Marriage License Waiting Periods by State
Of the 24 states we have researched in depth, 13 have no waiting period at all and 11 make you wait between 24 hours and 3 days between getting the license and getting married. Here is exactly how each one works, when the clock starts, and what can shorten it.
The short answer
- No waiting period (13 states): Arizona, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia. You can marry the same day the license is issued.
- 24 hours: Illinois, New York.
- About 48 hours: Maryland.
- 72 hours / 3 days: Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin.
States with no waiting period
In these 13 states the license is valid the moment it is issued, so a couple can apply in the morning and marry that afternoon if an officiant is available. That is a big part of why states like Nevada, Hawaii attract destination weddings and elopements. Two things still limit you even here: the license has an expiration window, and some offices need an appointment or have limited hours, so “no waiting period” does not always mean “no planning.”
States with a waiting period, and how each one works
The details matter more than the number of days. The clock can start when you apply or when the license is issued, and the ways to shorten it differ a lot from state to state.
| Florida | 3 days for Florida residents. Can it be waived? Complete a state-approved premarital preparation course. Non-residents of Florida are exempt entirely. |
|---|---|
| Illinois | 24 hours after the license is issued. Can it be waived? Only by petitioning the court for an exception. |
| Maryland | About 48 hours (the license becomes valid at 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day after issuance). Can it be waived? A circuit court judge may waive it for good cause if at least one applicant is a Maryland resident or active-duty military. |
| Massachusetts | 3 days after the Notice of Intention to Marry is filed. Can it be waived? Court order only. |
| Michigan | 3 days after application. Can it be waived? The county clerk may waive it “for good and sufficient cause shown” (Macomb County charges an extra $10 for the waiver). |
| New Jersey | 72 hours from the time the application is submitted (weekends count). Can it be waived? A Superior Court judge may waive it for good cause. |
| New York | 24 hours after the license is issued. Can it be waived? A judge’s waiver only. |
| Pennsylvania | 3 days, starting only once both applicants have appeared together to complete the application. Can it be waived? We have no waiver route in our verified notes — ask the county office. |
| Texas | 72 hours after the license is issued. Can it be waived? Active-duty military, a court order, or a state-approved premarital education course. |
| Washington | 3 days after the license is issued. Can it be waived? Cannot be waived — not even by court order. |
| Wisconsin | 3 days after application (shortened from 5 days in July 2022). Can it be waived? The county clerk may waive it for good cause, except for applicants under 18. |
Why the start of the clock matters
Couples most often get caught by how the wait is counted, not by its length. Compare a few examples from the table above:
- In Pennsylvania the three days begin only once both applicants have appeared together in person — submitting an online pre-form does not start the clock.
- In New Jersey the wait is counted from the moment the application is submitted, and weekends count, which makes it easy to plan around.
- In Maryland the license becomes valid at 6:00 a.m. on the second calendar day after issuance, so a Friday-afternoon license is not usable until Sunday morning.
- In Washington the three days run after the license is issued and cannot be waived at all, so a wedding date that is too close simply has to move.
Waiting period and expiration work together
A waiting period is only half of your timeline: the license also expires. In Texas the 72-hour wait counts against a 90-day validity window, so you have roughly 87 days in which the ceremony can happen. In Washington the 60-day validity only begins once the 3-day wait ends. And in Michigan the license is valid for just 33 days from the date of application, so applying early to get past the waiting period can backfire. Plan the two together: apply no earlier than you need to clear the wait, and early enough that a delay does not push you past the expiration date. See how long a license is valid in each state.
Getting married on a short timeline
If your date is close, you have three realistic options, in order of reliability:
- Apply in a state or county with no waiting period. Any of the 13 states above works. You can usually apply in a different county than the one where you live — see getting married in a different county.
- Use a built-in exemption. A premarital course waives the wait in Texas and Florida (see premarital course discounts), and out-of-state visitors are exempt in Florida.
- Ask for a discretionary waiver. Judges or county clerks can waive the wait for good cause in Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Wisconsin, but it is not guaranteed — treat it as a last resort, not a plan.
Frequently asked questions
Do waiting periods apply to couples from out of state?
It depends on the state. In our research, Florida exempts out-of-state visitors from its 3-day wait entirely. For the other states with a waiting period, we have not found a non-resident exemption, so assume it applies to you too and confirm with the county office.
Do weekends and holidays count toward the waiting period?
Only New Jersey states this explicitly in our notes: weekends count toward its 72 hours. For other states, ask the issuing office how they count days before you rely on a tight schedule.
Is the waiting period the same as the license expiring?
No. The waiting period is the minimum time you must wait before using the license; the expiration is the maximum time you have to use it. You need to land your ceremony between the two.
Which states are best for a same-day wedding?
Any of the 13 states with no waiting period. Nevada and Hawaii are the best known for destination weddings; both also have no residency requirement. Check the specific county for office hours and whether an appointment is needed.
Can a court waive a waiting period in every state?
No. Washington does not allow any waiver, not even by court order, and Massachusetts allows a waiver only through a court. Other states let a judge or the county clerk waive it for good cause, or offer a built-in exemption such as a premarital course.
Last verified: September 2026
Related guides
Marrying out of state · How long a license is valid, by state · Minimum marriage age by state · Premarital course discounts · Marriage license cost by state · Getting married in a different county