Marriage License Requirements in Delaware

Getting married in Delaware will require a marriage license.marriage image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com

For a couple, getting a marriage license is the official "locking in" of the marriage. It means the date is set, the guests have been invited and everything is ready to go. In Delaware, getting a marriage license is fairly simple, requiring a couple follow only a few simple rules.

Clerk Of The Peace

Getting a marriage license in Delaware starts with going to the Clerk of the Peace in your county (New Castle, Kent or Sussex). Both the bride and groom must bring photo identification and must be 18 years of age. Delaware does not recognize same-sex marriages. Applicants for a marriage license can not be related and can not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

If the female applicant is divorced and has reclaimed her maiden name, she must bring a true or certified copy of her change of name court papers to the Clerk of the Peace. if either the bride or groom has been previously divorced, that person must bring a copy of the divorce decree or, if either had a spouse that died, a death certificate.

The couple getting married must pay a fee to the Clerk of the Peace before a marriage license can be granted. For Delaware residents, the fee is $50 in all three counties. For non-Delaware residents, the fee is $75 in Kent and New Castle counties and $100 in Sussex County. The marriage license takes 20 minutes to process, but the couple must wait 24 hours before getting married--that rule applies to all counties. The marriage license is valid for 30 days . The license is only valid in Delaware.