Getting married is a glorious event. That doesn't mean there aren't some practical matters you have to deal with. One subject that most people don't give much thought to or know about is the marriage license. In this article, we take a look at how to go about getting the license which makes things official from a legal point of view.

The marriage licensing process is not a federal mandate. This means it is handled a bit differently in each state and often in each city. Put another way, there is not a single procedure for getting your license that works everywhere. As a result, you need to check your local registrar to get the specifics. Still, most municipalities handle it generally the same way.

The general process starts with the filing of an application for a marriage license. If approved, the license is given to you. You then proceed with the wedding. Upon its successful conclusion, the license is witnessed and then turned into the appropriate agency. A marriage certificate is then issued and you are officially a married couple. Yes, it is as simple as that.

Can your application for a license be rejected? Yes, but only in certain circumstances. Most states now require that you be at least 18 years old. If previously married, you have to show evidence of a divorce. Some states even require a waiting period after the divorce, but it usually isn't too long. What about blood tests? Such tests used to be very common, but are pretty rare these days.

One of the big issues that does arise with licensing is the timing element. A marriage license is not good for a very long period of time. The usual period is only 30 to 60 days. That might sound like a lot, but keep in mind that the ceremony has to happen during that period. If you are not planning things correctly, it can end up being invalidated. Make sure you know how long it takes to get the license. There sometimes is a waiting period on the front end as well.

Applying for a marriage license is not a difficult thing in most areas. Just make sure you know the timing issues involved.