civil ceremony

[karenista 1]

hi, my fiance and i plan to have a civil ceremony when he gets here next month so we can start AOS process. my question is, how do you go about having one? do you just call a state court house? do you get info when you get your marriage certificate? do you have to pay for it? forive my ignorance, but i don't know anyone who has had one and i can't find info on the internet! thanks...

[Anh map 2,098]

You first apply for a marriage license. That may be at your city or town hall, or a county clerk's office.

Normally there is a fee for a license. There may be a fee for the officiant that marries you as well.

[HeatDeath 430]

When we went down to the county office to get our marriage license, they had the option to arrange a civil ceremony right there. They charge $30 for in-office ceremonies, but I think you have to make an appointment. There was, I think, an additional fee if you needed county office employees to serve as witnesses.

Edited February 26, 2010 by HeatDeath

[Third 0]

We googled for justice of the peace in our area and spoke to her. We told her when we wanted to marry at home. She told us to go to Town Hall and to register for licence. We then paid $ 30.00 to the Town Hall and took the marriage licence that needs to be signed by the Justice of the peace. At the ceremony she signed that marriage licence and paid her fee ($100.00). She told us that she will bring it to the Town Hall and we can obtain a copy from there. We went (on 3rd day)and picked the certified copy from the Town Hall for $10.00 each. :-) I got two copies as we need one with AOS and one for us.

Wish you lots of luck.

Third

[safarigiraffe 0]

Search your county clerk's office online and call them to ask for their specific requirement. You both need to bring ID, divorce document ( if you have any previous marriage), check/money, application ( you can apply online first) ... etc. . Usually you can walk in to get the license. There will be a fee about $80.

After you get the license, you can book an appointment for civil ceremony. Your date maybe 1 or 2 weeks later. It is much cheaper to do civil ceremony (fee about $25-$30) than having an officiant to wed you ( fee ranging from $100 - $300) . Please note normally it takes them 6-8 weeks to send you the marriage certificate, but you can buy express mail stamp at USPS and give them the stamp; this will reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

This is the case in L.A. area. Hope it helps.

[ColtSeavers 0]

Call your local town hall. Our town hall has a "wedding Friday" once a month for people who just want the civil ceremony.

You would have to bring the marriage license though which you have to obtain in advance.

[Elghazi2008 4]

You first apply for a marriage license. That may be at your city or town hall, or a county clerk's office.

Normally there is a fee for a license. There may be a fee for the officiant that marries you as well.

If a judge marries you, he/she is not legally able to request payment... That is what the judge who married us told me anyway....

[Christi and Ian 24]

If a judge marries you, he/she is not legally able to request payment... That is what the judge who married us told me anyway....

I believe it - My husband and I were married at the courthouse by a criminal judge (neither of us are criminals, I just happen to work for the Public Defender), and she wouldn't even accept a gift certificate to PF Changs from us as a thank you.