Getting Married in Another State: Rules for Out-of-State Couples
Almost every state we cover lets you marry there without living there — but where you can apply, what you pay and how long you wait change depending on whether you are a resident. This guide compares all 24 states we have researched.
The short answer
- You must get the license in the state where you will marry. A license from your home state does not work for a ceremony elsewhere. Massachusetts says outright that an out-of-state license cannot be used there, and Virginia and Washington say the marriage must take place in the issuing state.
- 14 of the 24 states let you apply at any county or town office, whatever your residency: Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington.
- 7 states send non-resident couples to the office where the ceremony will take place: Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Wisconsin.
- Some states charge non-residents more or limit what you can do: Texas, Indiana, Michigan, Florida, Maryland.
Where you can apply if you do not live in the state
Any county or town office works
In these states you can pick the office with the best hours and location, then marry anywhere in the state. See also getting married in a different county than you live in.
| Arizona | Any county’s Superior Court clerk. No residency or citizenship requirement. |
|---|---|
| California | Any county clerk-recorder, regardless of where you live. |
| Florida | Any county clerk of the court; the license works in any Florida county. |
| Hawaii | One statewide online application, with no residency or citizenship requirement. |
| Massachusetts | Any city or town clerk. You do not have to live in Massachusetts or in the town where you apply. |
| Minnesota | Any county, regardless of residency. |
| Missouri | Any county recorder of deeds; no residency requirement. |
| New York | Any town or city clerk in the state; no residency requirement. Both of you must sign in front of the clerk. |
| North Carolina | Any county Register of Deeds, regardless of residency. |
| Pennsylvania | Any county Register of Wills. No residency requirement, but both of you must appear in person — out-of-state couples cannot apply remotely. |
| Tennessee | Any county clerk, in person, together. No residency requirement. |
| Texas | Any county clerk. No residency requirement, and the license is valid anywhere in Texas. |
| Utah | Any county clerk; a license from any Utah county works in any other. No residency or citizenship requirement. |
| Washington | Any county auditor, and the license works anywhere in Washington. No residency requirement. |
You apply where the ceremony will be
These states tie non-resident couples to the county or municipality of the wedding, so choose your venue first and then apply there.
| Georgia | If at least one of you is a Georgia resident you can use any county’s probate court; if neither is, apply in the county where the ceremony will happen. |
|---|---|
| Illinois | No residency requirement, but the license must come from the county where the ceremony will take place. |
| Indiana | If neither of you lives in Indiana, apply in the county where you will marry — and county clerks state that for out-of-state residents the license is valid only for ceremonies in the county that issued it. |
| Maryland | The circuit court clerk in the county where the ceremony will take place. Some counties let a non-resident apply by mail with a sworn affidavit (Montgomery County does). |
| New Jersey | The registrar of the municipality where the ceremony will take place, if neither of you lives in New Jersey. |
| Ohio | If neither of you lives in Ohio, the probate court of the county where the marriage will be solemnized. |
| Wisconsin | Non-residents may apply in any county, but when both of you live out of state, apply in the county where you will marry. |
Other states we have researched
| Michigan | Non-residents can apply; in the counties we researched the fee is $30 instead of $20. |
|---|---|
| Nevada | No residency requirement and no waiting period; Clark County (Las Vegas) is the one we have researched. |
| Virginia | No residency requirement. The license is valid for 60 days and the marriage must take place in Virginia. |
What non-residents can pay extra
- Texas: some counties charge much more when neither applicant can show Texas residency — Harris County charges $181 instead of $81, El Paso County $181, and Travis County adds a $100 surcharge. The other Texas counties we researched list no residency surcharge, so compare before you choose.
- Indiana: the fee is $25 if one or both of you are Indiana residents and $65 for out-of-state residents (the figure county clerks and our Marion County guide report).
- Michigan: $30 instead of $20 if either applicant is not a Michigan resident, in the counties we researched.
- Florida: in most counties the premarital-course discount is for Florida residents only (a few extend it to non-residents). Our premarital course discount guide shows where it applies.
Most of the county guides we researched list a single fee. See what a license costs in each state.
Waiting periods and timing for destination couples
Non-residents are treated differently on timing in two states. Florida exempts out-of-state visitors from its 3-day wait (both of you must show valid out-of-state ID). Maryland does the opposite: a judge can waive its roughly 48-hour wait only if at least one of you is a Maryland resident or active-duty military, so a couple who are both out of state should plan around the wait. In Nevada and Hawaii there is no wait at all, which is why they are so popular for short trips.
Then watch the expiration. A trip planned a month ahead is fine in a 60-day state, but Hawaii, Missouri and Tennessee licenses last only about 30 days. Compare every state in waiting periods by state and how long a license is valid.
Extra steps that catch out-of-state couples
- Both of you usually have to appear in person. Pennsylvania says so explicitly for out-of-state couples; New York requires both signatures in front of the clerk; and in Maryland some counties are more flexible — Montgomery County lets one partner appear with the other’s ID, and a non-resident can apply by mail.
- Out-of-state officiants. If a clergyperson from another state will marry you in Massachusetts, they must obtain a Certificate of Authorization from the Secretary of the Commonwealth before the ceremony.
- Remote options exist in a few places. Utah describes a fully digital process through Utah County, and Florida offers a fully online application in some counties, but both come with eligibility rules — check the county guide.
- Filing the license. After the ceremony your officiant returns the license to the office that issued it, with state deadlines from 5 to 30 days. See what to do after the wedding to get certified copies sent to your home address.
A checklist for out-of-state couples
- Pick the state and venue first, because the license has to come from that state.
- Check the tables above to see whether you can apply at any office or only at the ceremony location.
- Compare waiting period and expiration against your travel dates, and decide when to apply.
- Look up the specific county guide for the fee, accepted payment methods, hours and documents — both of you need valid photo ID.
- Confirm who files the license and how you will receive the certified copy at home.
Frequently asked questions
Can we use a marriage license from our home state to marry in another state?
No. The license must be issued in the state where the ceremony takes place. Massachusetts states that an out-of-state license cannot be used, and Virginia and Washington say the marriage must take place within the state.
Do we have to live in the state to get a marriage license there?
Not in any of the 24 states we have researched. Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, New Jersey, Maryland, Wisconsin and Illinois just tie non-resident couples to the county or municipality where the ceremony will happen.
Will it cost more if we are not residents?
Sometimes. Texas counties such as Harris and El Paso charge $181 instead of $81, Indiana charges $65 instead of $25, and Michigan charges $30 instead of $20. Many states charge the same for everyone.
Which states make non-residents wait?
Washington’s 3-day wait cannot be waived for anyone, and Maryland’s judicial waiver requires at least one resident or military applicant, so two out-of-state applicants cannot use it. Florida exempts non-residents entirely, and Nevada and Hawaii have no waiting period.
Can we apply online from another state?
In a few places. Utah County describes an online process, and some Florida counties offer a fully online option with eligibility rules. Most states, including Pennsylvania, require both of you in person.
Is a marriage from another state valid back home?
Yes. Once recorded, a marriage is recognized in all states, so where you marry does not limit where the marriage is legally valid afterward.
Last verified: October 2026
Related guides
Getting married in a different county · Waiting periods by state · How long a license is valid · Marriage license cost by state · Premarital course discounts