Marriage Certificate Kansas

Guide to Marriage Certificates in Kansas

Marriage Certificates in Kansas

In order to validate a marriage certificate in Kansas, two prospective spouses must follow a number of steps and make sure the marriage is valid under law. This article will discuss steps two people should take to finalize their marriage certificate in Kansas after obtaining a marriage license, but qualifying factors to legally marry need explained first.

Marriage Requirements in Kansas

In order to receive marriage certificates in Kansas, two future spouses cannot try to enter into a marriage that is otherwise void by law. A marriage certificate in Kansas cannot be issued in any circumstances if the marriage would contain any of the following characteristics:

• One or both of the parties were too young to legally marry within the state (under the age of 16)

• One or both of the parties were unable to mentally understand the consent of the marriage and the consequences involved

• One or both of the parties were incapable of entering to the marriage within the state because of physical causes

• The consent to marry was obtained through fraud

• Either party forced the other party to enter into marriage

• The relationship is incestuous

• The marriage was declared as legal in another state between a same-gender couple

Step 2 Solemnization Requirements for Marriage Certificates in Kansas

If couples have qualified for a marriage certificate in Kansas, they will receive a copy of the marriage license along with a blank return for the person who has solemnized the marriage. In order for a couple to legally receive a marriage certificate in Kansas, the marriage must be solemnized according to §23-104a.

The statute provides that only the following qualified individuals can solemnize a marriage and validate marriage certificates in Kansas:

• any ordained clergyman or religious authority or any denomination

• any licentiate of a denomination or any appointee of any bishop, if not prohibited by the church or denomination

• any judge or justice or the court of record

• any municipal judge of a city in the state

• any retired judge or justice of a court of record

• two parties themselves, by mutual declaration, may be married without an authorized officiating person (common-law marriage)

If marriage certificates in Kansas are not signed by qualified individuals or are signed fraudulently, and parties and the officiator can receive strict penalties in Kansas.

Step 3 Return Signed Marriage Certificates in Kansas to the District Clerk

A marriage certificate in Kansas must be signed by the person who legally solemnized the marriage (or signed mutually between the parties without an officiator in certain cases) and returned to the district court as soon as possible. After the clerk has received the validated and completed marriage certificate in Kansas, they and the District court will be the full custodian of records relating to the marriage between the two parties.

If any copies of the certificate are needed in the future, a party should call or visit the district court in which they submitted the original certificate. For a listing of all district courts in Kansas.