Marriage License Fees

Guide

Do You Need Witnesses to Get Married?

Updated

Map of marriage witness requirements: 21 states need 2, 4 need 1, 8 need none

21 states require 2 witnesses at the wedding, 4 require 1, and 8 need none at all, including Colorado, Idaho and Illinois. Witnesses usually must be adults who watch the ceremony and sign the license.

Rules for the rest of the states are on each state page. Ask your county office if you are unsure.

Witnesses required at the ceremony

Maine: Two witnessesMEWisconsin: Two witnessesWIVermont: Zero witnessesVTNew Hampshire: Zero witnessesNHWashington: Two witnessesWAIdaho: Zero witnessesIDMontana: Check the state pageMTNorth Dakota: Two witnessesNDMinnesota: Two witnessesMNIllinois: Zero witnessesILMichigan: Two witnessesMINew York: One witnessNYMassachusetts: Check the state pageMARhode Island: Two witnessesRIOregon: Two witnessesORNevada: One witnessNVWyoming: Two witnessesWYSouth Dakota: Two witnessesSDIowa: Two witnessesIAIndiana: Check the state pageINOhio: Zero witnessesOHPennsylvania: Check the state pagePANew Jersey: Two witnessesNJConnecticut: Check the state pageCTCalifornia: One witnessCAUtah: Two witnessesUTColorado: Zero witnessesCONebraska: Two witnessesNEMissouri: Check the state pageMOKentucky: Two witnessesKYWest Virginia: Check the state pageWVVirginia: Check the state pageVAMaryland: Zero witnessesMDDelaware: Two witnessesDEArizona: Two witnessesAZNew Mexico: Two witnessesNMKansas: Check the state pageKSArkansas: Check the state pageARTennessee: Check the state pageTNNorth Carolina: Two witnessesNCSouth Carolina: Check the state pageSCDistrict of Columbia: Check the state pageDCOklahoma: Two witnessesOKLouisiana: Two witnessesLAMississippi: Check the state pageMSAlabama: Check the state pageALGeorgia: Check the state pageGAHawaii: Check the state pageHIAlaska: One witnessAKTexas: Zero witnessesTXFlorida: Check the state pageFL
  • Check the state page (18)
Number of witnesses state law requires at the ceremony.

States that ask for zero witnesses

Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, New Hampshire, Ohio, Texas and Vermont.

States that ask for one witness

Alaska, California, Nevada and New York.

States that ask for two witnesses

Arizona, Delaware, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Planning a small courthouse wedding? Many offices let staff act as witnesses for a fee. The courthouse wedding guide shows ceremony prices by county.

Every figure here comes from the official statute or clerk pages linked on our state and county pages. Fees change, so confirm with your county before you apply.