AGE:
Persons must be eighteen (18) years of age to marry without consent. Persons between the age of sixteen (16) and eighteen (18) may marry with the written consent of both parents, the legal guardian, or the parent having sole legal custody. The consent is a legal document that is signed by the parents/parent or guardian and notarized.
RESIDENCY:
Residency is where a person has lived for thirty (30) days prior to application. Wisconsin residents MUST apply in the County in which they reside and may be married anywhere in Wisconsin. If both applicants reside out of state, they MUST apply in the Wisconsin County in which they will be married. Applicants must furnish proof of current address, which should be a driver’s license or ID card. A rent receipt, lease agreement, utility or phone bill, or dated mail may also be acceptable.
WAITING PERIOD:
There is a five (5) day waiting period between the date of application and the date the marriage license can be issued. If the waiting period ends on a weekend or a holiday, the license will be issued the following business day. (A license applied for on a Monday would not be issued until the following Monday). Thus we recommend that you apply at least two weeks in advance. Since the license expires thirty (30) days after the issuance date, it cannot be applied for more than thirty-five (35) days in advance of the ceremony.
SIGNATURES:
The Bride and Groom must apply together and sign the completed license and application in the office of the County Clerk.
IDENTIFICATION / BIRTH DATE:
All applicants, regardless of age, are required to furnish a photo ID and a **CERTIFIED Birth Certificate**. This is the signed copy of the birth certificate which bears the raised County or State Seal issued from the Register of Deeds or Recorder in the County of birth or from the Office of Vital Statistics in the State of birth.
** A birth notification (no raised seal or signature) is not acceptable nor is the one that a hospital issues even though it may have a decorative seal. These are birth announcements only, and cannot be accepted.
PREVIOUS MARRIAGE:
DIVORCE: If the previous marriage ended in divorce, a certified divorce certificate or a signed copy of the DIVORCE JUDGEMENT, DECREE or FINAL JUDGEMENT is required. A marriage license cannot be issued until six months AFTER the date the divorce was granted, regardless of where the divorce took place. There are no exceptions to this rule.
DEATH: If the previous marriage ended due to death, a certified DEATH CERTIFICATE is required.
VITAL RECORDS:
It is illegal to make a photo-copy of any vital record (birth, death, or divorce certificate). Such violation may be subject to a $10,000 fine.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:
Applicants must furnish their SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER for the application of the marriage license. This information is confidential and is not available for public record. The only record will be with the office of Vital Statistics for the purpose of child support enforcement only.
FEE:
The fee for a marriage license is $70.00.* This fee MUST BE PAID IN CASH at the time of application – checks and credit cards cannot be accepted.
*Fee & payment policy may vary from County to County.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
WEDDING INFO: Date of the wedding, the County & Municipality where it will take place, who will officiate at the ceremony, the officiant’s address and telephone number and the church, if applicable.
BRIDE & GROOM: The County & Municipality in which each resides. Race, number of previous marriages, and last completed grade of education for each.
PARENTS: Both parents full names (first, middle, last and surname, when applicable).
FOREIGN LANGUAGE: If any of the required documents are in a foreign language, a notarized English translation must also be provided. Translations from family or friends are not acceptable.
DISCLAIMER: Due to space limitations, this brochure cannot address every possible circumstance. Please contact us for further information. Our hours are 8:30-5:00, Mon – Fri.
Phone: 608-785-9581
Email:
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