill out these forms yourself or hire a professional to help you with them. Once you have completed the forms, you will need to pay a fee. The fee’s amount depends on the county where you live.
Once you have paid the fee, you will receive a receipt from the county clerk’s department. On the back of the receipt, there will be a number that identifies your application.
You can now take the receipt to the nearest post office. The post office will give you a stamp that shows that you have mailed your application.
Once you have received the stamped envelope, you can send it to the county clerk’s office. When you mail the application, make sure that you include enough postage so that it arrives at its destination within 10 days.
When the county receives your application, they will issue you a copy of your marriage records. You will need to bring the original copy of your marriage license to the county clerk’s office.
They will then compare the two documents and verify that everything matches up correctly. If everything checks out, they will sign the document. At this point, you can get a certified copy of your record.
If you need to renew your marriage license, you should visit the county clerk’s office as soon as possible. Otherwise, your license will expire after three years.
Can I Request More Than One Copy Of My Marriage Certificate?
Yes, you can request more than one copy of your marriage certificate. However, you must pay extra fees for each additional copy you order. In addition, you will also need to pay an additional fee for each additional day that you wait for the copies to arrive in the mail.
How Much Does It Cost To Order Additional Copies Of My Marriage Certificate?
It costs $1 per page to order additional copies of your marriage license. This means that if you order five additional pages, you will be charged $5.00. If you order ten additional pages, you will only be charged $10.00.
The cost of ordering additional copies of your marriage certificate increases by $2.50 for every 24 hours that you wait for the additional copies to arrive in the mailbox.
So, if you want to order ten additional copies of your marriage records, you will be charged an additional $25.00 for each additional 24-hour period that you delay receiving your copies.
How Do I Amend Or Change The Information On A Marriage Certificate?
You can amend or change the information on your marriage certificate by filling out a form called “Application For Amendment/Change of Name And Address.”
This form requires you to provide your name, address, date of birth, and social security number. You are also required to list any names that you currently use. You can also add new persons to the certificate by providing their full legal names.
After you complete the form, you can submit it to the county clerk’s office. The clerk will review the information and determine whether he or she needs to amend or change the information.
If the clerk determines that you do not need to amend or change anything, he or she will sign the document.
If the clerk decides that you do need to amend or change some information, he or she will return the completed form with instructions about how to proceed.
What Happens After I Submit An Application For Amending Or Changing My Marriage License?
Once you have submitted the application, the county clerk will send you a letter informing you when your changes have been approved. He or she will also give you a receipt for the amended or changed marriage license.
Can I Get Married Again While My First Marriage Is Still Valid?
No, you cannot get married again while your first marriage is still valid. Once your first marriage ends, you can get married again.
Conclusion
Marriage certificates are very important documents. They contain many pieces of vital information about you, including your name, address, age, marital status, and even your spouse’s name.
In this article, we discussed how to obtain a copy of your marriage certificate from the county where you were married. We also explained what happens after you submit an application for amending or changing your marriage license.
We hope that you found our guide helpful. Please feel free to share it with others who may find it useful as well.
