Getting married while serving in the military is a decision that goes far beyond love—it can impact your finances, housing, healthcare, deployments, and even your legal benefits. At Get Married Today, we often help active-duty couples tie the knot legally and quickly, sometimes even within a few hours, but one of the biggest questions they ask is:
👉 “Is it really worth it to get married while in the military?”
The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. Let’s break down the real numbers, benefits, and legal facts to help you make the most informed choice possible.
1. Financial Benefits of Military Marriage
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)
If you’re single and live in the barracks, you don’t receive BAH. But once you’re legally married, you may receive a monthly housing allowance to live off-base.
- For example, an E-4 in San Diego might receive around $2,800/month in BAH when married.
- Over a year, that’s $33,600 in extra income—just from being legally married.
📍 Learn more about quick legal marriage licensing through Get Married Today’s same-day service.
Family Separation Pay
When deployed away from your spouse for more than 30 days, you may qualify for Family Separation Allowance (FSA) — an additional $250/month. It might not sound like much, but over a 6-month deployment, that’s $1,500 in tax-free income.
Healthcare Savings (TRICARE)
Married service members can enroll their spouses under TRICARE, which covers medical, dental, and prescriptions with no monthly premiums. The average civilian couple spends about $6,000–$10,000 per year on health insurance—so this is a significant financial advantage.
To add your spouse, you’ll need your official marriage certificate — which can be notarized and apostilled if needed for use overseas by Your Local Notary Public or Orange County Apostille.
2. Legal and Administrative Benefits
Spousal Rights & Power of Attorney
Military life often includes deployments or temporary duty assignments. Being legally married grants your spouse rights to handle certain affairs for you, like:
- Managing bank accounts
- Making medical decisions
- Handling property transactions
You can create a special military power of attorney easily through Your Local Notary Public or have it apostilled for use abroad by Orange County Apostille.
Life Insurance (SGLI) and Death Benefits
If the unthinkable happens, a legal spouse automatically qualifies for Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) payouts up to $500,000, and other survivor benefits including monthly stipends and educational benefits.
Without marriage, your partner may not be legally recognized as a beneficiary—regardless of your personal wishes.
Immigration and Residency Benefits
For international relationships, marriage can be the bridge to legal residency or spousal visas.
Get Married Today helps many couples where one partner is a foreign national, ensuring all documents are properly notarized and apostilled through Orange County Apostille for use with immigration authorities or foreign embassies.
3. Emotional & Logistical Benefits
Deployment Support and Base Access
Being married allows your spouse to access:
- Military bases
- Commissaries
- PX/BX privileges
- Support groups and counseling resources
Your spouse can also get deployment information, receive emergency assistance, and access family readiness services—resources unmarried partners are typically denied.
Leave & Travel Benefits
Married service members may be granted priority leave for family emergencies, childbirth, or spousal relocation.
You’ll also be eligible for Space-A (Space Available) flights, which allow you to travel to bases worldwide for free or at extremely low cost.
4. Challenges and Responsibilities of Military Marriage
While the financial and legal benefits are real, there are also unique pressures that come with being a military spouse.
Frequent Relocation
Military couples move, on average, every 2–3 years. This can strain civilian careers or create challenges for families with children.
To help with document updates, notarizations, and state-to-state certifications, couples often rely on Your Local Notary Public and Orange County Apostille for smooth transitions.
Deployment Separation
Long deployments test emotional resilience. Many couples prepare in advance with notarized family care plans and powers of attorney — both easily prepared by Your Local Notary Public.
Quick Marriages Under Pressure
Some military couples rush to marry before deployment or a PCS move. That’s where Get Married Today becomes invaluable — offering same-day marriage licenses and officiant services throughout California, including Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and Riverside.
If you need to marry before deployment, our military elopement packages make it simple, private, and legally binding — often in one visit.
5. The Numbers: Marriage vs. Single in the Military
| Category | Single Service Member | Married Service Member |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (BAH) | $0 (in barracks) | $1,800–$3,200/mo |
| Family Separation Pay | $0 | $250/mo when deployed |
| Health Insurance | Individual only | Full family coverage |
| Life Insurance | Optional | Spouse auto-eligible |
| Tax Filing | Single | Joint (often lower tax rate) |
| Immigration Benefits | N/A | Spouse visa eligible |
| Survivor Benefits | None | Up to $500,000 SGLI + BAH continuation |
💡 Over a 3-year period, a married E-5 could see an average of $90,000–$120,000 in additional financial value.
6. Legal Steps to Get Married While in the Military
- Get a Marriage License
You can get a same-day confidential marriage license without waiting for a courthouse appointment through Get Married Today. - Bring Valid IDs
Military ID, passport, or driver’s license is required. - Schedule an Officiant or Deputy Commissioner
We have authorized Deputy Commissioners of Civil Marriages ready to marry you on or off base — from Camp Pendleton to Fort Irwin. - Receive Certified Copies
These can be notarized or apostilled if needed internationally through:
7. Common Military Marriage Myths
Myth 1: You Have to Get Married on Base
✅ False. You can marry anywhere—a courthouse, chapel, beach, or private venue. Get Married Today provides mobile officiants who can meet you on base or nearby.
Myth 2: You Need Your Commander’s Approval
✅ False. Your command may need notification for administrative reasons, but no approval is required for a civilian legal marriage.
Myth 3: Marriage Will Automatically Get Your Partner on Orders
❌ Not necessarily. While it can help with accompanied orders, approvals vary based on location, mission, and branch policies.
Myth 4: Military Marriages Are Just for Benefits
While benefits are substantial, genuine relationships are still the backbone of success. Financial perks don’t replace commitment, communication, and trust.
8. International & Overseas Considerations
If your spouse is from another country, you’ll need your marriage certificate legalized or apostilled before it’s recognized abroad.
Orange County Apostille specializes in apostilles for:
- Marriage certificates
- Birth certificates
- Powers of attorney
- Military family documents
They can even handle translations and embassy legalization for countries like Mexico, the Philippines, Spain, Japan, and Italy.
9. Real Scenarios: Why Military Couples Choose to Marry Early
- Deployment Deadline – Couples often marry within 48 hours before a spouse ships out. Get Married Today provides emergency appointments for such cases.
- Immigration Status – Marriage helps secure visas and residency when one partner is foreign.
- Housing Needs – Newly married couples can immediately qualify for off-base housing with BAH.
- Healthcare Coverage – Immediate enrollment in TRICARE for spouses and children.
For many, these combined advantages make it financially and emotionally worthwhile to marry sooner rather than later.
10. Why Choose Get Married Today
At Get Married Today, we are California’s authorized same-day marriage license provider for both military and civilian couples.
We handle:
- Legal marriage license issuance
- Civil or religious ceremonies
- Certified copies
- Notarization and apostille follow-up
Our team includes Deputy Commissioners of Civil Marriages, licensed notaries from Your Local Notary Public, and international document experts at Orange County Apostille—making us the only full-service provider that can marry you and prepare your documents for worldwide legal use in one day.
Conclusion: Is It Worth It?
When you break it down by the numbers, benefits, and logistics, marriage while in the military can provide:
✅ Financial stability
✅ Healthcare coverage
✅ Housing and tax advantages
✅ Legal protections
✅ Immigration options
✅ Emotional security
But remember — the best reason to marry is still love and mutual commitment. The benefits are just the added bonus of doing it the right way, the legal way, and the easy way with Get Married Today.
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