Has anyone been denied a marriage license?
Asked by: Vicente Leffler II | Last update: June 10, 2025Score: 4.4/5 (32 votes)
While Colette and John's case is both extreme and unique, the denial of a marriage license is a very real possibility. Although marriage license laws vary widely from state to state, all states require a couple to obtain a marriage license in order to have a valid union.
Why would a marriage license be denied?
Obtaining a marriage license without admitting to the court clerk or other state authority that the couple is related (e.g., incest); and/or. Getting a marriage license without consent if a couple is underage or one of the party's is mentally incapable of understanding the meaning of marriage.
Who was the court clerk who refused marriage license?
Kim Davis drew international attention when she was briefly jailed in 2015 over her refusal, which she based on her belief that marriage should be only between a man and a woman.
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.
What is required to get a marriage license in Tennessee?
What are the requirements for a marriage license? These are the requirements for a marriage license in the State of Tennessee: Both parties, groom and bride, must come together to apply. You must bring both your driver's licenses (or State IDs) and social security numbers (can also use birth certificates).
Same-sex couple denied marriage license
How fast can you get a marriage license in Tennessee?
There is not a waiting period. The license will be issued the same day you apply, and must be used within 30 days from the date of issue. The authorized officiant must return the completed license within 3 days from the date of the marriage. The State of Tennessee does not require a blood test.
What is the new marriage law in Tennessee?
The law was passed in 2024 and signed into law by Governor Bill Lee. The law would thus allow wedding officiants to legally discriminate against couples entering interracial unions, heterosexual unions and same-sex marriages.
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.
Are you still married if you don't consummate?
It's important to understand that the inability to consummate a marriage is considered a valid legal reason to annul a marriage.
What happens if you never file a marriage license?
If a license is not filed, there is no legal marriage. If there is no legal marriage, the couple is not eligible to file for divorce.
Who returns the marriage license in Tennessee?
After the ceremony has been performed, both the Tennessee Department of Health - Certificate of Marriage form and the bottom tear-off portion of the Marriage License - Rites of Matrimony form must be completed and signed by the individual performing the ceremony and forwarded back to the County Clerk's Office to be ...
Why is marriage license confidential?
Unlike a public marriage license, a confidential marriage license can only be accessed by the couple unless the person requesting it has a court order. This protects sensitive information, such as full names and places of birth, and keeps it hidden from telemarketers, spammers, and identity thieves.
Are you really married without a marriage license?
Some couples choose to forgo the legalities of marriage and opt for a common-law relationship. This type of union recognizes a couple as somewhat equivalent to being legally married even if vows were not exchanged in a civil or religious ceremony and a marriage license was not obtained.
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 makes a marriage not legal?
Incest - the union of siblings (and sometimes first cousins) Fraud - providing false information or willfully deceiving other parties. Bigamy - two simultaneous marriages, e.g., a person marrying someone while they are still married to someone else. Coercion - forcing another person into a marriage against their will.
Is a sexless marriage grounds for an annulment?
One of you is physically unable to consummate marriage
One of you is physically unable to have sex and it can't be fixed. This does not mean inability to have children. You must file a request within 4 years of the marriage.
Does the Bible say you have to consummate your marriage?
“Therefore,” the scripture says, “they shall be joined together,” Genesis 2, “and they shall become one flesh.” So, an unconsummated marriage is something that throughout the history of the church has been recognized as no marriage at all, especially where there is a refusal to consummate the marriage.
Can a marriage be annulled if it was never consummated?
If you can prove your marriage was never consummated, your marriage may be eligible for annulment.
What is a void marriage?
A void marriage is a marriage that was never valid from the start and cannot be made valid. Common reasons for a court to find a marriage void ab initio are that the marriage is incestuous or polygamous.
What marriages are not recognized in the US?
(1) Polygamous Marriages: Polygamous marriages are not recognized as a matter of federal public policy. See Matter of H-, 9 I&N Dec. 640 (BIA 1962). Any prior marriage, of either party, must be legally terminated before the later marriage.
Can you get an annulment if your spouse cheated?
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.
Can my wife take my house if I bought it before marriage in Tennessee?
Tennessee is known as an 'equitable distribution' state when it comes to assets obtained while married. That means that in general assets or property obtained prior to marriage remain with the person who owns the property but any increase in value WHILE married can be considered a marital growth.
How many days after divorce can you remarry in Tennessee?
At what point during the divorce process can a spouse remarry or start dating in TN? You cannot remarry until after the divorce has been final for 30 days. After the final hearing, there is a 30-day appeal period. You should not get married until the expiration of this 30-day period.
What is solemnizing a marriage?
Solemnization of marriage refers to the formal requirement of performing a marriage ceremony by a professional who is authorized by the state. The person who can perform the ceremony varies depending on the laws of the state.