How Soon After Divorce Can I Remarry? A Complete Guide for Couples Needing Urgent Documentation

Updated May 2025 by Get Married Today

If you’re recently divorced and ready to move on with your life — perhaps with a new partner — you might be asking:
“How soon after a divorce can I legally remarry?”

The answer isn’t always simple. It depends on the state you were divorced in, whether a waiting period applies, and if your divorce judgment is final. Fortunately, in California and many other states, there are no mandatory waiting periods once your divorce is finalized.

At Get Married Today, we specialize in same-day legal weddings, issuing marriage licenses and conducting ceremonies for couples with urgent needs — including those recovering from divorce, seeking immigration benefits, or needing fast documentation for international travel or family matters.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• Whether there’s a waiting period to remarry after divorce
• What “finalized divorce” really means
• How it works in California vs. other states
• International marriage considerations
• How to remarry today with Get Married Today
• Apostille services for remarriage abroad
• What to avoid: common legal mistakes

Let’s break it all down so you can move forward — quickly, legally, and with full peace of mind.

📌 Table of Contents

1. Understanding Divorce Finalization
2. Are There Waiting Periods After Divorce?
3. How California Treats Remarriage After Divorce
4. Remarrying in Other States: Waiting Rules
5. Common Legal Mistakes That Delay Remarriage
6. International Remarriage and Apostille Needs
7. Remarriage and Immigration Applications
8. Can You Get Married Today After a Divorce? Yes.
9. Same-Day Wedding Checklist After Divorce
10. Real-Life Stories: Remarrying in 24 Hours
11. Why Choose Get Married Today
12. FAQs: Remarrying After Divorce
13. Book Your Marriage Appointment Now

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1. Understanding Divorce Finalization

Before you can legally remarry, your divorce must be fully finalized.

What Does “Finalized” Mean?

A divorce is finalized when:

• A judge signs the final divorce decree or judgment
• All terms are agreed upon (or court-ordered)
• The statutory appeal period has passed, if applicable

🛑 If your divorce is still pending or under appeal, you cannot legally remarry — even if you’re separated.

To check if your divorce is finalized:

• Look for the final judgment date on your divorce decree
• Ask your attorney
• Contact the family court clerk in the county where your divorce was filed

📎 Need a certified copy of your divorce decree? Visit the California Courts portal for records.

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2. Are There Waiting Periods After Divorce?

Do All States Require a Waiting Period Before Remarrying?

Not all states do. Here’s a breakdown:

For a full list of state requirements, visit the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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3. How California Treats Remarriage After Divorce

California is one of the most flexible states when it comes to remarriage. Once your divorce is legally finalized, you can remarry the very same day — no waiting period required.

💍 At Get Married Today, we help clients remarry just hours after their divorce decree is finalized.

Key things to know:

• No waiting period
• No court approval needed
• No extra documents beyond divorce decree + ID

📌 Learn more: Marriage License Requirements in California

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4. Remarrying in Other States: Waiting Rules

If you’re not in California, here’s how to approach remarriage:

✔ Check if a waiting period applies

Some states require cooling-off periods to discourage impulsive decisions.

✔ Ask for a waiver (if available)

Judges in states like Texas or Nebraska may waive the waiting period if:

• Both parties agree
• There’s no pregnancy
• There are urgent circumstances

✔ Consider marrying in California

You don’t need to be a California resident to marry here. We issue confidential marriage licenses on the spot — even for out-of-state clients.

📎 See California Confidential License Rules

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5. Common Legal Mistakes That Delay Remarriage

Here are 5 mistakes that can legally invalidate your second marriage:

1. Marrying before the divorce is final
2. Failing to file the judgment with the court
3. Ignoring waiting periods in your state
4. Remarrying abroad without apostilled documentation
5. Using incorrect personal details on your license

We prevent these issues with expert guidance, licensed officiants, and real-time verification.

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6. International Remarriage and Apostille Needs

Planning to remarry for international purposes?

You’ll likely need:

• A certified divorce decree
• A new marriage certificate
• Apostille certification of both documents

We offer:

• Apostille services through Orange County Apostille
• Processing for documents from all U.S. states
• Same-day notarization and shipping

📎 Learn more about apostille for marriage documents

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7. Remarriage and Immigration Applications

If you’re marrying after divorce for immigration reasons (such as filing an I-130 for a spouse), USCIS requires:

• Proof your prior marriage ended legally
• Your new marriage certificate
• A good-faith relationship

Be careful: Remarrying too soon may raise red flags with USCIS. Our immigration partner services can help you prepare documents properly and legally.

📎 See USCIS guidance on marital relationships

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8. Can You Get Married Today After a Divorce? Yes.

If your divorce is finalized today, you can legally remarry today in California — and we can help.

At Get Married Today, we offer:

✅ Same-day confidential marriage license issuance
✅ Legal officiation by a registered minister
✅ Filing with the county recorder
✅ Apostille certification (if needed)
✅ 24/7 booking — including holidays and weekends

📎 Book your same-day appointment now

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9. Same-Day Wedding Checklist After Divorce

Here’s what you’ll need to remarry today:

• ✅ Government-issued ID (passport, license, or state ID)
• ✅ Final divorce judgment (with filing stamp)
• ✅ Both partners present
• ✅ Payment for license and ceremony (credit or debit)
• ✅ Optional: Request for certified copy & apostille

Need help collecting any of these? We’ll walk you through every step — just contact us directly.

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10. Real-Life Stories: Remarrying in 24 Hours

💼 Case Study: Business Owner Remarries After 8-Year Marriage

Jared, a Los Angeles entrepreneur, finalized his divorce at 9:00 AM. By 4:00 PM, he and his fiancée were legally married at our Irvine office — complete with ceremony, license, and apostille.

👩‍👧‍👦 Case Study: Military Mom Marries to Secure Benefits

Melissa, a military spouse with two kids, needed to remarry urgently to qualify for housing benefits. We handled her marriage license and ceremony the same day — even filing all documents within 48 hours.

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11. Why Choose Get Married Today

✅ We’re Fast
No waiting. No courthouse delays. Just licensed marriage and documentation — today.

✅ We’re Legal
We’re registered with Los Angeles County and issue confidential marriage licenses that are 100% legal in all states.

✅ We’re Trusted
Our clients include military families, immigrant couples, business professionals, and international travelers.

✅ We’re 24/7
Yes, we’re open weekends, holidays, and nights — always ready to help you tie the knot.

📎 See all our locations and services

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12. FAQs: Remarrying After Divorce

Q: How soon after my divorce is final can I marry again?

A: In California — immediately. In other states, check waiting period laws.

Q: What if my divorce was in a different country?

A: You may need to provide an apostilled copy of your foreign divorce decree to marry in the U.S.

Q: Can I remarry for immigration purposes?

A: Yes — as long as your divorce is final and your marriage is in good faith.

Q: Do I need to go to court again?

A: No. We issue your license and officiate your wedding without a courthouse visit.

Q: Can I get apostille certification for my remarriage?

A: Yes — through our partner Orange County Apostille, we can handle same-day apostille services for international use.

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13. Book Your Marriage Appointment Now

Your new life starts today. Don’t wait.

If your divorce is finalized and you’re ready to remarry, let Get Married Today take care of everything — from your license to your legally binding ceremony and apostille needs.

📍 Based in Southern California, we serve:

• Los Angeles County
• Orange County
• Riverside County
• San Diego County
• And all couples flying in for fast marriage services

✅ Book your same-day marriage license + ceremony now:
👉 https://getmarried.today

Get Married Today is your trusted 24/7 marriage service for fast, legal, and confidential weddings in California — even right after divorce.