Can you lose your marriage license?
Asked by: Alejandra Osinski | Last update: October 6, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (22 votes)
If your marriage license goes missing before the wedding, head back to the clerk's office where you filed for it to request a duplicate license. You may need to file an affidavit and be prepared to pay a fee. The process and fee will vary from state to state, as will the requirements about who can pick up the copy.
What voids a marriage license?
Void marriages (i.e., those that are never valid) are those that are incestuous or bigamous. Under California Family Code § 2200, a marriage is incestuous if it is between parents and children, ancestors and descendants of every degree, siblings and half-siblings, and uncles or aunts and nieces and nephews.
How long is a NYC marriage license good for?
A New York State Marriage License is valid for 60 days (except for active military personnel, for whom the validity runs for 180 days). A Marriage License issued in New York can be used anywhere within New York State but may not be used outside New York State.
Do you need a marriage license after divorce?
It is unlawful to marry in every US state if you are still married to someone else. Therefore, the licensing clerk of any state can require you to show proof of your divorce, annulment, or the death of your spouse before they will issue you a license and they all will, at least under some circumstances.
What happens if you don't turn in your marriage license within 10 days in PA?
An official public record of the marriage will not exist if the officiant performing the marriage ceremony fails to return the duplicate Certificate of Marriage within ten days after the solemnization of the marriage, as required by law.
Never Get A Marriage License Here's Why
What if I never filed my marriage license?
In most cases, you are still considered married without registering the license. For example, California law requires the officiant to return the marriage license to the county clerk or recorder within 10 days of the ceremony.
How long do you have to file your marriage license in PA?
A marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. You should apply for a marriage license at least 2 to 3 weeks before the scheduled date of your marriage ceremony.
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.
Do I have to file married if I got divorced?
If you're legally separated or divorced at the end of the year. You must file as single for that tax year unless you're eligible to file as head of household or you remarry by the end of the year.
Why would my ex-wife need our marriage certificate?
For instance, although you may want to discard your original marriage license and certificate, you should keep it in a safe place as you may need to reference it to affirm you and your spouse were married. It is imperative to keep your marriage certificate as you may be eligible to claim your former spouse's benefits.
What happens if you don't report a previous marriage?
As long as the previous marriages ended legally, there is no legal requirement for disclosure UNLESS the marriage license specifically asks about them.
What if your marriage license expires?
Most marriage licenses expire within 30 days to a year, depending on the issuing state. If yours expires or gets lost before you get married, apply for a new one. Contact the vital records office in the state where you are getting married to find out how to apply.
Does a marriage license mean you are married in NYC?
A marriage license is a government document that authorizes you to legally get married, so it's something you need to obtain before your ceremony. Getting the license doesn't mean you're already married — think of it as a legal permit that allows you to officially marry.
What happens if I mess up on my marriage license?
An error on your marriage certificate can make it more difficult to change your name or get marriage benefits. If you notice an error on your marriage certificate, you need to contact the county clerk or get a court order for an amended marriage certificate.
What makes a marriage invalid?
A marriage can be annulled only when the law considers your marriage either void or voidable. Examples of void marriages—unions that aren't legal to begin with—are where there's bigamy or incest. An example of a voidable marriage is one that took place when the spouses were highly intoxicated.
Is cheating grounds for annulment?
It is more difficult to get an annulment than it is to get a divorce. Before your marriage can be annulled by the court, you will be required to prove that you have valid grounds for an annulment. Infidelity is not recognized as one of the grounds for annulment.
How do the IRS know you are married?
The IRS doesn't typically check marriage records. They trust taxpayers to be honest. If both people claim to be married to each other, the IRS wouldn't have reason to question it. If the couple files returns saying they are each married to different people, the IRS may investigate.
What happens if you file married but aren't married?
You usually must be married to file together. However, if you are non-married but want to file a joint return, it is possible you can use married filing jointly if you're considered married under a common law marriage recognized by either of these: The state where you live. The state where the common-law marriage began.
Are you still married if you file for divorce?
A divorce is the legal dissolution of marriage — meaning the court terminates the marriage's legal bond, determines child custody and support if needed, and divides the couple's assets and liabilities. Separations can also involve the court establishing agreements like custody.
What happens to a marriage license after divorce?
After you divorce, you may want to throw out your original marriage license and certificate. However, you should keep this document as it legally proves that you were married to your former spouse at one point. It can show the court the duration of the marriage.
Is it illegal to keep your married name after divorce?
Keeping Your Married Name
When a couple gets divorced, each spouse has the right to keep his or her married name.
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 don t turn in your marriage license within 10 days Pennsylvania?
Filing Marriage Returns
The officiant performing the marriage ceremony must file the marriage return with the Marriage License Office which issued the license, within 10 days of the date of the ceremony. A marriage record will not exist if the officiant who performs the marriage fails to file this document.
Are you considered married after 7 years in PA?
Common law marriage is the concept that individuals become legally married after a certain amount of time together. In Pennsylvania, you have not been able to enter into a common law marriage as of January 2005. As a result, if you and your partner want to be treated as legal spouses, you must formally marry.
How to legally change your name in PA after marriage?
Name Change Due to Marriage
Pennsylvania does not require a name change for marriage. If the applicant wishes to change his/her name after marriage, certified copies of the marriage record will be required in order to change your driver's license and social security card.