Can I shred my marriage certificate?
Asked by: Mrs. Joanny Kerluke | Last update: January 5, 2026Score: 5/5 (64 votes)
Additionally, documents like your marriage license, birth certificate, wills, adoption papers, death certificates, and records of paid mortgages should always be kept in a secure location, like a safe deposit box, and never destroyed.
Can you destroy a marriage certificate?
No. In the United States, the only way to dissolve a marriage is through a formal divorce. No marriage certificate is required. A copy of the certificate is filed with a government office, so destroying your own copy is just a petty, childish bit of vandalism.
Can I burn my marriage certificate after divorce?
The Marriage Certificate
You should keep your marriage license and certificate as evidence of the relationship and the length of time you were married.
Is it okay to laminate your marriage certificate?
Stop laminating your documents. Laminated documents under U.S. statutory is considered fraudulent/altered documents. Unacceptable and will be rejected.
Can I shred my divorce papers?
It might actually feel liberating to shred such documents, which may contain a lot of uncomfortable details from a failed marriage. However, there are certain documents that you should definitely hold onto, including your divorce decree. This is your official proof that the marriage ended with a judge's approval.
Immigration Advice: Original Marriage Certificate Has a Typo (2019)
Which documents should you shred?
- Address labels from junk mail and magazines.
- ATM receipts.
- Bank statements.
- Birth certificate copies.
- Canceled and voided checks.
- Credit and charge card bills, carbon copies, summaries and receipts.
- Credit reports and histories.
Can I still get a copy of my marriage certificate after divorce?
Marriage and Divorce records are filed with the Clerks Office and are public records anyone can access. They do not go away.
Can you fold your marriage certificate?
It costs like $2 to get an extra copy of the marriage certificate- so if you're worried about it being folded, just get an extra copy and keep it in a big manilla envelope. We folded up our marriage certificate and it's in a fireproof safe, the same spot we keep our birth certificates.
Is a marriage certificate just a piece of paper?
A marriage certificate is an official document that proves your marriage happened. It's not the same as your marriage license, which is a piece of paper you received before your wedding authorizing your marriage.
Can you remarry someone after divorcing them?
under guardianship….” A person whose divorce has been finalized is not considered to be married under the law, so he or she is free to marry again. This means that if you and your former spouse decide to marry each other once more, there is nothing in the law that will prohibit the union.
Can your husband hand you divorce papers?
Who can serve the Defendant. The papers must be served by a "disinterested person." This means someone who is not a party in the case, not interested in the outcome of the case, and who is at least 18 years old. Family members and significant others (boyfriends/girlfriends) cannot serve the documents.
Why keep a marriage certificate?
It is imperative to keep your marriage certificate as you may be eligible to claim your former spouse's benefits. If you were married for 10 years or longer, you will likely receive Social Security benefits based on your former spouse's record.
Are you legally married when you say "I do"?
It's considered a legal and personal commitment. For a marriage to be legal, it must meet the following requirements: Both spouses must agree to it voluntarily. Neither spouse can currently be married to someone else.
Can you cancel getting married?
You're Doing the Right Thing
If you need to postpone or cancel your wedding because of an internal struggle, you are doing the right thing for you, your spouse, and all of the people in your lives. If you need to postpone or cancel your wedding because of an external factor, you are doing what needs to be done.
Can you delete marriage records?
The short answer is “No”: A divorce or annulment will not erase the paper trail of a legal marriage because these legal proceedings are a part of the public, permanent record.
What happens if you laminate a certificate?
First, lamination can damage the certificate. The adhesive in the lamination can interact with the paper, leaving a residue on the certificate. This can make it difficult to read, and can even damage the ink. It can also cause the paper to become brittle over time, making it more susceptible to damage.
What are the disadvantages of laminating certificates?
Certain certifications contain stamps, marks, security seals, or prints. When you laminate them, such documents or certificates completely flatten out. Some foreign institutes and organisations are very serious about these seals. Thus, flattened documents might not be easily approved or verified.
Is it a good idea to laminate documents?
Over time however, it was discovered that lamination is in fact destructive. Not only does the application of high heat and pressure damage documents, laminate plastics will also "off-gas," causing a chemical reaction with materials sealed inside.
Is it OK to laminate marriage certificate?
Distorted lines, text and colours may as well be created when photocopied. Now that you know how much damage you can do to your certificate when laminated, stay away from laminating legal documents because lamination renders it invalid/altered in some important organization.
Does it matter if you fold your birth certificate?
Don't fold, paper clip or staple the document, as repeated folding can lead to tears while paper clips and staples can (and do!) leave impressions and rust stains.
What makes a marriage certificate legal?
"A marriage certificate is a document issued to you after your wedding. This document proves that you are legally married to your spouse. The marriage certificate records the date, time and place of your wedding. In many places, the officiant's name is on the marriage certificate," Wooten explains.
Can I destroy my marriage certificate after divorce?
Newly divorced individuals often make the mistake of discarding their original marriage certificate and settlement agreement. Although you want to move on to the next chapter of your life without reminders of your former spouse, you need to preserve certain legal documents as they may be useful in the future.
Does marriage stay on your record?
The County Clerk maintains a permanent index of all confidential marriages registered.
How do I know I am divorced?
In addition to a court-issued divorce decree, many state vital records offices provide a divorce certificate. The divorce certificate gives both people's names and the location and date of the divorce.