Say “I do”at the courthouse.

License fees, waiting periods and witness rules for each state, checked against official sources every month.

Find your state Free checklist (PDF)
A bride and groom laughing as they walk up the steps of a courthouse
Two gold wedding rings, a small bouquet and a certificate with a wax seal

How a courthouse wedding works

The steps are the same almost everywhere. The fees, waiting times and paperwork are what change from state to state.

  1. A couple signing a marriage license at the clerk's counter
    1

    Get the license

    Both of you apply at the county clerk with photo ID. Some states add a waiting period before you can marry.

  2. A couple kissing on courthouse steps as petals fall
    2

    Say your vows

    A judge, clerk or other officiant marries you, with witnesses where the state requires them.

  3. Wedding rings next to a certificate with a wax seal
    3

    File the certificate

    The signed license is recorded, then you order certified copies for name changes.

Choose your state

Each page lists the license fee, waiting period, ID, witnesses and where to apply, with a link to the official source for every rule.

Fee shown is the marriage license fee. It can vary by county.

Checked every month

Every rule on this site comes from an official source: state law, a county clerk, or a state or federal agency. We keep the exact wording we relied on and check each source again every month. If a source changes or stops confirming a rule, that state's page comes down until it is verified again.

Take the whole plan with you

The state guides are printable PDFs with the step-by-step process, a day-of timeline, a checklist and a budget sheet.

See the guides Free checklist (PDF)