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Loading ...Want to get married? Here’s how.
Massachusetts officially allowed couples who were not residents of the state to marry on July 31, 2008, though in-state residents were allowed to wed as of May 17, 2004. Prior to then, the state’s 1913 marriage residency law prohibited most same-sex couples from other states from getting married.
* Where: Couples can get a license from any city or town hall within the state.* How: Both partners must be present when applying for the license.
* Waiting period: There is a three-day waiting period to receive the license, but this can be waived with a court order.
* Cost: Marriage fees vary from $4 to $50 within the state, depending upon the community.
* ID: Proper identification is required, so those getting married should have a birth certificate at hand and a government issued ID.
* Other: Licenses are valid for 60 days.
This week, Gov. John Lynch has signed the New Hampshire equal marriage bill, making New Hampshire the sixth state to have gay marriage. The law will take effect Jan. 1, 2010.
* Where: If one of the partners resides in the state, the license must be applied for in the town or city where they reside. If both parties live in the state, a license can be obtained in either residence.
* How: Both partners must be present at the county clerks office to apply for the license.
* Out of state couples: Non-residents are able to get married in New Hampshire, but they must apply for a license in the same town or city as the wedding.
* Waiting period: There is a three-day waiting period.
* Cost: $45, cash only.
* ID: Valid picture ID is required, which in New Hampshire includes a driver’s license, ID card from the DMV, passport, military ID, resident alien card, or birth certificate.
* Other: Contact your local county clerk’s office to find out how long the license is valid.
Vermont:
The first state to introduce civil unions, Vermont will begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples on Sept. 1, 2009. Though Gov. Jim Douglas vetoed the bill, the state House and Senate overrode the veto, making Vermont the first state to legalize same-sex marriage through a vote of the legislature.
* Where: Couples can obtain a license in any town clerk’s office. The license must be bough in one of the towns in Vermont that a couple lives in if both are residents, or in the town of just one of the partners if only one is a resident.
* How: Vermont law requires that at least one party be present to sign the license, but most clerk’s offices prefer that both parties be present.
* Out of state couples: Like all the other states that allow same-sex marriage, it is not a requirement to be a resident of the state to achieve a marriage license. and can be obtained in any city or town in Vermont.
* Cost: $45, method of purchase can be found out by contacting the county clerk’s office.
* ID: A birth certificate can provide most of the background information needed, along with a government issued photo ID.
* Other: Licenses are valid for 60 days.
Thanks for this information. My partner and I live in KC, MO and plan on going to Iowa to get married soon. To bad they have a 3 day waiting period because we do not have a car and would have to go there two times or stay there for a few days. And woofer if you get married in one state you will not be able to get married in another because you would not be divorced from the first marriage. Gay marriage is something a lot of us have been waiting to be able to do for many years, it isn’t something to joke about.
Correction – apply by Jan. 1, 2011 to get civil unions converted into marriages in NH. There was earlier talk of automatic conversion, but some gays objected because they like the separatist idea of a special institution.
Howdy,
On the day same sex marriage becomes legal in NH – January 1, 2010, all civil unions will be automatically converted by the state into civil marriages – so you don’t have to do anything.
The details will be figured out in the next few months, such as if a marriage license will be sent to the unionized or what have you.
Actually, Mike works for his state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Can’t you tell? LOL!!!
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“Seth Said: June 5th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Hey Mike, let me guess… You don’t work in customer service, or any job that requires you to address people in a civil manner.”
Stephanie:
If you marry in December 2009 out of state, your marriage would be valid in any country or state that recognizes same-sex marriages.
When Prop. 8 is repealed in California, then your marriage would be recognized in California.
Marry for the right reason, because you love the person you are committing to spending the rest of your life with. The benefits and responsibilities that are part of “civil marriage” are just the icing on the cake.
I live in CA and wish to marry Dec 09. If I pick any of these states where it is legal its only legal in that state correct? When I return to CA where I live, CA wont recognize it so why should I marry out of state? Thats the part that is confusing to me.
Why not just call this ‘How to get a marriage license’? Never having marriage available before I still don’t know what to ‘do’ with the license! We live in Missouri so are considering Iowa.
i was thinking of taking my partner of nearly 8 years on a tour of all the states that allow it and getting married in each one. Does anyone know if that would be legal?
Scott, no, it only means that as soon as you get the license, you have only that many days to get married, or the license will expire and you’ll have to get a new one. Once you’re married, you’re married. (In most states at least
)
Hey Mike, let me guess… You don’t work in customer service, or any job that requires you to address people in a civil manner.
I’m sorry if this is a silly question, but what does it mean when he says the licences are valid for a certain number of days? Does this mean that the marriage is only valid for that time?
Richard: in New Hampshire, if you have a civil union, you can have it changed to a marriage quite easily and for no additional charge. If you haven’t done it by 2011 (if I recall correctly), it will be done automatically.
Get your facts right … Conn. no longer requires a blood test for anybody.
Or you could come on up to Canada. If you didn’t know already, it has been legal for same-sex couples to get married for a while now.
Plus since its legal country wide, you can get married on the east coast or west coast.
Any information around for those of us in NH and alike that have civil unions? Wondering if we’re going to have to go through the same process or if it will hopefully be a bit quicker and easier..