How to Get Married in KY

Step by Step Guide to Get Legally Married in KY

1. Get your marriage license: Both you and your partner will need to visit any county clerk's office in Kentucky, and request a marriage license. You will need to go person together, provide your legal identification such as driver's license or birth certificate, and pay any associated fees.

After receiving your marriage license, you now have 30 days to become married. If you are not married within 30 days, you'll need to go back and request a new license.

2.  Solemnize your marriage with an officiant and two witnesses: At a time and place of your choosing somewhere within Kentucky, you and your partner, a qualified officiant, and at least two competent witnesses will solemnize your wedding. Minors can sometimes witness the wedding if the officiant determines them to be of sound and reasonable mind. The solemnization will be recorded, signed and witnessed by the persons, officiant and witnesses upon the marriage license. (No notarization is needed.)

3.  Return your marriage license to the county clerk: The newly married couple will return their marriage license to their county clerk, and will thus be recorded as married.

4. Receive proof of your marriage by mail: The married persons will receive their legal marriage certificate by mail from the county clerk. If either partner would like to change their last name, they will need to take this marriage certificate as proof to the driver's licensing and social security offices.

Marriage is generally classified two ways; legal (secular) marriage and religious (traditional) marriage. 

Legal marriage is a contractual, legally defined unity between two persons. It is recognized by law by both the Commonwealth of Kentucky and The United States of America, and may entail certain rights, privileges, or responsibilities to the enjoined parties, such as the ability to file taxes jointly, or to own property jointly. 

Religious, spiritual or cultural-traditional marriage is found in most major religions, spiritualities, and world cultural traditions, and is generally considered a symbolic unification between persons. It does not necesarily entail legal recognition by a governmental authority. Most persons getting married choose to become legally married and religiously married in one singular ceremony. 

However, some choose to only become legally married, and some choose to only become religiously married! As an ordained minister, I am both qualified to enjoin you and your partner in legal marriage, and to celebrate religious or traditional marriage ceremonies. 

View the 2021 Kentucky Marriage Law Guide for County Clerks Below;