If you want to get married, but don’t want to deal with the astronomical cost and hassle of coordinating a traditional wedding, a courthouse wedding is a great option. Also called a civil wedding or civil ceremony, a courthouse wedding still requires some upfront planning. The specifics will vary based on where your ceremony is held, but here are a few key points to keep in mind.
What to Know About Courthouse Weddings
A courthouse wedding is a nonreligious ceremony that allows you to legally marry your partner. Unlike a religious ceremony, courthouse weddings are presided over by a legal official, such as a judge or court clerk.
If you want to qualify for a marriage-based visa or green card, a courthouse wedding is an option because it creates an official record of your marriage: a marriage certificate.
A marriage license is a document issued by a county clerk’s office or municipality – a legitimate government agency – permitting you and your future spouse to marry. After your marriage license is signed, your officiant sends it back to the county courthouse where you applied for it to record that the marriage happened, and then you are issued a marriage certificate that proves you are married. The marriage certificate will help to show that you are legally married, and help you to obtain lawful U.S. residency.
Steps to Plan a Courthouse Wedding
1: Choose your Location
To keep things simple, some people prefer to get married in the same town in which they live. But if your heart is set on getting married in another city, you have options. You can get married almost anywhere in the United States, but the requirements will vary. For instance, some states require that you apply for your marriage license in the same town where you plan on getting married. Plan on researching local regulations once you choose a location. (You can usually find this information by looking up the local city/county clerk’s office.)
Marriage License
Now that you know the municipality (city, district, county, etc.) of your wedding, it’s time to find out how to obtain a marriage license and where to go. Start by Google searching “marriage license + county + state” and you will likely see a webpage explaining how to obtain a marriage license in that county/state. Figuring out where to go is pretty easy, but make sure to get the timing right. Some states require a 24- to 72-hour waiting period before your marriage can take place. So don’t plan on showing up or applying on the day of your wedding! Also, most marriage licenses are only valid for a specific number of days. So you must perform the marriage and sign the marriage license before it expires. Once you’ve done all the research, set a date on your calendar to apply for your marriage license in person or to pick it up if you applied online.
And even though we’re talking about courthouse weddings, you may or may not get married in an actual courthouse. You’ll usually apply for your marriage license at city hall or a similar local government office. But your ceremony may be held anywhere from a courthouse to a civil ceremony at a Las Vegas wedding chapel. It all depends on what the city offers and what you prefer.
2: Find an Officiant
Next, you’ll need to find an officiant who can marry you. An officiant is a person who conducts the marriage ceremony and who is legally recognized to perform marriages. You have a lot of options when it comes to finding an officiant. Most weddings are conducted by religious officiants (pastors, priests, rabbis, etc.) or civil officiants (judges, justices, etc.). A growing trend is having a friend or family member be your wedding officiant. The most important thing is that they are legally able to perform a marriage in the state where you’re getting married.
3: Apply for Your Marriage License
You’ve picked your location. You’ve researched your city’s requirements. Now, it’s time to apply for your marriage license. Again, specific requirements will vary by state – but generally, here’s what both you and your partner will need:
A valid form of government-issued picture ID, such as a driver’s license, naturalization certificate, or passport.
If either party has been divorced: A copy of the final dissolution (also known as divorce papers).
Payment for your marriage license (prices can vary). Note that most marriage licenses have an expiration date – as short as 30 days and as long as 90. That means you need to schedule your ceremony so it takes place before the marriage license expires.
Additionally, some states have a waiting period between when you receive your marriage license and when you can actually get married. That waiting period can take anywhere from 24 hours (Illinois and New York) to 6 days (Wisconsin).
Take these factors into consideration when you schedule your wedding date.
4: Gather All Your Essentials
Before the date of your wedding ceremony, put together a packet that contains all of your necessary paperwork. This should include your marriage license and forms of identification for both you and your partner, plus payment for the marriage ceremony if you haven’t already paid. Here’s your final must-have: a witness over the age of 18. Some courthouses only need one witness, while others will require two – one each for you and your future spouse.
5: Plan Your Day
Now that you have your date and your paperwork squared away, it’s time to actually plan your ceremony.
Things to Consider for the Wedding Day:
Attire: You can be as formal or as casual as you want, or somewhere in between.
Guests: Guest capacity will vary depending on the courthouse. Some places allow only a handful of guests, while others may be a bit higher. Heads up: Most courthouse wedding ceremonies occur Monday through Friday during business hours. Confirm your witnesses will be available ahead of time.
Photography: Double-check with the courthouse whether you can take photos or video during the ceremony.
If you want to get your green card based on a wedding, the courthouse wedding process is indispensable, and the above steps are some important things you need to know and prepare for before your courthouse wedding.
