Getting married in the United States: state marriage licenses

Marriage in the United States is conducted under state law. First, you obtain a marriage license from the county or city clerk, and then an authorized person performs the marriage ceremony. This page explains the license requirements, fees, and waiting periods in New York, New Jersey, California, Texas, Florida, and Illinois, where many Turks live. You will also find information on how to use the document in Türkiye and in your immigration file after the marriage. Fees vary from county to county; check the relevant office's website for the latest information before applying.

• The process has three steps: obtain the license, have the marriage ceremony performed, and have the person who performed the ceremony return the license to the office within the required period. After registration, obtain the marriage certificate.
• In New York, New Jersey, California, Texas, and Florida, both parties generally apply in person. In New York, even an agent cannot apply on the basis of a power of attorney. Texas has an exception for a party who cannot attend, through a sworn statement; California has an exception only for military personnel.
• In New York, New Jersey, California, and Florida, a valid passport is accepted as identification. Documents must not be expired.
• If you were previously married, you need to know when and how it ended. Some offices require a copy of the final divorce decree. In New York City, all divorces must be final before applying.
• New York and California do not require a blood test or premarital examination.
• You do not need to reside in California or Florida. Florida also has no citizenship requirement.
• The official license pages for New York, New Jersey, California, Texas (Travis County), and Florida (Miami-Dade) do not request a “certificate of eligibility to marry” from the Turkish consulate. Nevertheless, ask the office where you will apply.

• Outside New York City: obtain the license from any town or city clerk in the state.
  • Fee: $40. The Certificate of Marriage Registration is included.
  • The license is issued immediately. However, the marriage ceremony cannot be performed until 24 hours after the license is issued. A judge may waive this period.
  • The license is valid for 60 days beginning the day after it is issued. It is valid for 180 days for active-duty military personnel.
  • A New York license may be used only in New York State.
  • At least one witness must be present at the ceremony.
  • The marriage registration certificate will arrive by mail within 15 days after the license is returned. If it does not arrive within 4 weeks, contact the clerk who issued the license.
  • You may also choose your post-marriage surname when applying for the license.
• New York City: licenses are issued by the Office of the City Clerk – Marriage Bureau.
  • Services are provided by appointment only; appointments are made through Project Cupid. A virtual appointment option is also available.
  • Fee: $35 (card or money order).
  • The online application is valid for 21 days.
  • Accepted identification includes a valid passport from any country, a green card, and an employment authorization card.
  • To avoid the 24-hour waiting period, you may request a free Judicial Waiver from the County Clerk of the borough where you obtained the license.
  • The person who performs the ceremony returns the license within 5 business days. The marriage registration certificate arrives by mail in approximately 20 days.
• Copy of the marriage certificate: outside NYC, obtain it from the clerk who issued the license for $10 or from the state's Department of Health. At the Department, the fee is $30 by mail and $45 online, plus a service fee. In NYC, copies are issued only by the Office of the City Clerk.

• Apply to the Local Registrar of the municipality where one of the parties resides. The license is valid throughout New Jersey.
• If neither of you lives in New Jersey, apply to the municipality where the ceremony will take place. In that case, the license is valid only in that municipality.
• Required:
  • identification: driver's license, passport, or state/federal ID
  • proof of residence for one party if you live in New Jersey
  • Social Security Number (legally required for U.S. citizens)
  • 1 witness over 18
  • $28 application fee
• Documents in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
• Do not sign the application form in advance. You sign it under oath in front of the official.
• The license is not issued until 72 hours after the application. Only a Superior Court order can shorten this period. For a weekend ceremony, apply no later than the preceding Tuesday.
• The application is valid for 6 months, and the license is valid for 30 days from the date it is issued.

• You do not need to reside in California.
• Both of you must appear in person at the County Clerk's office and show valid photo identification. Some counties also require a birth certificate.
• There is no blood test. A proxy marriage is possible only for military personnel in a conflict zone abroad.
• The license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued.
• There are two types of licenses:
  • Public license: at least 1 witness must be present at the ceremony; up to 2 witnesses may sign. The record is open to the public.
  • Confidential license: both of you must be at least 18 and must be living together as spouses when applying. No witness is required. Only the couple may obtain a copy.
  • With either license, you may marry anywhere in California. The license is registered in the county where it was obtained.
• The person who performs the ceremony returns the license within 10 days after the ceremony.
• A copy does not arrive automatically. Request a certified copy from the county after paying the fee.
• Sample fees (Los Angeles County): public license $91, confidential license $85, marriage ceremony $35, witness provided by the office $20.

• Apply to the County Clerk. Both of you go together. The law provides an exception for a party who cannot attend, through a sworn affidavit.
• You must be over 18. If you were divorced within the last 30 days, a waiver is required.
• There is a 72-hour waiting period between issuance of the license and the ceremony. Exceptions:
  • active-duty military personnel and Department of Defense employees
  • those who obtain a written waiver from a judge
  • those who completed the “Twogether in Texas” premarital course within the last year and submit the certificate
• The license becomes invalid if it is not used before the 90th day after issuance.
• The person who performs the ceremony must return the license within 30 days at the latest.
• Example (Travis County, Austin): license $80; $20 with a Twogether course certificate.
  • Address: Civil Family Courthouse, 1700 Guadalupe St., 4th floor, Suite 4.300
  • Phone: +1 512 854 9188; Monday–Friday 08:00–17:00

• There is no residency or citizenship requirement. You may marry anywhere in the state with a Florida license.
• Both of you appear in person. A valid passport and green card are accepted as identification.
• U.S. citizens provide a Social Security Number. Foreign nationals without one may provide a green card, U.S. driver's license, or passport number.
• Before obtaining the license, you must read the state's Family Law Handbook.
• The license is valid for 60 days.
• Florida residents wait 3 days. Those who completed a premarital course of at least 4 hours within the last year do not have to wait. There is no waiting period for non-Florida residents.
• Example (Miami-Dade): license $86; $61 with a course certificate; marriage ceremony $30. An online pre-application is completed first.
  • Central Marriage License Bureau: 601 NW 1st Court, Room 1900, Miami, FL 33136
  • Phone: +1 786 469 2400; Monday–Friday 09:00–16:00
• If the ceremony was not performed by the clerk's office, the license must be returned within 10 days.

• In Chicago and Cook County, the Cook County Clerk's office issues marriage licenses.
• For the fee, license validity period, and appointment information, check the office's official website.

• Obtain a certified copy of the marriage certificate. A copy of this document is required for immigration applications.
• If you are a Turkish citizen, you must report the marriage to a Turkish diplomatic mission within 30 days. See 7.3 Registering the Marriage in Türkiye.
• Apostille for a document to be used in Türkiye: for documents issued by a state, the apostille is issued by that state's Secretary of State office. For federal documents, it is issued by the U.S. Department of State.
• The U.S. Embassy and consulates in Türkiye do not issue apostilles. According to the Embassy, using a U.S. document in Türkiye requires a Turkish translation by a sworn translator and an apostille from the authority that issued the document.
• If you changed your surname, update your Social Security Administration (SSA) record. According to the New York Department of Health, this process is free. You must also change the name on your driver's license at the state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

• Setting a ceremony date without accounting for the waiting period (NY 24 hours, NJ and TX 72 hours, 3 days for Florida residents).
• Obtaining a license in one state and having the ceremony performed in another. A license is valid only in the issuing state.
• Missing the license validity period (NJ 30, NY and FL 60, CA 90 days).
• Applying with an expired passport.
• Applying before a divorce is final, or applying in Texas after a divorce within the last 30 days without a waiver.
• Signing the NJ application form at home.
• Failing to report a Turkish citizen's marriage to the consulate within 30 days.

• Can I get married in the United States on a tourist visa? The license requirements in the example states do not ask about visa type. However, getting married does not change your status. If you plan to remain in the United States after marriage, consult an immigration attorney first. See 2.1 Tourist and Business Travel (B-1/B-2).
• What if I do not have a Social Security Number? In New Jersey, a number is mandatory for U.S. citizens. In Florida, foreign nationals without a number may provide a passport number. Ask the office where you will apply.
• How many witnesses are required? New York requires at least 1 witness, and New Jersey requires 1 witness over 18. In California, at least 1 and no more than 2 witnesses sign a public license; a confidential license requires no witness.
• Is a religious ceremony sufficient? An authorized religious official may perform the ceremony using the license. What matters is obtaining the license and returning it within the required period.
• What must I do to use the document in Türkiye? First obtain a certified copy from the state, then obtain an apostille from the state's Secretary of State office. For a Turkish translation, see 7.3 Registering the Marriage in Türkiye.
• When can I file a petition for my spouse after getting married? You can file Form I-130 once you receive your marriage certificate. See 7.1 Marriage to a U.S. Citizen or Green Card Holder.

• Getting Married in New York – information brochure (PDF)
• New Jersey – marriage and civil union brochure REG-D30 (PDF)
• California – certified copy application form for a marriage record (PDF)
• NYC Project Cupid – marriage license appointment
• NYC311 – marriage license
• California – license types
• Texas – ceremony and license rules
• Miami-Dade – marriage license
• USA.gov – how to obtain an apostille