It is your responsibility to obtain a marriage license from a county clerk office prior to the wedding ceremony. You can submit an application online before you go in (highly recommended) or you can fill out a paper application in the office. An appointment is not needed to get a marriage license. The fee for a marriage license vary by county ($107.50 in Montgomery County).

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Once your application is processed and the fee is paid, the county clerk will give you your marriage license. The license can be used the same day it is issued, but it will only be valid for 30 days so plan accordingly. A marriage license issued in TN can be used in any county in TN, regardless of which county you received it from. 

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You must provide the marriage license to your wedding officiant before the ceremony. They will fill it out and sign it. Witnesses are not required in the state of Tennessee. Once the marriage license is completely filled out and signed, either the officiant can turn it in to the county clerk or the couple can. Regardless of who turns it in, you have 3 days to turn in the completed marriage license to the county clerk office that issued it. 

 

In my experience, most couples prefer to turn it in themselves so that they can get their official marriage certificate right away. The marriage certificate is the legal document that actually shows that your marriage is official and legal. This is the document needed to apply for name changes, change health insurance benefits, etc. There is a small fee for the official marriage certificate ($5 in Montgomery County).

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