A courthouse wedding is a civil marriage ceremony performed by a judge, magistrate, or other authorized official inside a government building such as a courthouse or city hall. The ceremony itself usually runs 10 to 15 minutes, and the marriage it creates is every bit as legally binding as one performed in a church or at a private venue. The work sits on either side of the ceremony: getting the license beforehand and recording it afterward.
What You Need Before You Apply
Both people must be old enough to marry. The minimum age is 18 in most states, though Nebraska sets it at 19 and Mississippi at 21. Roughly a third of states have eliminated all exceptions for minors. The rest still allow marriage below the standard minimum in limited circumstances, most often with parental consent, judicial approval, or both.
Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID that shows a date of birth. A driver’s license, state ID card, passport, or military ID will all work. The application also asks for your Social Security number, though you generally don’t have to bring the physical card.
If either of you was married before, bring proof that the earlier marriage ended. A certified copy of a divorce decree or annulment order does the job. If a former spouse has died, a death certificate serves the same purpose. Without that documentation, the clerk’s office won’t process the application.
One thing you can cross off the list: blood tests. Every state that once required pre-marriage blood work has dropped the requirement, and no state requires a medical exam of any kind to marry.
Applying for the Marriage License
The marriage license is the document that legally authorizes the ceremony. You apply at a county clerk’s office, recorder’s office, or similar local government office. Many counties let you start the application online, but both people usually still have to appear in person at some point to sign and show ID.
Fees vary by jurisdiction and generally fall between $20 and $120. Some places discount the fee if you complete a premarital education course. Once you’ve submitted the application, paid, and shown your documents, the office issues the license.
Waiting Periods
Some states let you use the license the moment it’s issued. Others require you to wait before the ceremony can happen, typically one to three days. A few states allow a judge to waive the wait for good cause, sometimes for a small fee. Call the clerk’s office or check its website so the ceremony date lines up with when the license actually becomes usable.
Expiration and Location
Licenses don’t last forever. Most expire within 30 to 90 days, though a handful of states give you up to a year. If the license lapses before the ceremony, you reapply and pay again.
A license almost always has to be used in the state that issued it, and usually in the same county. If you’re marrying somewhere other than where you live, apply for the license in the jurisdiction where the ceremony will actually take place.
The Ceremony Itself
Once the license is in hand and any waiting period has passed, you can schedule the ceremony. Some courthouses handle weddings on a walk-in basis during set hours; others require an appointment booked days or weeks ahead. Confirm the process before you show up.
On the day of, bring the marriage license, photo ID for each of you, and payment for the ceremony fee. Ceremony fees are separate from the license fee and are generally modest, though the exact amount varies by courthouse.
Who Performs It
Courthouse ceremonies are led by judicial officials. Depending on the jurisdiction, that’s a judge, magistrate, justice of the peace, county clerk, or in some places a mayor. The officiant walks you through a standard set of civil vows, which are non-religious and brief. Each of you confirms the intent to marry, repeats whatever vows the officiant recites, and the officiant pronounces you married. From opening remarks to the final declaration, it rarely runs past 15 minutes.
Witnesses and Guests
Witness rules vary widely. About half of states require no witnesses at all. The rest require one or two, and most of those states say witnesses must be at least 18. If you need witnesses and didn’t bring any, some courthouses will have staff or other couples willing to step in, but don’t count on it. Check your local requirement in advance.
Guest capacity is often limited, especially when the ceremony takes place in a small office or courtroom. Some courthouses cap attendance at just a few people beyond the witnesses. Ask about capacity when you schedule if you’re hoping to have family or friends there.
Signing and Recording the License
The ceremony is only half the legal process. The officiant, both spouses, and any required witnesses sign the marriage license. The officiant is then responsible for returning the signed license to the clerk’s office to be recorded, usually within a few days of the ceremony. Once the clerk records it, the document becomes your official marriage certificate.
In some jurisdictions, a certificate of marriage registration gets mailed to you automatically within a few weeks. In others, you have to request certified copies yourself from the vital records office. Certified copies typically run $10 to $35 each. Order at least two or three, because the next steps need them.
Updating Your Records After the Wedding
The marriage triggers a chain of administrative updates worth handling fairly soon.
Name Change
If either spouse is taking a new last name, start with the Social Security Administration. Complete Form SS-5, bring your certified marriage certificate as proof of the name change, and show a current photo ID. Only originals or copies certified by the issuing agency are accepted. Photocopies and notarized copies won’t do. You can submit in person at a local SSA office or by mail. The new card arrives in roughly 10 to 14 business days, and there’s no fee.1Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card (Form SS-5)
Once Social Security reflects the new name, update the driver’s license at the DMV, then move through bank accounts, employer payroll, insurance policies, and passport. The marriage certificate is the key document for all of them, which is why multiple certified copies matter.
Taxes
The wedding date affects your federal return for the whole year. If you’re legally married as of December 31, the IRS treats you as married for that entire tax year, even if the ceremony happened on New Year’s Eve.2Internal Revenue Service. Tax To-Dos for Newlyweds to Keep in Mind You’ll file as either married filing jointly or married filing separately. Most couples pay less overall filing jointly, but running the numbers both ways in the first year is worth the time.3Internal Revenue Service. Filing Status
A late-December courthouse wedding can be a deliberate move to lock in married filing status for that tax year. Just build in enough time for any waiting period and license processing so the marriage is finalized before midnight on December 31.