Marriage-Friendly States / Best States to Get Married In 2025

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State
Waiting Period to Get License
License Expiration
License Issuer
Best Married License Witnesses
Notes and Laws
Alabama Flag
AlabamaNoneN/AN/ANoneNo license required, but must submit marriage certificate to probate court within 30 days after signing. Get forms from county health departments (in person or online). Ala Code § 30-1-9.1 (2022)
Arizona Flag
ArizonaNone1 yearAny county clerkTwoMay apply at some city/town clerks or justice of peace offices. Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 25-121, 25-126, 25-127 (2022)
California Flag
CaliforniaNone90 daysAny county clerk or recorder's officeOneCal. Fam. Code §§ 350–360 (2022)
Colorado Flag
ColoradoNone35 daysAny county clerk or recorder's officeNoneColo. Rev. Stat. §§ 14-2-106, 14-2-107 (2022)
Connecticut Flag
ConnecticutNone65 daysVital Records OfficeNoneMust apply for license in town where ceremony will take place. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-24 (2022)
District of Columbia Flag
District of ColumbiaNoneNo expirationCourt clerk (Marriage Bureau)NoneD.C. Code § 46-410 (2022)
Georgia Flag
GeorgiaNoneNo expirationProbate courtDependentGeorgia residents may apply for license in any county, but nonresidents must apply in county where wedding will take place. Ga. Code §§ 19-3-10. 10-3-33, 19-3-35 (2022)
Hawaii Flag
HawaiiNone30 daysState Health DepartmentNoneHaw. Rev. Stat. §§ 572-5, 572-6 (2022)
Idaho Flag
IdahoNoneNo expirationAny county recorderNoneIdaho Code § 32-403 (2022)
Indiana Flag
IndianaNone60 daysCounty clerkNoneIndiana residents apply in county where one of applicants lives; out-of-state residents apply where wedding will take place. Ind. Code §§ 31-11-4-3, 31-11-4-10 (2022)
Kentucky Flag
KentuckyNone30 daysAny county clerkTwoKy. Rev. Stat. §§ 402.100, 402.105 (2022)
Maine Flag
MaineNone90 daysTown clerk or State Registrar of Vital StatisticsTwoApply at town office where one applicant lives; nonresidents apply at any town office. Md. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A, §§ 651, 652 (2022)
Minnesota Flag
MinnesotaNone6 monthsAny county registrar (Vital Records Office)TwoMinn. Stat. §§ 517.07, 517.08 (2022)
Mississippi Flag
MississippiNoneNo provisionAny circuit court clerkNoneMiss. Code § 93-1-15
Missouri Flag
MissouriNone30 daysRecorder of Deeds in any countyNoneMo. Rev. Stat. § 451.040 (2022)
Montana Flag
MontanaNone180 daysAny district court clerkNoneMont. Code §§ 40-1-202, 40-1-212 (2022)
Nebraska Flag
NebraskaNone1 yearAny county clerkTwoNeb. Rev. Stat. § 42-104 (2022)
Nevada Flag
NevadaNone1 yearAny county clerk (or Marriage License Bureau)OneNev. Rev. Stat. § 122.040 (2022)
New Hampshire Flag
New HampshireNone90 daysAny town/city clerkNoneN.H. Rev. Stat. §§ 5-C:42, 457:26 (2022)
New Mexico Flag
New MexicoNoneNo provisionAny county clerkTwoN.M. Stat. § 40-1-10 (2022)
North Carolina Flag
North CarolinaNone60 daysAny register of deedsTwoN.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 51-8, 51-16 (2022)
North Dakota Flag
North DakotaNone60 daysCounty recorder or other designated officialTwoApply in county where either applicant lives. N.D. Cent. Code § 14-03-10 (2022)
Ohio Flag
OhioNone60 daysProbate Court (marriage department)NoneApply in county where either applicant lives or, if nonresidents, where wedding will take place. Ohio Rev. Code §§ 3101.05, 3101.07 (2022)
Oklahoma Flag
OklahomaNone10 daysAny county district court clerkTwo72-hour waiting period for applicants under age 18. Okla. Stat. tit. 43, §§ 4, 5, 6, 20 (2022)
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode IslandNone90 daysTown or city clerkTwoApply in city/town where either applicant lives; nonresidents apply where ceremony will take place. When state implements system for issuing licenses electronically, you'll be able to apply anywhere in state. R.I. Gen. Laws 15-2-1, 15-2-1.1, 15-2-8 (2022)
South Dakota Flag
South DakotaNone20 daysAny county register of deedsOneS.D. Codified Laws §§ 25-1-10, 25-1-24 (2022)
Tennessee Flag
TennesseeNone30 daysAny county clerkNoneTenn. Code § 36-3-103 (2022)
Utah Flag
UtahNone30 daysAny county clerkTwoUtah Code § 30-1-7 (2022)
Vermont Flag
VermontNone60 daysAny town clerkNoneVt. Stat. tit. 18, § 5131 (2022)
Virginia Flag
VirginiaNone60 daysAny county or city court clerk or deputy clerkNoneVa. Code §§ 20-14, 20-14.1 (2022)
West Virginia Flag
West VirginiaNone60 daysAny clerk of county commissionNone2-day waiting period for applicants under 18, except in extraordinary circumstances. W. Va. Code §§ 48-2-102, 48-2-103, 48-2-202 (2022)
Wyoming Flag
WyomingNone1 yearAny county clerkTwoWyo. Stat. § 20-1-103 (2022)
Wisconsin Flag
Wisconsin6 days30 daysCounty clerkNoneState residents must apply for license in county where one of them has lived for previous 30 days; out-of-state residents must apply in county where ceremony will take place. Waiting period may be shortened for extra fee. Wis. Stat. §§ 765.05, 765.08, 765.12 (2022)
Arkansas Flag
Arkansas5 Days60 daysAny court clerkNone5-day waiting period for 17-year-olds. Ark. Code §§ 9-11-203, 9-11-218 (2022)
Alaska Flag
Alaska3 days3 monthsAlaska State Vital Records Section or county court clerkOneWaiting period may be waived if it would cause undue hardship. Alaska Stat. §§ 25.05.091, 25.05.111, 25.05.121 (2022)
Florida Flag
Florida3 days60 daysAny circuit court clerkNoneNo waiting period with completion of premarital course, for nonresidents, or in case of hardship. Fla. Stat. §§ 741.04, 741.041 (2022)
Iowa Flag
Iowa3 days6 monthsRegistrar of Vital Statistics in any countyOneWaiting period may be waived in emergency or extraordinary circumstances. Iowa Code § 595.4 (2022)
Kansas Flag
Kansas3 days6 monthsAny district court clerkTwoMinimum waiting period may be waived in emergency or extraordinary circumstances, but application processing may take 2 weeks. Kan. Stat. § 23-2505 (2022).
Massachusetts Flag
Massachusetts3 days60 daysAny city or town clerkNoneMarriage license is called "certificate of intention of marriage." Minimum waiting period may be waived in extraordinary or emergency cases. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 207, §§ 27, 30 (2022).
Michigan Flag
Michigan3 days33 daysCounty clerkTwoApply in county where either applicant lives or, if both are nonresidents, in county where wedding will take place. Waiting period may be waived for good reason. Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 551.101, 551.103a (2022)
New Jersey Flag
New Jersey3 days30 daysLocal Vital Records Office or city clerkOneApply for license in municipality where either applicant lives or, if nonresidents, where wedding will take place; waiting period may be waived in emergency. N.J. Stat. §§ 37:1-3, 37:1-4 (2022)
Oregon Flag
Oregon3 days60 daysAny county court clerkTwoMay get waiver of waiting period for good reason. Or. Rev. Stat. § 106.077 (2022).
Pennsylvania Flag
Pennsylvania3 days60 daysDepartment of Court Records in most countiesNoneLicenses issued by Orphans Court clerk in Philadelphia and Register of Wills in Pittsburgh. Licenses are good anywhere in state. May get waiver of waiting period in emergencies or extraordinary circumstances, or if applicant is in active military duty. 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 1303, 1310 (2022)
Texas Flag
Texas3 days90 daysAny county clerkNoneExceptions to waiting period include applicants who completed premarital education course, received waiver, or are on active military duty. Tex. Fam. Code §§ 2.001, 2.201, 2.204 (2022)
Washington Flag
Washington3 days60 daysAny county auditorNoneWash. Rev. Code §§ 26.04.150, 26.04.180 (2022)
Maryland Flag
Maryland2 days6 monthsCircuit court clerkNoneApply in county where wedding will take place, but applicants may apply for nonresident marriage license by mail if neither lives in that county. Md. Code, Fam. Law §§ 2-405, 2-409 (2022)
Delaware Flag
Delaware1 day30 daysCounty clerk (Marriage Bureau)TwoWaiting or expiration period may be waived for good reason. Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 107, 109 (2022)
Illinois Flag
Illinois1 day60 daysLocal county clerkNoneMust apply in county where wedding will take place. 750 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/203, 5/207 (2022)
Louisiana Flag
Louisiana1 day30 daysAny parish-level court clerkTwoIn Orleans Parish, licenses issued by State Registrar of Vital Records or any city court judge. Waiting period may be waived for good reason. La. Rev. Stat. §§ 9:221, 9:222, 9:235, 9:241, 9:242 (2022)
New York Flag
New York1 day60 daysAny city or town clerkOneWaiting period may be waived. N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law §§ 13, 13-b, 14 (2022)
South Carolina Flag
South Carolina1 dayVaries by countyProbate court in any countyNoneApply with court clerk in Darlington and Georgetown counties. S.C. Code § 20-1-220 (2022).