Over the years most married and prospective married ones have asked this pertinent question. It could be said to be one of the most frequently asked questions about marriage licenses. Before we dive into that question, it is best that you give you an overview of what a marriage license is. Basically, a marriage license is a document that proves that you are getting married. It is completely different from the document that proves that you are married. To get a marriage license, marriage mates will have to visit the county clerk’s office together to apply for this license. During their visit, they’ll be required to provide valid documents that can be used to identify them personally.
Now that we have gotten an idea of what a marriage license is, it is best that we answer this troubling question. Basically, United States citizens need this marriage license to get married because it is the interest of the state (it could be any state) to regulate marriages. It is important that you remember that marriages are not regulated by the federal government, it is the duty of the state government to regulate them. These states regulate these marriages for a number of reasons, we’ll take a look at a few of these reasons;
- Marriage licenses help in settling property transfer disputes that may arise after the death of a spouse; while there are a number of laws that cover the issue of property transfer, having a marriage regulated and recognized by a state will provide substantial evidence about the marriage that can be used in the courtroom to settle the dispute as fast as possible. To explain this better, if a man dies and there is a dispute between two women claiming that the deceased man is their husband, the marriage license will be used to help settle this dispute. Since no individual is allowed to marry more than one person in the country, two women cannot actually get married to one man. The marriage license will help settle this case amicably.
- Helpful for mobility; prior to this time, most people were fine with community marriage. That is a marriage that is known and recognized by all in the community. During those times, these people do not travel around a lot meaning that everyone knew their marriage mates and lived happily without obtaining a marriage license. Things have changed drastically today, people are now more mobile than ever. Most people migrate from one city to another because of a good job or for educational purposes. Whatever the reasons are, the constant travels and migration have made it difficult for people to associate and form year-long friendships with people in the community. To ensure that their marriage is recognized, they’ll have to obtain a marriage license. This makes their marriage recognized in all states of the country.
- It helps to enforce certain restrictions; in all states of the country, there are certain restrictions that guide all seeking to get married. Without a marriage license, it would be almost impossible for the state to enforce these laws as anyone can get married to anybody. Having a marriage license helps to enforce these restrictions. To explain better, most states stipulate that blood relatives will not be allowed to get married. Without a marriage license, it would be almost impossible to identify a couple as related by blood. The documents provided during their license application will help the clerk discern if they are blood relatives or not. This will ensure that they do not get married if they are truly blood relatives.
In general, a marriage license has been designed to solve some of the problems that ordinarily would have escalated. With a marriage license, it would be almost impossible for an older man or woman to get married to a minor. This helps to curb some of the vile happenings in society. Basically, a marriage license is proof that one is eligible to get married and he or she is married according to the laws of the state.
While you can get your license in any state, it is recognized in all states of the country. For more information, be sure to visit www.usmarriagelaws.com
