Idaho can usually be found at the top of many lists when it comes to lax marriage rules. Obtaining a marriage license in Idaho is much easier, and has no waiting period. Most states require a minimum of a 24-hour waiting period after obtaining the license to officially have a ceremony and sign documents to be officially considered in matrimony with one another. Marriage licenses in this state also have no expiration date, whereas most other states declare that you must get married within a certain amount of time after obtaining the license, usually up to 90 days. This means that couples can plan their wedding years while already having a marriage license.
One of the biggest advantages that Idaho has over the other states is that a witness is not necessary. This means that if you and your loved one are planning to elope, you only need to decide this together, without the burden of having to bring someone to observe your ceremony if you so choose. Finally, marriage in Idaho is possible for everyone in the United States, meaning you do not have to be a resident of the state to get a marriage license.
Georgia is a very relaxed state in terms of rules for obtaining a marriage license, but slightly more stringent on these regulations than Idaho. There are no waiting periods for the marriage license, and there are no expiration dates - but there is a stipulation. After you have performed your ceremony, religious or otherwise, the signed permit must be sent into the registry within 30 days. Much like in Idaho, there is no need to be a resident of Georgia to get married to one another, but it does bring advantages if you are considered a resident of this state.
For example, if one person resides permanently in Georgia, they can receive a permit from any county within the state. Only one person is required to be Georgian for this to be held. If both parties are not from Georgia, they must obtain the license in the county of their wedding venue beforehand.
Of course, there is no list for quick marriages that do not include Nevada, and more specifically, Las Vegas. Vegas is an extremely popular place for elopement, which has been further glamorized by Hollywood and populated culture. Although it may come as a shock that it is not always ranked very highly on the list. Vegas may have many things, including impersonators and amazing venues. Marriage licenses have no waiting periods, but the application does have an expiry date of 12 months. You must also apply for the permit within 90 days of having the ceremony. The application, however, is quick and easy - and you have much more access to information.
The waiting period and insistence on the date of filing don't make Nevada the quickest state to get married in, but it does make it the most accessible within Las Vegas.
State | Waiting Period | License Expiration | License Issuer | Notes and Laws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | N/A | N/A | N/A | No 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) |
| Alaska | 3 days | 3 months | Alaska State Vital Records Section or county court clerk | Waiting period may be waived if it would cause undue hardship. Alaska Stat. §§ 25.05.091, 25.05.111, 25.05.121 (2022) |
| Arizona | None | 1 year | Any county clerk | May apply at some city/town clerks or justice of peace offices. Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 25-121, 25-126, 25-127 (2022) |
| Arkansas | None | 60 days | Any court clerk | 5-day waiting period for 17-year-olds. Ark. Code §§ 9-11-203, 9-11-218 (2022) |
| California | None | 90 days | Any county clerk or recorder's office | Cal. Fam. Code §§ 350–360 (2022) |
| Colorado | None | 30 days | Any county clerk or recorder's office | Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 14-2-106, 14-2-107 (2022) |
| Connecticut | None | 65 days | Vital Records Office | Must apply for license in town where ceremony will take place. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-24 (2022) |
| Delaware | 24 hours | 30 days | County clerk (Marriage Bureau) | Waiting or expiration period may be waived for good reason. Del. Code tit. 13, §§ 107, 109 (2022) |
| District of Columbia | None | No expiration | Court clerk (Marriage Bureau) | D.C. Code § 46-410 (2022) |
| Florida | 3 days | 60 days | Any circuit court clerk | No waiting period with completion of premarital course, for nonresidents, or in case of hardship. Fla. Stat. §§ 741.04, 741.041 (2022) |
| Georgia | None | No expiration | Probate court | Georgia 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 | None | 30 days | State Health Department | Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 572-5, 572-6 (2022) |
| Idaho | None | No expiration | Any county recorder | Idaho Code § 32-403 (2022) |
| Illinois | 1 day | 60 days | Local county clerk | Must apply in county where wedding will take place. 750 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/203, 5/207 (2022) |
| Indiana | None | 60 days | County clerk | Indiana 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) |
| Iowa | 3 days | 6 months | Registrar of Vital Statistics in any county | Waiting period may be waived in emergency or extraordinary circumstances. Iowa Code § 595.4 (2022) |
| Kansas | 3 days | 6 months | Any district court clerk | Minimum waiting period may be waived in emergency or extraordinary circumstances, but application processing may take 2 weeks. Kan. Stat. § 23-2505 (2022). |
| Kentucky | None | 30 days | Any county clerk | Ky. Rev. Stat. §§ 402.100, 402.105 (2022) |
| Louisiana | 24 hours | 30 days | Any parish-level court clerk | In 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) |
| Maine | None | 90 days | Town clerk or State Registrar of Vital Statistics | Apply at town office where one applicant lives; nonresidents apply at any town office. Md. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A, §§ 651, 652 (2022) |
| Maryland | 2 days | 6 months | Circuit court clerk | Apply 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) |
| Massachusetts | 3 days | 60 days | Any city or town clerk | Marriage 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 | 3 days | 33 days | County clerk | Apply 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) |
| Minnesota | None | 6 months | Any county registrar (Vital Records Office) | Minn. Stat. §§ 517.07, 517.08 (2022) |
| Mississippi | None | No provision | Any circuit court clerk | Miss. Code § 93-1-15 |
| Missouri | None | 30 days | Recorder of Deeds in any county | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 451.040 (2022) |
| Montana | None | 180 days | Any district court clerk | Mont. Code §§ 40-1-202, 40-1-212 (2022) |
| Nebraska | None | 1 year | Any county clerk | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 42-104 (2022) |
| Nevada | None | 1 year | Any county clerk (or Marriage License Bureau) | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 122.040 (2022) |
| New Hampshire | None | 90 days | Any town/city clerk | N.H. Rev. Stat. §§ 5-C:42, 457:26 (2022) |
| New Jersey | 72 hours | 30 days | Local Vital Records Office or city clerk | Apply 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) |
| New Mexico | None | No provision | Any county clerk | N.M. Stat. § 40-1-10 (2022) |
| New York | 24 hours | 60 days | Any city or town clerk | Waiting period may be waived. N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law §§ 13, 13-b, 14 (2022) |
| North Carolina | None | 60 days | Any register of deeds | N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 51-8, 51-16 (2022) |
| North Dakota | None | 60 days | County recorder or other designated official | Apply in county where either applicant lives. N.D. Cent. Code § 14-03-10 (2022) |
| Ohio | None | 60 days | Probate Court (marriage department) | Apply in county where either applicant lives or, if nonresidents, where wedding will take place. Ohio Rev. Code §§ 3101.05, 3101.07 (2022) |
| Oklahoma | None | 30 days | Any county district court clerk | 72-hour waiting period for applicants under age 18. Okla. Stat. tit. 43, §§ 4, 5, 6, 20 (2022) |
| Oregon | 3 days | 60 days | Any county court clerk | May get waiver of waiting period for good reason. Or. Rev. Stat. § 106.077 (2022). |
| Pennsylvania | 3 days | 60 days | Department of Court Records in most counties | Licenses 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) |
| Rhode Island | None | 3 months | Town or city clerk | Apply 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 Carolina | 24 hours | Varies by county | Probate court in any county | Apply with court clerk in Darlington and Georgetown counties. S.C. Code § 20-1-220 (2022). |
| South Dakota | None | 90 days | Any county register of deeds | S.D. Codified Laws §§ 25-1-10, 25-1-24 (2022) |
| Tennessee | None | 30 days | Any county clerk | Tenn. Code § 36-3-103 (2022) |
| Texas | 72 hours | 90 days | Any county clerk | Exceptions 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) |
| Utah | None | 32 days | Any county clerk | Utah Code § 30-1-7 (2022) |
| Vermont | None | 60 days | Any town clerk | Vt. Stat. tit. 18, § 5131 (2022) |
| Virginia | None | 60 days | Any county or city court clerk or deputy clerk | Va. Code §§ 20-14, 20-14.1 (2022) |
| Washington | 3 days | 60 days | Any county auditor | Wash. Rev. Code §§ 26.04.150, 26.04.180 (2022) |
| West Virginia | None | 60 days | Any clerk of county commission | 2-day waiting period for applicants under 18, except in extraordinary circumstances. W. Va. Code §§ 48-2-102, 48-2-103, 48-2-202 (2022) |
| Wisconsin | 5 days | 30 days | County clerk | State 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) |
| Wyoming | None | 1 year | Any county clerk | Wyo. Stat. § 20-1-103 (2022) |