Marriage License Requirements in West Virginia

Every state has different laws about obtaining a marriage license. If you want to get married in the state of West Virginia, these are the standards that are required.

Marriage licenses can be obtained from any county clerk's office. Licenses are not, however, county specific. You can attain a license in any county and the license will be good state wide. The cost for the license is $36 and can be paid for by cash. A complete list of County Clerk's offices can be found at US Marriage Laws.

The state of West Virginia is heavily reliant upon tourism. The great outdoors is a draw for many, and there are many who find the natural beauty of the state the perfect setting for outdoor weddings. The nice thing about this state's marriage license laws is that neither party has to be a resident of the state. Non-residents can attain a license from any of the county clerk's office as easily as a resident can. It should be noted that there is no waiting period for attaining the marriage license, but there is a 3 day waiting period after attaining the license before a ceremony can take place. You must plan for this 3 days when making ceremony plans, to ensure that your marriage is deemed legal by the state.

The minimum age for attaining a marriage license in West Virginia without having parental consent is 18 years old. You may be asked for a birth certificate to confirm age, so be prepared. If either partner is under 18 years old, parental consent forms must be completed and signed. Under these circumstances, you will have to produce a certified copy of your birth certificate. If either person on the license is under 16 years of age, a court order is necessary to secure a license. The exception to parental consent is when a minor is pregnant. The pregnancy must be verified in a written statement by a licensed physician.

Unlike many states, West Virginia does not require any kind of blood test to attain a marriage license. There is no physical exam necessary for the license, except in the case mentioned earlier. If a minor is pregnant, she must be examined by a licensed physician to confirm the pregnancy prior to attaining the marriage license.

After attaining the marriage license, it will remain valid for a period of 60 days from the day it is issued. This is convenient, especially for those who may not have the time or opportunity to visit the county clerk's office within 3 days of the ceremony date. The license can be secured within two months of the ceremony and will be ready without having to make "last minute" arrangements.

There are some necessary arrangements that need to be made for applicants who are divorced or widowed prior to attaining a marriage license. Applicants must bring the date of their divorce or the date of the death of their previous spouse. A certified copy of the divorce degree or death certificate will be required. You will need to attain these from your state's records.

There are many things that are not permitted in the state of West Virginia. Proxy marriages are not permitted. Both parties must be present at the wedding ceremony to be a lawful West Virginia marriage ceremony. Contrary to some of the stereotypes of the state of West Virginia, first cousins are not permitted to marry in the state. Common law marriages and same sex marriages are also illegal.

West Virginia is a great state to visit. If you are looking for a beautiful setting for your big day, check out West Virginia. There are many settings available, both indoors and out. Attaining your license is a relatively easy task, especially now that you have all the information necessary!

Sources:

http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/west_virginia/index.shtml

http://www.weddingvendors.com/marriage-license-laws/united-states/west-virginia/