Apply For An Alaska Marriage License
Do I need a marriage license to get married in Alaska?
Yes, in order to be legally married you must obtain a marriage license and have your marriage solemnized through a wedding ceremony. Applications for marriage licenses must be filed by either the bride or groom with the Bureau of Vital Statistics, or if outside the cities of Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Juneau, can be filed with a local Alaskan court. Courts in these three cities will not issue a marriage license, so if you are planning to pick up the license there then the application must be filed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics. The Bureau’s website has the application available online for download
What is the licensing process?
Either the bride or groom can start the license process, but both must be physically present to pick up the license, which is when it is formally issued. Both parties must provide government ID showing their full name and date of birth, and be sworn in before signing the actual license in the presence of the licensing officer.
What kind of questions does the application ask?
Both the bride and groom must provide their full names, street addresses, phone number, place of birth, social security number, and details of any previous marriages. Both must also swear that there is no blood relation between the parties. There is no requirement for blood or other medical tests for the marriage license to be issued. If either party was previously married and divorced, then you must provide details about when that marriage started and ended. If the final divorce decree was issued less than 60 days before you apply for your new marriage license, then you must also provide a certified copy of the final divorce decree when applying for your license.
How much does the marriage license cost?
There is a fee of $40 that must be paid when you file the application. This fee does not include the cost of the certified marriage certificate issued after the marriage is solemnized.
Is there a waiting period before I can get married?
Alaska has a three day waiting period from when the application is received to when the license will be issued. However, once the license is issued, there is no additional waiting period.
Who can perform the marriage ceremony?
Anyone can perform a wedding in Alaska as long as they first receive a marriage commissioner appointment from an Alaskan court. The person must be at least 18 years old but does not need to be a resident of the state. Potential marriage commissioners should apply to the district court in the jurisdiction where the wedding will take place. There is no fee for marriage commissioner appointments, but it may take up to a week for the appointment to be processed.
CLICK THE LINK TO YOUR CITY BELOW TO APPLY FOR A MARRIAGE LICENSE
| Anchorage |
Search by State
To find more information about a business license in your state choose the state below.
This site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial or tax advise. The information on this site should not be relied upon as an official source of information and should be independently verified.
