After the wedding, make sure the signed marriage license is returned to the office that issued it—usually by the officiant, according to local instructions. Once the marriage is recorded, request certified copies if you need legal proof; do not assume a signed keepsake copy is certified or that a certified copy will arrive automatically.
What to do with the license after the ceremony
- Check the signatures before leaving. Confirm that both spouses, the officiant, and any witnesses required by your jurisdiction have signed where instructed.
- Follow the return instructions. Give the completed document to the officiant or use the delivery method specified in your license packet. In most of the jurisdictions cited here, the officiant returns the official copy, but local rules and the packet control.
- Check the deadline with the issuing office. The return period varies by location; examples are listed below.
- Keep any personal duplicate separate. An unofficial copy may be a keepsake, but it is not a substitute for a certified legal copy.
The CDC/NCHS handbook describes the general process: “After the marriage ceremony has been performed, the license and the completed certificate of marriage are returned to the county clerk who reviews, signs, and dates the record.” Polk County Clerk in Florida cautions that “There is no official record of the marriage until after it has been returned to the Clerk’s office that issued it.”
How long do you have to return it?
There is no nationwide deadline. These are examples from county instructions; check the current rule with the office that issued your license.
| Jurisdiction | Return deadline stated in county instructions |
|---|---|
| Henrico County, Virginia | 5 days |
| Livingston County, Michigan | 10 days |
| Tulare County, California | 10 days |
| San Mateo County, California | 10 days |
| Dallas County, Texas | 30 days |
| Maricopa County, Arizona | 30 days |
These periods are jurisdiction-specific, not a general rule for the state or country. Confirm who must return the document, where it must go, and which delivery methods are accepted with your issuing office.
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Is the signed license the same as a marriage certificate?
Not necessarily. The signed license is the document used to authorize and record the marriage. After it is returned and processed, the issuing office records the marriage. A signed paper or duplicate kept by the couple may be unofficial; Livingston County, Michigan, says an unofficial duplicate may be kept as a souvenir but is not valid for legal purposes. A certified copy is an official copy issued by the appropriate records office.
How to get certified copies
Ask the issuing clerk, county recorder, or state vital-records office how to order certified copies. Availability, fees, identification requirements, delivery options, and processing times depend on the jurisdiction. Some offices mail a copy automatically; others require a separate paid request. Tulare County, California, says a certified copy is not automatically sent and must be purchased from the clerk, by mail, or through VitalChek.
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- Contact the office that recorded the marriage and confirm the record is available.
- Ask how many certified copies you can order, the fee and payment methods, what identification is required, and how long processing and delivery take.
- Check with each agency that will update your records. Social Security, a driver’s license or state ID office, immigration authorities, insurers, banks, and other organizations may have different proof requirements. King County advises applicants to check with each agency and notes that a certified copy may be required for a name change.
If you need proof before a state record is available, contact the local issuing clerk. Florida’s Department of Health says forwarding a newly recorded marriage record to its Bureau of Vital Statistics takes approximately 60 days and directs people who need immediate evidence to the county clerk.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What if the license is lost, damaged, or rejected?
Contact the issuing clerk promptly. Replacement or duplicate-license procedures are local, and the clerk can explain what to do if the document was lost or damaged, or if the completed return was rejected or needs correction. Do not assume a keepsake copy or an unsigned replacement will satisfy the recording requirements.
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