MARRIAGE LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
OBTAINING A MARRIAGE LICENSE FOR YOUR WEDDING
To get married in Tennessee you must obtain a marriage license, which will give an officiant permission to perform your ceremony. You do not have to be a resident of Tennessee but both parties must appear and you both will need the following:
1. Proof of Social Security Number (Social Security Card or Driver License containing SSN).
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2. State certified birth certificate (age 18-21), Driver License or State Issued ID.
Legal Aliens who do not have a social security number:
1. Each with valid expiration dates: Passport and American Visa or
2. Resident Alien Card
You must know or have the following:
Parents full name (including maiden name of mother)
Parents state of birth and address (if living)
Applicant's number of prior marriages
Date last marriage ended. For recent divorces, your divorce decree.
There are no waiting periods or blood tests. You can get married the same day your license is issued. It is valid for 30 days and costs vary from $90.00 to $99.50 depending on the county.
From age 16 to 17 - You must have both parents accompany you, sign the approval affidavit and you must bring your birth certificates. There is a three day waiting period.
If either party is under the age of 16, a waiver must be issued from Juvenile Court prior to the issuance of the license.
All this information is for your convenience but, all government requirement and fees are your responsibility entirely because in the United States of America there is a separation of church and state, by contracting us you agree you have paid all government fees required for your legal marriage, so make sure you have paid all and every fee the state requires.
If you live in the surrounding counties of Shelby, we recommend that you get your license in Shelby county. The Shelby County Clerk's office will issue you two "Marriage Licenses" which your officiant will sign and give back to you, one "certified" for legal uses and one for you to frame, along with the "Certificate of Marriage" for your officiant to sign and return to them. You will receive all the paperwork you need on that day and will not have to wait for your "Marriage License/Certificates" to be mailed back to you or to apply for a "Certified" copy as some county clerks require.
You may obtain your license Monday thru Friday at the following locations in our area.
The cost is $97.50. Offices are closed on some holidays.
Shelby County Clerk Offices
(901) 222-3015
Downtown - 150 Washington, Memphis (8:00am to 4:15pm)
Not recommended because there is a wait and you pay high prices for parking.
East - 1075 Mullins Station Road, Memphis (9:30am to 5:15pm) easy, quick, and no parking fees.
North - 4836 Navy Rd., Millington, TN (8:00am to 4:15pm)
Tipton County Clerk Office (901) 476-0207
220 Highway 51 North, Suite 2, Covington, TN
MISSISSIPPI
Document requirements are the same as Tennessee except that applicants 18-21 need one parent to sign. As of July 1, 2012, a blood test and waiting period is no longer required. You do not have to be a resident of Mississippi. The cost of a Mississippi marriage license is $21.00 and may be obtained at any MS Circuit Clerk's office including the following. If you are planning on using your license in TN, consult the issuing MS Clerk's office.
Desoto County Circuit Clerk (662) 469-8350
2535 Highway 51 South, Room 202
Hernando, MS 38632
ARKANSAS
We currently do not offer our services in other states, however, you can ask the clerk if you can bring use it in TN with a minister here. If you bring us the license we assume you know it can be used in Memphis and will not assume responsibility for such details as they change.
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A reminder - If you are purchasing an out of state license, you must check with the issuing license clerk to make sure it can be brought into Tennessee. Some states require that their marriage license only be used in the issuing state. We are not responsible for checking on the ever changing state and federal licensing requirements.
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Disclaimer:
The couple is responsible to obtain and pay for any and all state required fees that apply to their marriage by law, dating and all things relative to paperwork. This includes bringing a valid license to the ministers. The ministers do not set wedding dates and are not responsible for the licensing, in any way, The couples first step in responsible living is networking with the clerks office to make sure their license is up to date, current, and when it expires. In other words, the couple sets the date and knows when their license will expire, the minister and our team is not responsible for licensing dates because you have the paperwork. Make sure your license is valid.
Some "other ministers" will tell you that they will provide "marriage certificates" these are not the proper government documents. Our ministers require state documents. All licensing and government documents are acquired from the government by the couple. This is the proper way to begin your marriage.
The state requires you to purchase a marriage license to be married and this is solely the couple or their parents responsibility.
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Booking your wedding is a valuable service it takes everyone's time and calendar. If your wedding is cancelled at your request your donations will not be refunded because you will be at fault for the cancellation. By booking with us, you handle all costs outside our realm.
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Memphis is a very dangerous city and any clients exhibiting dangerous or aggressive behaviors, such as threaten emails or calls, threats of legal action will constitute a call block and no refund, criminal behavior such as, jail time on the part of either spouse will be reason for cancellation without refund. If you cancel your donations will go to the cost of booking, calendar space holding, and general office activities. We have no responsibility for legal costs, weather, and/or location. In other words if something is going on on your end that is your liability not ours. If at your request the wedding is cancelled without liability on our part or any of our agents. There is no liability for acts of God or nature. Such as, a minister gets in a wreck or falls ill. These would be out of our control. We have no liability for your wedding per your hiring us. That being said, We have one of the best rates of successful weddings in the area and we hope your wedding will be the best day ever.
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This includes mailing any paperwork or bringing into the clerks office on time according to the clerks office requirements.
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Our ministers and office staff are not responsible in any way for government licensing requirements. This is solely the responsibility of the couple and their families.
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Talk to your state clerk's office about requirements and pay special attention to expiration dates.
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