Marriage Certificate Tennessee

Follow the guidelines to get a marriage certificate in TN to ensure that the marriage proceeds smoothly, without any issues and that the union will be a proper legal entity in the state. There are no provisions for common law marriages in the state and those that wish to be married will have to follow the appropriate procedure to request a marriage licenses and have it solemnized.

What are the standards for a marriage ceremony to get a marriage certificate in Tennessee?

Every marriage certificate in Tennessee must be certified through a marriage ceremony. The ceremony does not have to be traditional in any sense, but generally, there are three things that need to be present in the ceremony in order for a marriage certificate in TN to be issued. There must be a marriage license issued by the county, an individual authorized by state law solemnize (perform) marriages and most importantly, the license must still be valid at the time of the wedding.

The procedure to be granted a marriage license can by simplified in some counties through an online process and application. In other counties, you will need to make an appointment or visit the County Clerk to apply for the license. Some counties will only process identification at certain times, regardless of the hours they remain open. Be aware of the fees and ensure that the license application is filled out properly before submitting it. A marriage certificate in TN will be issued only after the marriage is solemnized by one that is authorized to do so. If you have questions about the application or process, you should make them known by calling the Clerk’s office or checking documentation associated with your county to get a marriage certificate in Tennessee.

Is my out of state marriage certificate valid in TN?

Generally, out of state marriage certificates are accepted and this will include common law marriages, as long as the marriage is valid in the state that issued the certificate. There are no common law marriage provisions in Tennessee, but common law marriages from out of state are viewed as official marriages if that couple chooses to move to Tennessee. Same sex marriages, regardless of status of legality in other states are not accepted in Tennessee and no marriage certificates in TN are issued for these couples. Check with the state department of records to ensure that you have the equivalent of a marriage certificate in Tennessee.

Getting a copy of the marriage certificate in TN

You will be able to order a copy of the marriage certificate in Tennessee in three ways through the Office of Vital Records, which is a division of the Department of Health. If you are applying in person, you will need to bring identification and be prepared to pay the applicable $15 fee in cash, check or money order for the search of marriage certificates in Tennessee. This request for marriage certificates in Tennessee will be processed in minutes.

An alternative for those unable to get to Nashville will be to order the marriage certificate in Tennessee by mail. There will be the same fees and the marriage certificate in TN application will have to be either notarized or enclosed with a copy of government identification. Only those that are related to the couple on the marriage certificate in Tennessee can request a certified copy.

Lastly, one may order the marriage certificate in TN online through the VitalChek system. The procedure is the same but the fees may not. While marriage certificates in Tennessee can be ordered through this online system, not that you cannot view the marriage certificate in TN online or avoid fees and identification checks. To order marriage certificates in Tennessee, one can use VitalChek to facilitate the transaction for marriage certificates in Tennessee without having to order by mail or go to the office of the county clerk. Getting marriage certificates in Tennessee online allows you to facilitate the process easier, completing most of the steps from home. There are other fees and steps to get marriage certificates in Tennessee online that you need to know of these fees before proceeding further.