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Marriage license vs marriage certificate

A marriage license is the permission to marry, issued before the wedding, usually by a county clerk. After the ceremony the signed license is filed, and the certified marriage certificate or record is what you order afterwards to prove the marriage.

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. What agencies ask for
  2. Who issues certified marriage copies
  3. Sources

What agencies ask for

To change your name with Social Security, a passport or the motor vehicle office, you need a certified copy of the marriage record. The license itself, or the decorative certificate from the ceremony, is not enough.

Who issues certified marriage copies

StateWho issues certified copiesNotes from the state
AlabamaAlabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics1Marriages before August 1936 are held by the county probate office.2
AlaskaAlaska Department of Health, Health Analytics and Vital Records Section3–
ArizonaClerk of the Superior Court in the county where the event occurred4Not available from the state Bureau of Vital Records.4
ArkansasArkansas Department of Health, Vital Records5The state office issues a certified copy of the marriage coupon; the full certified copy comes from the County Clerk where the license was issued.6
CaliforniaCalifornia Department of Public Health – Vital Records7Counties also issue records for events in their county; they are separate from CDPH.8
ColoradoClerk and Recorder of the county where the license was issued (certified copy of the record); CDPHE issues a certified verification only9The state issues a "verification" of a marriage or civil union, not a copy of the certificate.10
ConnecticutConnecticut Department of Public Health, State Vital Records Office11Town of marriage, town where either party lived at the time, or the state11
District of ColumbiaDC Superior Court, Marriage Bureau12Marriage records are held by the court, not DC Health12
FloridaFlorida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics13The clerk of court in the issuing county holds marriages before June 6, 1927 and is the source for marriages under about 60 days old.13
GeorgiaCounty Probate Court; State Office of Vital Records for June 1952 to August 199614Most marriage records, including all recent ones, come from the Probate Court of the county that issued the license14
HawaiiHawaii State Department of Health, Office of Health Status Monitoring15–
IdahoIdaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics (from May 1947); county recorder for the recorded license16Marriages before May 1947 are at county level; the county recorder may have the record.17
IllinoisCounty clerk of the county where the marriage occurred18IDPH does not keep marriage records and can only verify facts from 196218
IndianaClerk of Court in the county where the marriage was issued; Indiana Department of Health for a Record of Marriage19The county clerk holds the original; the state holds a Record of Marriage for 1958-201220
IowaIowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics21County recorders are local registrars21
LouisianaLouisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statistics22For marriages licensed in any parish other than Orleans, the certified copy comes from the Clerk of Court of the parish where the license was bought.23
MaineMaine Department of Health and Human Services, Maine CDC, Division of Data, Research, and Vital Statistics24Also issued by the municipal clerk who issued the license25
MarylandMaryland Department of Health, Division of Vital Records26Before 2007: the circuit court of the county where the marriage took place, or the Maryland State Archives26
MassachusettsMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics27City or town clerk where the marriage intention was filed also issues certified copies28
MinnesotaCounty office that issued the marriage license29MDH does not record marriages.29
MississippiMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Records (statistical record); county Circuit Clerk30Circuit Clerk holds the license; 1938–1941 records are only at the county31
MissouriCounty Recorder of Deeds (certified copy of the marriage certificate); DHSS Bureau of Vital Records32The state statement shows only both names, date of marriage and county; it is not a marriage certificate32
NevadaCounty Recorder (or County Clerk) of the county where the marriage license was issued33Records are held by the county; in Clark County the County Clerk sells certified copies; in Washoe County the County Recorder does.34
New HampshireNew Hampshire Department of State, Division of Vital Records Administration35Also issued by city and town clerks36
New JerseyNew Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry37–
New MexicoCounty clerk of the county where the license was issued38The state vital records office does not issue marriage records; the county clerk records them39
New YorkNew York State Department of Health, Vital Records Section40Town or city clerk where the license was purchased also issues copies41
New York CityOffice of the City Clerk of New York42Marriage records are issued by the City Clerk, not the NYC Health Department43
North CarolinaNorth Carolina Vital Records (NC Office of Vital Records, NCOVR), NC DHHS Division of Public Health44Also issued by the Register of Deeds in the county where the marriage license was issued; pre-1962 records only there45
North DakotaCounty office where the license was purchased and filed46Certified marriage copies come from the county, not the state Vital Records Unit46
OhioCounty probate court where the license was issued47ODH does not hold marriage records47
OklahomaCourt clerk of the district court of the county where the marriage license was issued48OSDH Vital Records does not issue marriage or divorce records; certified copies come from the county court clerk.49
PennsylvaniaRegister of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans Court of the issuing county50State cannot issue marriage records51
South DakotaSouth Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office52County Registers of Deeds furnish certified marriage copies; tribal marriages only from the tribe53
TennesseeTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records54The county clerk that issued the license also holds marriage license records55
TexasCounty clerk of the county that issued the marriage license56DSHS issues only verification letters (marriages since 1966), not certified copies56
UtahUtah DHHS Office of Vital Records and Statistics57County clerk office where the marriage occurred, for years prior to 1978 or after 201057
VermontVermont Department of Health, Vital Records Office (2024-present); VSARA for older records58Town clerks issue marriage certificates filed in their town; VDH issues 2024-present; VSARA issues older years59
VirginiaVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records60Marriage and divorce records are also available at the circuit court in which the event took place61
WashingtonWashington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics62Marriages before 1968 (and the license record itself) are with the county auditor where the license was issued.63
West VirginiaWest Virginia Vital Registration Office (from 1964); county clerk where the license was issued64County Clerk in county where license was issued (certified copies before 1964 come from the county)64
GuamOffice of Vital Statistics, Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services65–

Full details for each state are on the marriage certificates by state page.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked between November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. ADPH Center for Health Statistics, Vital Records home pageAlabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated February 3, 2026
  2. Marriage-certificates pageAlabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated June 2, 2026
  3. Health Analytics and Vital RecordsAlaska Department of Health, Health Analytics and Vital Recordsdated October 24, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  4. ADHS Vital Records: Marriage & Divorce RecordsArizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  5. Order marriage recordsArkansas Department of Health
  6. Where to Write for Vital RecordsCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated November 6, 2015read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  7. CDPH Vital Records homeCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated August 14, 2026
  8. Vital Records FAQsCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated October 22, 2025
  9. Apostilles and Authentications: General informationColorado Secretary of State
  10. Order certificate nowColorado Department of Public Health and Environmentdated July 27, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  11. Marriage and Civil Union CertificatesConnecticut Department of Public Health, State Vital Records Office
  12. DC Superior Court Family Court Operations Division - Marriage Bureau pageDistrict of Columbia Courtsdated February 17, 2026
  13. Marriage certificatesFlorida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
  14. Georgia Department of Public Health pageGeorgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Recordsdated January 9, 2025
  15. Request for Certified Copy of Birth RecordHawaii State Department of Health, Office of Health Status Monitoringdated September 1, 2025
  16. About Marriage and Divorce RecordsIdaho Department of Health and Welfare
  17. Guide to Adoption Birth Death Marriage Divorce 2013 (PDF)Idaho State Historical Society
  18. Marriage recordsdph.illinois.gov/…ices/birth-death-other-records/marriage-records.htmlIllinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records
  19. Vital Records: MarriagesIndiana Department of Health
  20. Marriage Application 10.2018.docxIndiana Department of Healthdated October 1, 2018
  21. Vital RecordsIowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics
  22. Vital recordsldh.la.gov/vital-recordsLouisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statistics
  23. Marriage Licenses and Officiant RegistrationLouisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statistics
  24. Vital Records (DRVS home)Maine DHHS, Maine CDC, Data, Research and Vital Statistics (DRVS)
  25. Planning Your Marriage in Maine (R 09/2025)Maine DHHS, Maine CDC, Data, Research and Vital Statistics (DRVS)dated September 1, 2025
  26. Request Marriage CertificatesMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
  27. Registry of Vital Records and StatisticsMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
  28. Order a birth, marriage, or death certificateMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
  29. Minnesota Department of Health pageMinnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated August 31, 2026
  30. Marriage recordsmsdh.ms.gov/…ces/public-health-services/vital-records/marriage-recordsMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated August 28, 2026
  31. Marriage Record Application InstructionsMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated July 29, 2026
  32. Order a Copy of a Vital Record | Missouri Department of Health and Senior ServicesMissouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  33. Marriage and Divorce RecordsNevada DPBH Office of Vital Recordsdated June 30, 2026
  34. County Clerk Frequently Asked QuestionsClark County Clerk
  35. Request for CertificatesNew Hampshire Secretary of State, Division of Vital Records Administrationdated September 14, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  36. RSA Chapter 5-C Vital Records AdministrationNew Hampshire General Courtdated October 24, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  37. Department of HealthNew Jersey Department of Healthdated July 1, 2022
  38. NMDOH Vital Records homeNew Mexico Department of Health
  39. CDC Where to Write for Vital Records - New MexicoCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated September 25, 2024
  40. Doh 4382 (PDF)New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated July 1, 2011
  41. Marriage Certificates - New York State Department of HealthNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated August 1, 2025
  42. Marriage recordscityclerk.nyc.gov/content/marriage-recordsOffice of the City Clerk of New York
  43. Birth Certificates - NYC HealthNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  44. NC Vital Records home pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 23, 2026
  45. NC Vital Records research pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated August 26, 2026
  46. Certified Copies of Marriage RecordsND HHS Vital Records
  47. Vital StatisticsOhio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
  48. Birth and death certificatesOklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records
  49. Oklahoma Secretary of State - ApostillesOklahoma Secretary of State
  50. Marriage recordspa.gov/…-state-archives/research-online/vital-records/marriage-recordsPennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, State Archives
  51. Act of Jun. 29, 1953,P.L. 304, No. 66 Cl. 35Pennsylvania General Assembly
  52. Vital recordsdoh.sd.gov/licensing-and-records/vital-recordsSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated September 14, 2026
  53. Section 25-1-10South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  54. Vital Records at the Library and ArchivesTennessee State Library and Archives
  55. Marriage LicenseKnox County Clerk
  56. Marriage and Divorce FAQsTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  57. Order a Vital Record CertificateUtah DHHS Office of Vital Records and Statistics
  58. Application for Certified Copy of Vermont Marriage or Divorce or Civil Union Dissolution…Vermont Department of Healthdated June 1, 2026
  59. Order Vital RecordsVermont Department of Healthdated June 30, 2026
  60. Office of Vital Records (home)Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 5, 2026
  61. Frequently Asked QuestionsVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 16, 2026
  62. Vital Records | Washington State Department of HealthWashington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics
  63. Ordering a Marriage or Divorce Record | Washington State Department of HealthWashington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics
  64. Where to Write for Vital Records - West VirginiaCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated November 6, 2015read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  65. Office of Vital Statistics | DPHSSGuam Department of Public Health and Social Services, Office of Vital Statisticsdated September 15, 2025read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page