Planning a wedding requires so much attention to detail that it's easy to overlook the basics. In order to make your marriage legal, you must apply for a marriage license in your state. How to Get a Marriage License tells you how to begin, what you need and when to take care of this important official matter.

• The numerous details of wedding planning can clutter your path to the altar, making it easy to forget a few important things along the way. But don't neglect the time-sensitive process of getting your marriage license. Depending on where you plan to marry, there could be a waiting period for a marriage license application and most marriage licenses expire within 30 to 90 days. That means that it's not only possible to get your marriage license too late, it's possible to get it too early. How to Get a Marriage License tells you how to get on top of this little task so that it doesn't become a big problem.

Making it official can be fun. When it's all said and done you will be certified, satisfied and bona fide (Creative Commons photo by Jess Lander)

• Obtain specific information about your state and local marriage license requirements early in your wedding planning. Specifically, how long do you have to wait to apply for a license? Also, how long is it valid once you get it?

1. Start Early:
   • Before you apply for a marriage license, you should know your wedding date and in what city and state you plan to get married. Once you know these things, get in touch with your county clerk to get the details on marriage licenses. If you do this early, you can add applying for you wedding license to your wedding planning timeline.
2. Contact Your Country Clerk:
   1. Search the phone book for "county clerk's office" or "marriage-license bureau."
   2. On The Knot, find your wedding location on the city-by-city guide, click on "License offices" under the "Planning & Prep" section and find the name of your county.
3. Learn About Local Marriage Laws and Licensing Procedures:
   1. Consult About.com's state-by-state "Marriage License Laws" page.
   2. Call your county clerk to get all of the information that you need:
   • Question 1: Is there a waiting period for getting a marriage license?
   • You don't want to go to apply for your license the day before your $25,000 wedding to discover that your state requires a three-day waiting period.
   • Question 2: Once I get my marriage license, how long is it valid for?
   • This can vary from a few days to three months, so make sure you get your license within an appropriate frame for you wedding.
   • Question 3: If I'm getting married on March 20th, or whatever date you've set, when should I apply for my marriage license?
4. Mark your calendar:
   • Once you've learned all of the details, compare schedules with your fiancé and mark a day on your calendar when you will go to get your marriage license.

You must go to the county clerk's office together. (Creative Commons photo by gomattolson)

1. Call your county clerk to ask what documentation you need.
2. Generally, most states require that you bring:
   1. Your fiancé. You need to go together.
   2. Proof of residence: driver's license, birth certificate.
   3. The application fee.
   4. If you're widowed or divorced, you will have to bring proof.
   5. Some states require blood test results from your doctor. Ask your county clerk if they are required and how recent they need to be.
   • States and areas that currently require blood tests: Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Washington, D.C. Indiana and Montana require test for brides only. Check with your local government for the most current information on this.

1. When it's time to go to the county clerk's office, go together and make sure that you bring all of the appropriate documents with you.

2. After the ceremony, both the officiant and married couple must sign the marriage license. You might also need a witness.

3. The officiant must file for a marriage certificate from the government.

4. Expect to receive an official copy from the marriage license bureau within a couple of weeks to a few months.

• If you're going to say "I Do" outside of the United States, you need to do a little bit of extra legwork to make it official. The process for obtaining a marriage license varies considerably from state to state, so, as you might imagine, the differences between countries are even greater.

1. Start early. It can take months to process the paperwork, and some countries, like France, require a residency period of a few days to several weeks!
2. Many countries require additional documentation, such as Aruba, which requires documents of eligibility from your local government, or Greece, which demands official documents from the U.S. Consulate affirming that there are no impediments to the marriage.
3. For more information on how to obtain marriage licenses for international weddings, check out About.com's page on international marriage licenses and The Knot's Marriage License page, which contains useful information on many countries' marriage requirements.