Hello! I am Ralph Griggs and in this video, I am going to tell you about getting your Marriage License in Tennessee. Rules and regulations do change from time to time, but at least right now, this is how it works.
To get married in Tennessee, you must have a Tennessee Marriage License. You can get the license anywhere in the state and use it anywhere in the state. In other words, you don't have to get your license in the same county where you get married. You get the license from the County Clerk's office. You can check the yellow pages, but most County Clerk's offices are located the same place where you get your car tax.
Both groom and bride must go together, and the one thing I understand you must show up with to get your license is proof of your social security number, any government issued document that has your social security number on it. Obviously, your social security card or passport would work. Your birth certificate would not have your social security number on it. The Clerk may also ask to see a photo id, so your driver's license could serve for that purpose. There is no blood test or waiting period. You get your Marriage License on the spot and it only takes a few minutes if no one is in front of you.
Tennessee Marriage Licenses expire in 30 days, which means you don't want to get it sooner than 30 days before your wedding date. It's a worthless piece of paper if you get it too soon or if you don't use it within that 30 day period from the time that it's issued. Bring your license with you to your wedding. Not everybody would remember to do that. They bring it and give it to the minister or the official.
Some counties say they keep side copy of the license with the minister's signs and leaves with the couple at the day of the wedding. The other parts, the Minister will sign and date and send in, it goes right back to the Clerk's office where you got it. Most clerks will then automatically send you a state certified copy of your Marriage License, and that's what you must have to change your name on your driver's license and in social security.
Now there are some Tennessee counties that provide a certified copy at the day of your wedding that the minister signs and leaves with you, most don't. So you have to wait for the clerk to send you one. Well, this all always sound a little bit confusing. If so, that's why I usually suggest to couples that when they go to get their license to ask the clerk, how and when do we get a certified copy of our Marriage License. Counties do differ, some in their policies and they can change from time to time. So it's always best just to ask when you get the license.
At the time of this video, a Tennessee Marriage License cost about a $100. it can vary a little from county to county. Now if a couple gets at least four hours of pre-marital preparation and a completion certificate from the course provider, they can save $60 of the cost of the marriage license.
I have an online marriage preparation course that many couples use. You can check out the details at my website www.marraigepreparationonline.com. Well, I hope this video will help make getting your marriage license a little less confusing and difficult. If I can help with your wedding ceremony, please find my contact information on my website www.TennesseeMinister.com.
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