Marriage Waiting Periods

Marriage Waiting Periods

Twenty-six states require couples to wait a few days after applying for a marriage license before they receive the license. Waiting periods range from one to ten days, as indicated below.

1-day Waiting Period
Delaware, Illinois, South Carolina

2-day Waiting Period
Maryland, New York

3-day Waiting Period
Alaska, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington

4-day Waiting Period
Connecticut

5-day Waiting Period
Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin

Sources: Marriage Licensing Laws: A State by State Guide by Roger A. Kessinger; 1990; Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Newark, New Jersey, 1996; and NCSL updates, 1999.

For more information regarding marriage issues, contact Christi Goodman at 303/364-7700.

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