If you're getting married in Tennessee, you must first apply for a marriage license.
It'll cost you $93.50 to $107.50, and you'll have to use it within 30 days.
You can apply for a Tennessee marriage license at any county clerk's office. Either the county clerk or deputy clerk will help you.
The Tennessee marriage license fee varies by county, ranging from $93.50 to $107.50, with $100 being the most common price point.
There are no marriage license residency requirements.
Your Tennessee marriage license can be used anywhere in the state, but only in Tennessee.
The marriage license application will ask for your current name, birth name, birth date, birthplace, gender, address, address after marriage, phone number, social security number, race, education completed, marital history, and parents' names, birth names, and birthplaces.
Most Tennessee counties allow you to submit the marriage license application online. You must pick up and pay for the license at the county clerk's office.
You can submit a notarized absentee application or statement if you're a member of the U.S. armed forces serving overseas, incarcerated, or unable to appear due to a disability. Otherwise, you must apply together, in person.
Any adult aged 18 or over is free to marry without soliciting anyone's consent.
If you're 17 years old, you can get married to someone no more than four years your senior with the consent of a custodial parent, guardian, or next of kin. Consent can be granted in person or through a notarized affidavit.
Marriage below the age of 17 has been banned, effective May 21, 2018.
The marriage license fee will be reduced by $60 if you and your fiancé each present a notarized premarital preparation course certificate of completion signed by the instructor within the past year.
You'll receive your marriage license immediately. You can marry that same day.
Your marriage license will expire 30 days after it's been issued.
Virtually any valid government-issued photo ID is acceptable, such as a driver's license, military ID card, passport, green card, or visa.
If you're under 18 years old, bring a certified copy of your birth certificate. If you look less than 21, the clerk might want to see your certificate.
There is no longer a blood test requirement before getting married.
Divorcees do not have to bring proof of divorce. Knowing the divorce date is sufficient.
Widows and widowers do not have to bring evidence of their late spouse's death. Just know the date of death.
Witnesses are not required to participate in your marriage ceremony.
Name change after marriage isn't an automatic process. Although your marriage certificate authorizes you to change your name, you have to submit the necessary forms. You can use an online name change service to help complete the process.
Your marriage license must be returned to the issuing county clerk to be recorded in the marriage registry no later than three days after your marriage ceremony.
A certified copy of your marriage certificate can be purchased for $5 from the county clerk's office where you applied for your marriage license. The state's office of vital records also sells it for $15.
Although you can't establish a common-law marriage in Tennessee, the state will recognize one lawfully established in another jurisdiction.
Marriage among first cousins is permitted.
You cannot have a proxy take your place during the marriage ceremony. You must be physically present to exchange vows.
You may ask the county clerk to schedule your civil ceremony with a judge at the county courthouse. Some county clerks also officiate.
Where will you apply?
Share your questions or comments
So me and my husband went to get our marriage license, got the preacher to sign it, and when we went to turn it in names and social security numbers were put in wrong and what not. They gave us another license and told us to just get the preacher to sign it and bring it back. It's been 7 months since then and we still haven't went to see that preacher again. Could we still go get him to sign that one and turn it in? Is our license not valid anymore and we'd have to pay the money for license all over again?
Staff says:Could we still go get him to sign that one and turn it in?
Yes, you can still go to your preacher after all this time has passed and get him to sign. There isn't a time limit to correct your marriage record.
Is our license not valid anymore and we'd have to pay the money for license all over again?
Your license is valid. Your marriage is valid. You do not have to pay for another license. That isn't an option anyway, since you're already married. It's in the county clerk's interest to make sure their records are properly amended so that the state's vital records also has corrected records.
Shaolin MB Abrams Sr PhD says: What are the requirements to get married in the courthouse? And what is the fee? Editor says:What are the requirements to get married in the courthouse?You'll have to make an appointment.
And what is the fee?
You'll have to contact the courthouse for their fees. Some offices will perform your civil ceremony free of charge.
Brad says: What is a course fee? Editor says: Hi Brad. The course fee varies by instructor. They set their own rates. Ballpark is $20 to $30. Tina says: Can we schedule to have the ceremony on Sunday? Editor says: Hi Tina. If you're referring to a courthouse ceremony, that's up to the judge. It's unlikely though. William M Cobb says:I applied over the weekend for a marriage license.I was checking if it was received? What fees will needed to be paid? Thanks
Editor says: Hi William. You'll have to pay the application fee, which is approximately $100. Tonya Gean says:Our church offers pre-marital counseling for couples. Does that count as a pre-marital counseling course or is there a list of approve courses somewhere?
Emily says:I never got my name changed back to my maiden name after my divorce - I still have my hyphenated last name (maiden-married) and now I’m getting remarried. Do I have to bring anything about my divorce with me to get my new marriage license?
Editor says:Do I have to bring anything about my divorce with me to get my new marriage license?No. But make sure you remember the date your divorce was finalized. Victoria A Rosario says:
This info was from another website ( https://www.aclu-tn.org/general-requirements-marriage-tennessee/ ) regarding Marriage in TN:
"Are we required to get premarital counseling before getting our license? No, but it will save you about $60.00. If you provide the county clerk with a valid and timely certificate of completion of a premarital preparation course conducted by an authorized counselor, approximately $60 of your marriage license fee will be waived.(12)."
So, basically, it's "Legal Extortion" to charge people MORE money to acquire a marriage license, if they choose NOT to get pre-marriage counseling. We have been together for 10+ years and decided to Honor our Union Officially. No Pre-Marriage Counseling is going to change the way that we love and honor and treat each other. But yet, we're being PENALIZED for not joining the Status Quo? Because our belief system may be different than the majority of the State? We were told in a very disrespectful way by the Centerville County Clerk, "That's the way it is, take it or leave it!" Whatever happened to the "Separation of Church and State"?
Terrell A Sanzone says:It's the same price whether you take the course or not. You pay $60 for the course and it saves you $60 on the wedding license. Still comes out to $100.