A marriage certificate or licence is a document issued by either a church or state authority, authorizing or giving approval to a couple to marry. The procedures for obtaining this document vary from country to country and have experienced changes over time.
A marriage certificate or licence is a document issued by either a church or state authority, authorizing or giving approval to a couple to marry. The procedures for obtaining this document vary from country to country and have experienced changes over time. The issuance of marriage licence dates back to the middle ages, to allow a marriage which would otherwise be illegal – for example, if the required period of notice for the marriage had not been given.
In recent time, marriage licence or certificate is a legal requirement in many jurisdictions, and may at the same time serve as a record of the marriage itself when signed by the couple and witnessed.
In some jurisdictions, a certificate of this nature is not required while in some, a pardon can be obtained for carrying on a marriage in the absence of licence. In some other jurisdictions, they recognise common-law marriages and marriages by cohabitation; in such cases, they do not require a marriage licence.
Marriage Certificates in Present Time
Marriage certificate is an important part of a modern time wedding or marriage; with the certificate, the couple will be allowed to get married in the state in which the marriage is being conducted and will also serve as a legal proof for such marriage. This document is also essential for the purposes of tax, since you cannot claim your spouse on your taxes without the proper documentation. Owing to this and other reasons, you would really want to ensure that your certificate for marriage is in the right order. There are many ways to obtain a certificate for marriage. One of the fastest means is to employ the services of a marriage planner who will undertake the arrangements for you. The planner or marriage licence service provider will work by your schedule to fix time and date when you will appear at the local court house to obtain the certificate. The acquisition of these certificates is normally done under oath and the couple getting married has to appear in person to go through the required process.
The laws guiding the acquisition of this document vary between states or provinces. You can also make enquiries on the duration of validity of this document on your own before the marriage day. You can also obtain your marriage certificate without the assistance of a planner; all you do is to appear before a courthouse, undertake the necessary process such as taking of oath; subsequently, you will pay the stated fee needed to have the certificate made. Prior to your wedding, the certificate is only a licence to permit you to marry; as soon as you are legally married or wed and the certificate is signed on as legal, it becomes a proof or evidence of your marriage.
Marriage certificates are important documents; bearing this in mind, you should be careful about its handling. The document can be used by unscrupulous persons to commit identity robbery and fraud. Now, there are several situations where you will require additional copies of your certificate of marriage. Also, in cases where you plan moving to a different country or desiring to establish a mortgage, you may be requested to provide a proof of marriage.
If you happen to lose your marriage certificate; don’t worry, you can get replacement for your lost marriage certificate.
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Mark Wheeler is the author of this article on Marriage Certificate.
Find more information about Lost Marriage Certificate here.