How to Get a Marriage License

So I know I talk a lot about the joys and struggles of marriage. So I thought I would write a little on one of the key steps to getting married. . . getting a marriage license.

Whenever you hear people(men) saying, "I don't know what the big deal is, it's just a piece of paper." This is the piece of paper they are talking about :)

I will walk you through the steps for people here in Phoenix and give a few links to other helpful resources.

First I want to mention how important it is to go to marriage counselling BEFORE you get married. This is normally called pre-marital counselling and it will make all the difference in your marriage. You will be able to sit down and work out any problems you are already experiencing and learns some tips and tools to help you down the road. Much of the stuff I learned in my premarital counselling has helped me understand my husband better and be a better wife. If you are interested in pre-marital counselling it would be worth your time to go to your priest and see if they offer any classes. If not or if you do not attend a church regularly, there are several resources online through google.

Here are the steps to getting a marriage license:
1. Pick a Location.
There are several locations to get a marriage license around the valley. You will be getting the license through the Clerk of Superior Court's office. Here are several locations listed by the office.

2. Pick a Payment Method.
The fee for a marriage license is $72.00 and it is payable by cash, check, money order, and in some offices credit cards. Have this ready when you go to fill out the forms.


3. Go to the office and obtain a license!
This step is important! lol You AND your spouse to be must go in to the office together. There are signs posted and a help desk to guide you to the right teller. There will be some minimal paperwork to be signed and you will be on your way! If I remember correctly, this step only took about 10 minutes. There was no wait and not a whole lot to it.

IMPORTANT POINTS:

• Strangely, a divorce decree or a blood test are not required. However if you are from another state you will want to check with their policies.
• You will also need to bring a government issued ID so that you can prove you are old enough and a citizen.
• Both parties must be there to get the marriage license.
• You can get married the same day you get the license if you have someone of authority willing to do the job. Also, the marriage license only lasts one year, so if you are planning on a long engagement you might want to wait till you are closer to your chosen date. 
• You must be 18 years old. If you are 16 or 17 years old you must have one of these filled out and notarized by your parents. If you are 15 or younger then you will need to get a court order.
• There are multiple types of marriage license. In Arizona you can get a "covenant marriage license". This type of license requires premarital counselling and more paper work. The end result is more restrictions on getting a divorce. There is more information here and here. Also here.