How to obtain a copy of marriage license in Louisiana

In order to be legally married in the state of Louisiana, you must obtain all of the proper documentation. Copies of marriage license in Louisiana will be necessary before undergoing the ceremony and may be required later to divorce or claim an inheritance. 

An application for this document must be conducted in person at your local court. For American citizens age 18 and older, all that will be required to obtain a copy of marriage license in Louisiana will be a current, government-issued ID. People who have been previously married will need to provide proof of the termination of their marriage in the form of either a divorce judgment obtained through the court system or a death certificate for a former partner. 

To obtain copies of marriage license in Louisiana, those who are age 16 or 17 must be accompanied by their parents, who must give their consent to the ceremony in person. Additionally, a judge will need to sign off on this document before the ceremony can be performed. Legal aliens must present their birth certificate or passport in order to receive copies of marriage license in Louisiana.

A certain amount of information must be presented when you apply for this document. The full names and contact information of both spouses must be provided in order to receive a copy of marriage license in Louisiana. Depending on what district you are in, you may be able to submit this relevant information online before coming to the appropriate office. However, in many cases the process of receiving copies of marriage license in Louisiana will require you to attend in person from start to finish.

Some couples may wish to commit a "covenant marriage," or to convert their standard marriage into a covenant marriage. This is a relationship which commits both couples to a lifetime together and forbids them from seeking a no-fault divorce. To obtain a copy of marriage license in Louisiana for this kind of ceremony, a couple must undergo premarital counseling first.

There will be a 72 hour waiting period between the time the application is completed and submitted and when you can pick up a copy. You must perform the ceremony within 30 days of receiving your copy of marriage license in Louisiana. After this period has expired, you will need to repeat the process in order to marry. Once the ceremony has been completed, you may apply for certified copies of marriage license in Louisiana for your records. You may also choose to prepay for this document before the ceremony.

A copy of marriage license in Louisiana can only be used to obtain marriage in that state. If you are getting married in another state, even if you are not a resident there, you must apply for this document there. You do not need to be a resident of the state in order to apply for copies of marriage license in Louisiana.

Quick Guide to Annulments in Arkansas 

Annulments of Marriages in Arkansas

Most laws for an annulment of marriage in Arkansas are located in Subchapter 2 and Chapter 12 of Title 9 of the state’s annotated code.  This article will reference the listed chapter as well as others both to list the important grounds for an annulment of marriage in Arkansas.  

Specific Laws about Annulments of Marriages in Arkansas

General provisions for annulments of marriages in Arkansas are located in Section 9-12-201 Grounds. Generally, an annulment of marriage in Arkansas may occur in the following situations: 

• One or both of the parties were too young to legally marry within the state (under the age of 16)

• One or both of the parties were unable to mentally understand the consent of the marriage and the consequences involved

• One or both of the parties were incapable of entering to the marriage within the state because of physical causes

• The consent to marry was obtained through fraud

• Either party forced the other party to enter into marriage 

Section 9-11-106 also allows an annulment of marriage in Arkansas if the marriage is incestuous.  According to this section, annulments of marriages in Arkansas occur in the following circumstances: 

“Between parents and children, including grandparents and grandchildren of every degree, between brothers and sisters of the half as well as the whole blood, and between uncles and nieces, and between aunts and nephews, and between first cousins… [and] this section shall extend to illegitimate children and relations.” 

In some cases, a court may allow the marriage to continue between parties who were too young to marry if the female party has conceived child according to laws for annulments of marriages in Arkansas. 

Steps for Annulments of Marriages in Arkansas

An annulment of marriage in Arkansas requires the following steps: 

1. Fill out court forms: you’ll have to fill out several different forms depending on the grounds of your annulment of marriage in Arkansas, and you’ll have to file a complaint with the county court.  You’ll have to contact your local county court in order to find information on what forms you’ll need to file a complaint, and you can find contact information for courts at the following link. 

2. File the forms with the clerk: you will have to pay filing fees for every form you submit, and you will have to fill out even more forms if you want to establish temporary orders for child support, spousal support, or other issues within annulments of marriages in Arkansas.    

3. Serve the forms to the other party: you can have the court send the documents to the second party, you can mail the forms yourself, or you can have an outside party hand over the forms.   

4. Set up a court hearing: all annulments of marriages in Arkansas must have supporting factors hold up in court, and you should hire a lawyer to help you prepare for the trial.  If either party misrepresented their age, a court may not always grant an annulment in some cases. 

Obtaining Copies of Marriage Licenses in Arkansas 

Copies of Marriage Licenses: Arkansas

The revised Arkansas code has specific instruction for obtaining a copy of marriage license.  Arkansas licenses are discussed within Chapter 11 of Title 9 of the annotated code, and several sections are discussed within this article.  Additionally, some helpful information about necessary items you’ll have to bring to obtain a copy of marriage license in Arkansas is also provided in this article.

Section 9-11-205 Notice of intention to wed—Noncompliance, penalties, and effect

This section of law on copies of marriage licenses in Arkansas provides procedures for both parties and the clerk.  The parts of this section are discussed below: 

(a) A marriage cannot be issued by the clerk of the court unless a notice of intention to wed has been signed by both applicants applying for the copy of marriage license in Arkansas and filed with the county clerk.  

(b) The notice of intention to wed needs to state the name, age, and address of both parties trying to wed in the state of AR.  

(c) The county clerk will verify the age of both parties and use birth certificates as prima facie proof of age in order to declare the marriage as legal. 

(d) The notice of intention to wed referred to in this section needs filed with the county clerk where the copies of marriage licenses in Arkansas are obtained.  

(e) The county clerk may destroy the notice of intention to wed 1 year after the date of issuance if the parties have not yet married.  

(f) If the county clerk or any of the parties trying to obtain a copy of marriage license in Arkansas fail to comply with the provisions of this section, each party can be fined up o $500 and be convicted of a misdemeanor.  

(g) No marriage can be declared as void for failure to comply with the provisions of this section. 

Other Important Sections of Law about Copies of Marriage Licenses: Arkansas

The following sections of state code provide more important provisions for copies of marriage licenses in Arkansas: 

Section 9-11-207

This section of code states that no clerk can issue a copy of marriage license in Arkansas to any person or persons if at any time during the contracting of the license either party is visibly under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.  The parties must appear completely sober.  

Section 9-11-208

This section states that copies of marriage licenses will not be issued to parties of the same sex.  If another state recognized same sex marriages, the marriage will be declared as void within the state of Arkansas.  

Important Items to Bring when Obtaining Copies of Marriage Licenses in Arkansas

When applying for a copy of marriage license in Arkansas, make sure you bring proper identification, your birth certificate, and enough money for the filing of the application.  Fees will range in Arkansas, so you may want to contact the local circuit court before submitting the application.  To contact clerks around the state, visit the link below. 

Guide to Marriage Certificates in Kansas

Marriage Certificates in Kansas

In order to validate a marriage certificate in Kansas, two prospective spouses must follow a number of steps and make sure the marriage is valid under law.  This article will discuss steps two people should take to finalize their marriage certificate in Kansas after obtaining a marriage license, but qualifying factors to legally marry need explained first.  

Marriage Requirements in Kansas

In order to receive marriage certificates in Kansas, two future spouses cannot try to enter into a marriage that is otherwise void by law.  A marriage certificate in Kansas cannot be issued in any circumstances if the marriage would contain any of the following characteristics: 

• One or both of the parties were too young to legally marry within the state (under the age of 16)

• One or both of the parties were unable to mentally understand the consent of the marriage and the consequences involved

• One or both of the parties were incapable of entering to the marriage within the state because of physical causes

• The consent to marry was obtained through fraud

• Either party forced the other party to enter into marriage

• The relationship is incestuous 

• The marriage was declared as legal in another state between a same-gender couple

Step 2 Solemnization Requirements for Marriage Certificates in Kansas

If couples have qualified for a marriage certificate in Kansas, they will receive a copy of the marriage license along with a blank return for the person who has solemnized the marriage.  In order for a couple to legally receive a marriage certificate in Kansas, the marriage must be solemnized according to §23-104a. 

The statute provides that only the following qualified individuals can solemnize a marriage and validate marriage certificates in Kansas: 

• any ordained clergyman or religious authority or any denomination

• any licentiate of a denomination or any appointee of any bishop, if not prohibited by the church or denomination

• any judge or justice or the court of record

• any municipal judge of a city in the state

• any retired judge or justice of a court of record

• two parties themselves, by mutual declaration, may be married without an authorized officiating person (common-law marriage) 

If marriage certificates in Kansas are not signed by qualified individuals or are signed fraudulently, and parties and the officiator can receive strict penalties in Kansas. 

Step 3 Return Signed Marriage Certificates in Kansas to the District Clerk

A marriage certificate in Kansas must be signed by the person who legally solemnized the marriage (or signed mutually between the parties without an officiator in certain cases) and returned to the district court as soon as possible.  After the clerk has received the validated and completed marriage certificate in Kansas, they and the District court will be the full custodian of records relating to the marriage between the two parties.  

If any copies of the certificate are needed in the future, a party should call or visit the district court in which they submitted the original certificate.  For a listing of all district courts in Kansas.

Guide to Annulment of Marriage in Oregon

Most marriages in Oregon end in either death or divorce.  However, there is another way to dissolve a marital relationship.  Annulment of marriage in OR is an option for couples whose marriage was void or voidable at the time it was contracted.  This guide will explain the basics of annulment of marriage in Oregon, including the differences between annulment and divorce.  If you need more in-depth information about annulment of marriage in OR, or legal advice about your particular situation, you may want to consult a family law attorney in your area.

Annulment vs. Divorce

Many people are confused about the difference between divorce and annulment of marriage in Oregon.  When you get a divorce, you are acknowledging that a relationship existed between you and your spouse, but that the relationship has come to an end.  When you get an annulment of marriage in OR, however, it is as if you had never been married at all.  Annulment of marriage in Oregon retroactively voids your entire marriage.  However, much as in divorce, a judge will need to approve your annulment of marriage in OR.

Grounds for Annulment of Marriage in Oregon

In order to have an annulment of marriage in OR approved by the courts, you will need to prove that one of two specific things has happened.  The first of the two permissible grounds for annulment of marriage in Oregon is that one party lacked the ability to consent to the marriage.  In some cases, annulment of marriage in OR can be granted on these grounds if you can prove that a party was mentally incompetent.  Children are also incapable of consent to marry, and can attain an annulment of marriage in Oregon if they married illegally before the age of 18.

The other reason for the courts to allow an annulment of marriage in OR is when one party was forced or defrauded into marrying.  If a spouse was lying about a fundamental aspect of the marriage and the spouse who was defrauded stops cohabiting with their spouse as soon as they find out, they may be granted an annulment of marriage in Oregon.  In order to obtain an annulment of marriage in OR for these grounds, the spouses will need to have separated as soon as the force or fraud was stopped.

Alternatives to Annulment of Marriage in Oregon

Because annulment of marriage in OR is only available under very specific circumstances, many people would prefer an alternative.  It can often be quicker and easier to have a no-fault divorce than to be granted an annulment of marriage in Oregon.  Talking to a divorce attorney can help you understand the difference between annulment and divorce in terms of court procedure and cost, so you can make a fully informed decision for your individual situation.

Religious Annulment of Marriage in Oregon

This guide has covered the civil aspect of annulment of marriage in OR.  If you need your marriage annulled for religious purposes (for instance, the Catholic Church does not allow divorcees to take communion), you will want to talk to your religious leader about these procedures.  Typically, these are handled by churches only and do not require legal advice.

Guide to Getting a Marriage Certificate in Oregon

If you need a marriage certificate in OR for your own research or records, you may not know what state level department to contact.  Not everyone is eligible to obtain any marriage certificate in Oregon, and a request without the correct identification or paperwork is likely to be rejected.  This guide will explain who is eligible to obtain a copy of a marriage certificate in OR, and how you can go about getting a marriage certificate if you are eligible.

Who Can Get a Marriage Certificate in Oregon?

Currently, only some categories of people are allowed to obtain a copy of a marriage certificate in OR.  In order to get a marriage certificate in Oregon for a marriage that took place in the last 50 years, you are required to show that you are a family member of one of the people who was married (or a member of the couple), an attorney or other legal representative, a person with a personal or property right to the marriage certificate, or someone who is licensed to receive such records.

If you do qualify to get a marriage certificate in OR, you will need to provide valid photo identification at the time when you seek the certificate copy.  If you do not have any relationship to the couple and are therefore ineligible to get a copy of their marriage certificate in Oregon, you may still obtain a copy if you can provide a notarized permission form from someone who is eligible.

Obtaining a Marriage Certificate in Oregon

If you have just gotten married in Oregon, you may obtain a marriage certificate in OR from your county clerk's office.  You may need your marriage certificate in Oregon to show to your employer in order to add a spouse to your health insurance or other benefits plan, or to show to a state agency or the Social Security Administration if you plan to change your name after your wedding.  In some cases, it may be useful to have more than one copy of your marriage certificate in OR.

It will generally cost $20 to obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate in Oregon.  You may also order your marriage certificate in OR from the State Department of Vital Records.  The office accepts requests via fax, phone, internet, and mail.  However, it costs more to get a marriage certificate in Oregon if you are using a credit card: expect a steep $12.50 transaction fee for all credit card transactions. 

Obtaining a Marriage Certificate in Oregon for Research

Even if you have no eligibility to access a marriage certificate in OR, after 50 years have passed, the records become available to the public.  Any interested party may seek a marriage certificate in Oregon for any marriage that occurred more than 50 years ago.  The process for ordering a copy of this type of marriage certificate in OR is much the same as for ordering a certificate for yourself, with the same costs.

Guide to Getting a Marriage Certificate in Oklahoma

When you are married, you may need a copy of your marriage certificate in OK in order to provide a government agency or your workplace with proof of your marriage for benefits or insurance purposes.  Because Oklahoma does not keep marriage records as part of the state's Department of Vital Records, it can be difficult to find your marriage certificate in Oklahoma.  This guide will teach you how to get your marriage certificate in OK or find a certificate for historical or genealogical research.

Who Can Get a Marriage Certificate in Oklahoma?

Some states restrict who can obtain a copy of a marriage certificate.  However, a marriage certificate in OK is considered a matter of public record, and you may obtain a copy of any marriage record in the state that interests you.  The only requirements for obtaining a copy of a marriage certificate in Oklahoma are that you know the names of the parties who married.

If you are getting your initial marriage certificate in OK, you will need to present proof of identification and age in order to marry.  You will not be required to have a blood test or wait through a waiting period in order to get married and obtain your marriage certificate in Oklahoma.  You may obtain your initial marriage certificate in OK from any county in the state, regardless of which county you choose to marry in.

Getting a Duplicate Marriage Certificate in Oklahoma

In order to get many government benefits or have your spouse covered by workplace health insurance, you may have to present a certified copy of your marriage certificate in OK.  Getting this type of copy is relatively inexpensive, but will require that you contact your county clerk's office.  A list of contact information for the county clerk in every county in Oklahoma is available here:   

Some county clerks may offer the ability to order a copy of your marriage certificate in Oklahoma over the phone or the internet.  In other cases, you may have to go to your county clerk's office in purpose to get your marriage certificate in OK, or mail a copy of your request.

Getting a Marriage Certificate in Oklahoma for Research

If you need a copy of a marriage certificate in OK County for any marriage that took place between 1889 and 1951, you may be able to find it at the official website for the Oklahoma Historical Society.  However, if you are searching for a marriage certificate in Oklahoma from another time or county, you may have to contact the county clerk in the county where the marriage took place.  These certificates for research purposes will generally cost the same as any duplicate marriage certificate in OK.

Some marriage records from the territorial period of Oklahoma history are relatively difficult to acquire or may never have been filed with any county or state government.  In some cases, a marriage certificate in Oklahoma may actually be filed with a county in an adjacent state.

Getting a Copy of Marriage License in Oklahoma

If you need to obtain a copy of marriage license in OK, you may not know where to begin.  This guide can help you get a copy of a marriage license in Oklahoma whether you're applying for an initial license to get married or need a duplicate copy.  You will also learn who is eligible to obtain a copy of a marriage license in OK.  If you need more information about getting a copy of a marriage license in Oklahoma, you may want to talk to your local county clerk.

Who Can Get a Copy of Marriage License in Oklahoma?

If you are trying to get an initial copy of marriage license in OK, you will be required to show proof of age.  People who are 16 or 17 years old must provide not only proof of age but also permission by a parent or guardian in order to obtain an initial copy of a marriage license in Oklahoma.

If you are seeking a duplicate copy of marriage license in OK, or a copy for research purposes, these documents are considered public records.  Any interested party may obtain this type of copy of a marriage license in Oklahoma, as long as they know the names of both parties and when the marriage occurred.

Obtaining an Initial Copy of Marriage License in Oklahoma

If you want to get a copy of marriage license in OK so that you can get married, you should appear in person at your county clerk's office.  The fee for this initial copy of a marriage license in Oklahoma is $50 for couples who have not completed premarital counseling, but is discounted to just $5 for couples who can show proof that they have completed counseling.

You will not be required to wait to marry after you get your copy of a marriage license in OK, provided both members of the couple are 18 or older.  Couples with a member under 18 are required to wait at least 72 hours to have a wedding ceremony after obtaining their copy of a marriage license in Oklahoma.

Obtaining a Duplicate Copy of Marriage License in Oklahoma

If you need a copy of marriage license in OK for identification purposes or in order to prove your marriage to a government agency, you will need to talk to the clerk of the county court where you received your license.  There is no state agency that keeps track of all marriage licenses in the state, so your copy will only be available from the court clerk and costs may vary.  

Obtaining a Copy of Marriage License in Oklahoma For Research

For researchers who need a copy of a marriage license, the procedure is usually the same as for those seeking duplicates of their own licenses.  However, if you need a copy of a marriage license in Oklahoma from the state's territorial period, you may have a difficult time: these marriage records are spotty and may not be available in all cases.  Some territorial marriage records are also kept in adjacent states rather than in Oklahoma counties.