UncategorizedMay 30, 2025June 4, 2025Camden Alchanati

Do I Need to Register My Marriage After the Wedding?

A Complete Legal Guide for Couples Who Want Their Marriage to Count

When it comes to legally tying the knot, most couples assume that saying “I do” is the final step. But what about the paperwork? Do you need to register your marriage after the wedding? The short answer is: yes, if you want your marriage to be legally recognized by government agencies, courts, and institutions in the United States and abroad.

At Get Married Today, we specialize in making sure your marriage is not only celebrated but legally binding. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about marriage registration, including who does it, when it happens, and how we make it seamless—so you never have to worry about court delays or paperwork confusion.

What Is Marriage Registration?
Do You Have to Register a Marriage in California?
Who Files the Marriage License?
When Is a Marriage Considered Legal?
What Happens If You Don’t Register Your Marriage?
How Get Married Today Handles Registration for You
Confidential vs. Public Marriage Licenses: What’s Filed?
Can I Register My Marriage Myself?
How Long Do I Have to Register a Marriage?
Registering a Marriage for Immigration, Health Insurance, and Other Benefits
What Proof of Marriage Do You Get After Registration?
Apostille and International Marriage Registration
Can You Have a Ceremony Without Registering the Marriage?
Common Mistakes Couples Make—and How to Avoid Them
Final Checklist: Legalizing Your Marriage with Get Married Today

1. What Is Marriage Registration?

Marriage registration is the process of officially recording your marriage with the local county clerk or registrar so that your union becomes part of the public record. Once this is done, you receive a certified marriage certificate—the legal document that proves you are married.

This is not the same as having a wedding or exchanging vows. A wedding is ceremonial; registration is legal. Without it, your marriage may not be recognized by:

Courts
Government agencies
Immigration offices
Insurance companies
Financial institutions

Registering your marriage is the final and most crucial step to making your union official in the eyes of the law.

2. Do You Have to Register a Marriage in California?

Yes. In California, every legally binding marriage must be registered with the county in which the marriage license was issued. The marriage must be solemnized by a legally authorized officiant, and the completed license must be returned to the county recorder’s office within a set time frame.

Once recorded, the county issues your certified marriage certificate—a document you’ll need for everything from changing your name to applying for a green card.

At Get Married Today, we’re licensed to issue your marriage license, officiate your ceremony, and register your marriage for you—all on the same day.

3. Who Files the Marriage License?

Typically, the officiant is responsible for filing the completed marriage license with the county recorder’s office. In California, this must happen within 10 days of the ceremony.

When you choose Get Married Today, you never have to worry about this step. We:

Issue the license
Complete the license at your ceremony
File it directly with the county recorder

You won’t have to drive to a government office or fill out confusing forms—we take care of all the details for you.

4. When Is a Marriage Considered Legal?

Your marriage is not legally complete until your marriage license is signed, returned, and registered with the appropriate government office. A ceremony alone—no matter how heartfelt—does not constitute a legal marriage unless the paperwork is properly filed.

Here’s what legally seals the deal:

You obtain a valid marriage license
The license is signed by both spouses and a licensed officiant
The officiant files the license with the issuing county
The county registers the marriage and issues a certified certificate

Until those steps are done, your marriage is not legally binding.

5. What Happens If You Don’t Register Your Marriage?

Failing to register your marriage can lead to significant legal and practical issues. These include:

No proof of marriage: You won’t be able to access spousal benefits, add a partner to insurance, or apply for a visa.
No legal recognition: Courts, banks, and government agencies will not recognize your marriage.
Delayed legal processes: Divorce, inheritance, and property rights become complicated if your marriage isn’t documented.

In short, if you don’t register your marriage, the law doesn’t recognize it—even if you had a ceremony.

6. How Get Married Today Handles Registration for You

At Get Married Today, we make marriage effortless. Here’s how we handle your marriage registration:

✅ We issue the marriage license
✅ We officiate your legal ceremony
✅ We complete and sign the license on-site
✅ We file your license with the county the same day or next business day
✅ You receive confirmation and instructions on how to order certified copies

Your role? Say “I do.” We take care of the rest.

We handle all filings with the Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Riverside County clerk-recorder offices. No courthouse visit needed.

7. Confidential vs. Public Marriage Licenses: What’s Filed?

California offers two types of marriage licenses:

Public Marriage License:

Becomes part of public record
Requires at least one witness
Available for anyone to request

Confidential Marriage License:

Not public record
No witness required
Must live together before applying
Only the couple can request copies

Both types must be registered with the county recorder after the wedding. At Get Married Today, we’ll help you choose the right type of license and file it correctly.

8. Can I Register My Marriage Myself?

Technically, yes—you could file the license yourself if your officiant did not. But this is risky. If the license is incomplete or late, your marriage may not be recognized.

That’s why we strongly advise letting professionals like Get Married Today handle this step for you. When we officiate your ceremony, we ensure the license is:

Fully completed
Signed by all required parties
Returned to the county within the deadline

You get peace of mind, knowing your marriage is registered and legal.

9. How Long Do I Have to Register a Marriage?

In California, the marriage license must be returned to the county within 10 days of the ceremony. This is not optional—if you miss the deadline, you may need to purchase a new license and redo the ceremony.

Don’t want that hassle? Choose Get Married Today. We file your license immediately, with tracking available.

10. Registering a Marriage for Immigration, Health Insurance, and Other Benefits

A certified, registered marriage is a prerequisite for many legal and financial benefits, including:

Green card or spousal visa application
Adding a spouse to your health insurance plan
Filing taxes jointly
Applying for military spousal benefits
Changing your last name legally
Inheritance and estate rights

Get Married Today helps you not only marry legally but get proof of that marriage fast. We also offer apostille certification for international use.

11. What Proof of Marriage Do You Get After Registration?

Once your marriage is registered, you can request an official certified copy of your marriage certificate from the county where it was filed. This document serves as your legal proof of marriage.

You’ll use it to:

Change your name at the DMV and Social Security
Apply for immigration benefits
Prove your marriage in legal or financial matters
Open joint bank accounts

Get Married Today provides you with the correct order form, instructions, and even mail-in options for certified copies.

Backlink:

California Department of Public Health – Marriage Certificates

12. Apostille and International Marriage Registration

If you’re getting married in California but need your marriage recognized outside the United States, you’ll likely need an apostille.

An apostille certifies the authenticity of your marriage certificate so it’s valid in other countries under the Hague Apostille Convention.

We offer:

Apostille services for marriage certificates
Notarized request forms for counties
Shipping to embassies or international locations

Whether you’re marrying a non-citizen, applying for dual citizenship, or registering your marriage abroad, we make it easy.

Backlink:

Hague Apostille Convention – U.S. Department of State

13. Can You Have a Ceremony Without Registering the Marriage?

Yes—but it won’t be legal. You can have a symbolic or spiritual ceremony without a marriage license or registration, but it won’t be recognized by the government.

Some couples choose this for:

Religious reasons
Family celebrations
Immigration timing issues

However, without a registered marriage, you:

Can’t change your name legally
Can’t claim spousal benefits
Can’t apply for spousal visas

Get Married Today provides both legal and ceremonial services, so you can celebrate meaningfully and make it official.

14. Common Mistakes Couples Make—and How to Avoid Them

Here are some common marriage registration pitfalls:

❌ Forgetting to file the license
❌ Using an unlicensed officiant
❌ Missing the 10-day filing window
❌ Assuming the venue handles registration
❌ Ordering the wrong certificate copy

We prevent all of these errors by handling everything for you. Our team ensures:

✅ License issued and filed correctly
✅ Ceremony officiated legally
✅ Certificate ordered and delivered
✅ Apostille or notarization if needed