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In order to get married, you need to apply and receive a
marriage license. This is the document in your state that
allows you to officially tie the knot under the law. The
rules for acquiring your marriage license varies from state
to state, so you should check with your city's marriage
bureau at your clerk of court's office to find out what your
local rules are.
You'll typically need to apply for your marriage license at least one month before your wedding ceremony. You'll traditionally need to send in your birth certificates, tax information, and other official documents. You don't, however, want to apply for your marriage license too early. In some states, the licenses do expire, if you don't get married within a few months.
When you apply for your license, you'll not only need a proof of identification and age, will need to provide any information about previous marriages, and will need to pay a nominal fee. You will also need to have a witness when you sign the application, so plan on bringing your maid of honor or best man with you. The bride will need to know what her married name will be before she signs the marriage certificate. You'll have to write that name on the application.
And, believe it or not, just because you have your marriage license sent to you in the mail does not mean you are officially married. You need to have a justice of the peace or a religious clergyman sign the document. On your wedding day, you'll give your chaplain your marriage license, then after the ceremony, he'll sign it and send it to the proper government agency for validation.
ID Requirement: A
certified Birth Certificate.
• Full name (First, Middle and
Last)
• Residence (City, county and
state)
• Birthplace (State or foreign
country)
• Date of birth
• Race
• Highest level of education
completed
• Both applicants fathers'
full name (First, Middle and Last)
• Both applicants mothers'
full name (First, Middle and Maiden)
• All birthplaces (State or
Foreign Country)
• Name and address of person
performing ceremony, if known.
Residency Requirement: Do not have to be a resident of Kansas.
If Previously Married: If previously married, how last marriage ended and when. Number of this marriage (1st, 2nd, etc).
Application Requirement: Applicant must be the bride or groom. Both applicants need not be present. Applicant must swear under oath:
• The applicants are not related (i.e.1st cousin or closer).
• The applicants have no spouse. (If divorced, decree must be filed over 30 days ago.)
• The applicants know of no other reason why they should not be legally married.
Waiting Period: 3 business-days.
Fees: $50 fee and a $25 judicial branch surcharge payable in cash or money order only. Money orders should be payable to "Clerk of the District Court". The money is non-refundable.
Blood Tests: No blood test requirement.
Under 18: Any applicant who is under age 18 must have either:
• Notarized, written consent of all then living parents and legal guardians OR
• Notarized, written consent of one parent or legal guardian and consent of a district court judge. (K.S.A. 23-106)
• Identification number (usually social security number)
• Applicants are of the opposite sex.
Both parties age 18 or older -- no consent requirements
Common Law Marriages: No.
Same Sex Marriages: No.
Solemnization Authority:
Marriage may be validly solemnized and contracted in
this state, after a license has been issued for the
marriage, in the following manner:
By the mutual declarations of the two parties to be joined
in marriage, made before an authorized officiating person
and in the presence of at least two competent witnesses over
18 years of age, other than the officiating person, that
they take each other as husband and wife. The following are
authorized to be officiating persons:
• Any currently ordained clergyman or religious authority of any religious denomination or society;
• any licentiate of a denominational body or an appointee of any bishop serving as the regular clergyman of any church of the denomination to which the licentiate or appointee belongs, if not restrained from so doing by the discipline of that church or denomination;
• any judge or justice of a court of record;
• any municipal judge of a city of this state; and
• any retired judge or justice of a court of record.
The two parties themselves, by mutual declarations that they take each other as husband and wife, in accordance with the customs, rules and regulations of any religious society, denomination or sect to which either of the parties belong, may be married without an authorized officiating person.
Officiants: Any ordained clergyman of any religious denomination or society may perform marriages. Ministers are required to file credentials or ordination with the judge of a probate court before performing marriages. Minister must return the marriage license and a certificate of marriage to the probate judge who issued the marriage license within 10 days after the marriage.
Valid: License is
valid for 6 months.
The license can only be used within the State of Kansas.
Sedqwick County Clerk
Wichita, KS
316.383.7302
Wichita County Court
Leoti, KS
316.375.4454
