How Long Is a Marriage License Valid?
It ranges from 30 days to no expiration at all. Among the 24 states we have researched, the most common answer is 60 days — but a handful of states give you far less time, and the clock does not always start when you think it does.
The short answer
- No expiration or a year or more: Georgia, Arizona, Nevada.
- 6 months: Minnesota, Maryland (and New Jersey for the application stage).
- 90 days: California, Texas.
- 60 days (the most common): Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin.
- 30–33 days: Michigan, Utah, Hawaii, Missouri, Tennessee.
Validity by state, longest to shortest
| Georgia | No expiration in most counties (a small number set their own shorter window) |
|---|---|
| Arizona | 12 months from issuance |
| Nevada | 1 year from issuance |
| Minnesota | 6 months from issuance |
| Maryland | 6 months from issuance |
| New Jersey | The application is valid 6 months before a license is issued (extendable to 12 months); once issued, the license must be used within 30 days |
| California | 90 days from issuance |
| Texas | 90 days from issuance (the 72-hour wait counts against this window) |
| Florida | 60 days from issuance |
| Illinois | 60 days, beginning the day after issuance |
| Indiana | 60 days from issuance |
| Massachusetts | 60 days from the date the Notice of Intention is filed |
| New York | 60 days, beginning the day after issuance |
| North Carolina | 60 days from issuance |
| Ohio | 60 days from issuance |
| Pennsylvania | 60 calendar days; if unused, the full application must be repeated |
| Virginia | 60 calendar days, and the marriage must take place in Virginia |
| Washington | 60 days, beginning after the 3-day waiting period ends |
| Wisconsin | 60 days from issuance (extended from 30 days in July 2022), usable in any Wisconsin county |
| Michigan | 33 days from the date of application, usable anywhere in the state |
| Utah | 32 days from issuance |
| Hawaii | 30 days from and including the date of issuance |
| Missouri | 30 days from issuance |
| Tennessee | 30 days from issuance |
Three details that catch couples out
1. The clock does not always start at issuance. In Michigan it starts when you apply, not when you pick the license up. In Massachusetts it starts when the Notice of Intention is filed. In Illinois and New York it starts the day after issuance, and in Washington it starts only after the 3-day waiting period ends. Always ask the office for the exact last day you can marry, not just the number of days.
2. Short windows punish early planners. With only 30–33 days in Michigan, Utah, Hawaii, Missouri and Tennessee, applying “to be safe” a couple of months ahead simply means the license expires before the wedding. Apply within a few weeks of the date, but leave room for any waiting period.
3. The license is tied to the state. Virginia says outright that the marriage must take place in Virginia, and in general a license is meant for a ceremony in the state that issued it. If you are marrying elsewhere, apply in the state where the ceremony will happen.
What happens if the license expires before the wedding
An expired license cannot be used to marry. You have to apply again. In Pennsylvania the full application must be repeated, and in Ohio you need a new license after the 60 days pass. Because license fees are generally non-refundable (see what a license costs in each state), an expired license means paying again. The one state in our research with an extension mechanism is New Jersey, where the application can be extended from 6 to 12 months with the registrar’s approval — but once the license is issued it must be used within 30 days.
How to time your application
- Look up your state’s validity and waiting period above.
- Work backwards from the wedding date: the earliest you should apply is (wedding date − validity), and the latest is (wedding date − waiting period).
- Leave a buffer of a few days in case of a postponed ceremony, but do not use the full window in short-validity states.
- If your date could realistically slip past the window, consider a state with a long validity such as Arizona, Nevada, or wait to apply.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a marriage license good for in most states?
Sixty days is the most common answer in our research: 11 of the 24 states we cover use it. The shortest we have found is 30 days (Hawaii, Missouri, Tennessee) and the longest is effectively no expiration (Georgia, in most counties).
Does the validity start when I apply or when I receive the license?
It varies. Michigan starts counting at application, Massachusetts at filing of the Notice of Intention, Illinois and New York the day after issuance, and Washington after the waiting period. Most other states in our research count from issuance.
Can I use my license in a different county or state?
Within the same state, most licenses work in any county (Michigan and Wisconsin say so explicitly). Across states, a license is meant for a ceremony in the state that issued it, and Virginia states this directly.
Can an expired marriage license be extended?
Generally no — you apply again. The exception we found is New Jersey, which lets the application (not the issued license) be extended from 6 to 12 months with registrar approval.
Why does Georgia have no expiration date?
Most Georgia probate courts issue licenses with no expiration date. A small number of counties set their own shorter window, so if you are not marrying soon, confirm with the specific probate court that issued yours.
Last verified: September 2026
Related guides
Marrying out of state · Waiting periods by state · Minimum marriage age by state · Premarital course discounts · Marriage license cost by state · Getting married in a different county