# Documents You Need for a Marriage License

Marriage license applications commonly require identity and age evidence, plus prior-marriage records when applicable; confirm the exact documents with your local issuing office.

Updated 2026-10-10. Also on the [web page](https://marriagelicense.fyi/guides/documents-you-need-for-a-marriage-license).

# Documents You Need for a Marriage License

Start with accepted identification, proof of age, and records of any previous marriage. The exact documents depend on where you apply. Verify every item with your local issuing office before you attend an appointment.

This guide uses the US marriage license process as its starting point. Other countries may use a civil registry, advance notice, or different application documents. Ask the authority responsible for your ceremony location which process applies.

## Check Identity and Age Evidence

A passport, driver's license, or government identity card may be accepted. Do not assume that every government document qualifies. Ask whether the office requires a photograph, a current address, or an unexpired document.

Proof of age may come from an accepted identity document or a separate birth record. For example, the [Massachusetts preparation guide](https://www.mass.gov/guides/getting-married-in-massachusetts-before-the-wedding) identifies a birth certificate or passport as possible age evidence. That example does not establish requirements elsewhere.

Check both applicants' documents for:

- Full names and spelling.
- Dates of birth.
- Expiration dates.
- Missing pages or unreadable details.

If a document uses an earlier name, ask what evidence connects it to your current name. Do this before ordering replacements.

## Prepare Prior-Marriage Records

If either person was previously married, ask what details and records the office needs. Possible documents include a final divorce decree, an annulment record, or a former spouse's death certificate. Requirements can depend on the circumstances and the issuing office.

Ask whether the office needs records for every previous marriage or only specified records. Confirm whether a court record must show that the divorce is final. An application to divorce is not the same document as a final decree.

The [NYC311 marriage license page](https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02115) illustrates why checking local instructions matters. Use the equivalent official page for your own ceremony location.

## Confirm Document Formats

Ask separately about originals, certified copies, ordinary copies, and digital files. A scan that helps you complete an online application may not satisfy an appointment requirement.

For documents from another country, ask about translations and authentication. Confirm who may prepare a translation before paying for one. Do not assume a translation accepted by one agency works for another.

## Make an Appointment Folder

Create a checklist for each applicant. Keep the office's instructions with your documents, and note any questions that remain unanswered.

Before leaving, confirm appointment details and whether both applicants must attend. Ask about any additional application information, payment methods, and missing-document alternatives. Protect sensitive records when sending them, and use the office's official submission method.

## Sources

- [NYC311 Marriage License](https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02115)
- [Getting Married in Massachusetts: Before the Wedding](https://www.mass.gov/guides/getting-married-in-massachusetts-before-the-wedding)

## Questions

### What documents do we need for a marriage license?

Expect to provide accepted identification and proof of age, with prior-marriage paperwork if applicable. Ask your local issuing office for its exact checklist before your appointment.

### Do we need original documents for a marriage license?

Document formats vary by issuing office. Confirm whether each record must be an original, a certified copy, or another accepted format.