A courthouse wedding is a civil marriage performed at a county courthouse by a judge, magistrate, or justice of the peace. It typically takes under fifteen minutes, costs less than $150 all in, and leaves you just as legally married as any other ceremony. Most of the work happens before you show up and in the weeks after, not during the ceremony itself.
Getting the Marriage License
Every courthouse wedding starts at the county clerk’s office or vital records office. Both of you apply in person. Bring valid government-issued photo ID for each person — a driver’s license, state ID, or passport works — and be ready to provide your Social Security numbers. If either of you was previously married, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or the deceased spouse’s death certificate.
Both applicants must be at least 18 on the standard path. License fees generally run $20 to $120 depending on the county, and some counties discount the fee for couples who complete a premarital education course. Check accepted payment methods before you go. Not every clerk’s office takes credit cards, and some want exact cash or a money order.
Having the license in hand does not always mean you can marry that day. Some states impose a waiting period of one to three days between issuance and use. Others let you walk from the counter straight to a ceremony room. Licenses also expire if unused, typically within 30 to 90 days. If yours lapses, you reapply and pay again.
What Happens at the Ceremony
The ceremony is the easy part. The officiant reads a short legal script, asks each of you to declare your intent to marry, and pronounces you married. Five to fifteen minutes, start to finish. Some courthouses will let you substitute your own vows for the standard script if you ask when you book.
Bring the license, your photo IDs, rings if you’re exchanging them, and payment for any ceremony fee. Ceremony fees are separate from the license fee and usually run $25 to $50, though some jurisdictions charge nothing. Roughly half of states require one or two witnesses, generally at least 18, who sign the license after the ceremony. If you don’t have anyone to bring, courthouse staff can sometimes stand in — call ahead to confirm.
Guest space is limited. Expect a small room or judge’s chambers rather than a chapel, and expect a cap of around ten people at many locations. Photography rules vary by courthouse; some allow photos during the ceremony, others only before or after. Most courthouses require appointments and only perform ceremonies on certain days or within limited hours, so booking ahead is safer than showing up hoping for a walk-in slot.
Your Marriage Certificate
After the ceremony, the officiant and any witnesses sign the license, and the officiant files it with the county clerk or vital records office. That filing is what officially records your marriage. Your marriage certificate — the certified, stamped, sealed version — is the document agencies and institutions will actually accept as proof. Some offices hand you a certified copy the same day. Others mail it within a few weeks.
Order at least two or three certified copies right away. Certified copies generally cost $10 to $30 each depending on the county. You will need originals, not photocopies, for name changes, insurance updates, tax matters, and bank paperwork, so having extras saves you from reordering later.
Deadlines That Start the Day You Marry
Several clocks start on your wedding day, and some run out quickly.
- Submit a new Form W-4 to your employer within 10 days of getting married. Your withholding was calculated on single status; leaving it alone can leave you owing at tax time or overpaying all year. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator helps you and your spouse pick the right amount.1Internal Revenue Service. Newlyweds Tax Checklist2Internal Revenue Service. Tax To-Dos for Newlyweds to Keep in Mind
- You have 60 days from your wedding date to add a spouse to an employer health plan or to enroll in or change a Marketplace plan under the qualifying life event rules. Pick a plan by the end of the month and coverage typically starts the first of the following month. Miss the 60 days and you generally wait for open enrollment.3U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Getting Health Coverage Outside Open Enrollment
- Most states require you to update your driver’s license within 30 days of a name change.
- For a new Social Security card, the SSA recommends waiting at least 30 days after the wedding so state records catch up in its system.4Social Security Administration. Just Married? Need to Change your Name?
Changing Your Name, In Order
If either spouse is changing a last name, the marriage certificate is the starting document, and sequence matters. Social Security first, then the driver’s license, then everything else.
Social Security Card
File Form SS-5 with the Social Security Administration for a card in your married name. You will need your certified marriage certificate and proof of identity such as a driver’s license or passport. You can start the application online but may need to visit a local office to finish it. Your Social Security number stays the same; only the name on the record changes. There is no fee for a replacement card.
Driver’s License
Once your Social Security record shows the new name, visit your state’s DMV or motor vehicle agency with your certified marriage certificate and current license. Some states handle this online; others require an in-person visit. Replacement license fees vary by state.
Passport
If your current passport was issued less than a year ago, you can change the name for free using Form DS-5504.5U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport – Form DS-5504 Mail the form with your most recent passport, a certified copy of your marriage certificate, and a new passport photo.6U.S. Department of State. Name Change for U.S. Passport or Correct a Printing or Data Error If your passport is more than a year old, use Form DS-82 and pay the standard renewal fee.
Your Tax Filing Status
For the tax year you marry, your filing status is either married filing jointly or married filing separately, even if the wedding was December 31. Single is off the table. Most couples benefit from filing jointly. For 2026, the standard deduction for married couples filing jointly is $32,200, compared to $16,100 for those filing separately.7Internal Revenue Service. IRS Releases Tax Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2026, Including Amendments from the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Joint filing also opens tax credits and deductions that are reduced or unavailable when spouses file separately.
Beneficiaries and Other Policies
Notify your auto insurance, life insurance, and any other policy carriers of the marriage. Update your beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and bank accounts. Those designations override what a will says, so a forgotten form from years ago can cause real problems later. Your bank and financial institutions will want a certified copy of your marriage certificate to update records if you are changing your name.