What Happens If We Just Sign a Marriage License?
When couples begin planning their wedding, one of the most frequently asked questions is:
“What happens if we just sign a marriage license?”
Is it legal? Is it enough? Do we still have to host a wedding ceremony? What are the consequences—positive or negative—of skipping the big event and simply getting the paperwork done?
At Get Married Today, we specialize in helping couples get legally married without the stress, cost, or time commitment of a traditional wedding. Whether you’re eloping, need to get married urgently for immigration or military benefits, or simply don’t want the fuss, we offer a same-day solution that starts with your marriage license and ends with your legal marriage certificate.
In this post, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about what happens when you “just” sign a marriage license—legally, practically, and emotionally.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Marriage License?
- Can You Just Sign the Marriage License and Be Married?
- Do You Need a Wedding Ceremony to Be Legally Married?
- What Happens Legally After You Sign the License?
- Who Can Legally Sign a Marriage License With You?
- Is a Marriage Legal Without a Public Ceremony?
- What Happens If You Sign a License but Don’t File It?
- How Get Married Today Makes It Easy
- Why Some Couples Choose This Route
- Conclusion: A Legal Marriage Starts With a License—and Ends With Filing It
What Is a Marriage License?
A marriage license is a government-issued document that grants a couple legal permission to get married. It must be obtained before a legal marriage can occur.
In California, a marriage license can be either:
- Public marriage license: Requires one witness and becomes a public record.
- Confidential marriage license: No witness required and not part of the public record. Only available to couples living together.
More info from Los Angeles County: Marriage Licenses and Certificates
💡 Important: A marriage license is not proof of marriage. It is permission to get married. You need to complete the process to become legally married.
Can You Just Sign the Marriage License and Be Married?
Yes, you can get legally married by just signing the marriage license—if it’s done properly.
However, you must meet the following criteria:
- You and your partner must sign the license in front of a legally authorized wedding officiant.
- The officiant must also sign and complete the license.
- The signed license must be filed with the County Clerk or Recorder.
If you skip any of these steps—especially filing—the marriage is not legally valid.
➡️ Visit Get Married Today to learn how we issue your marriage license and perform your legal ceremony all in one appointment.
Do You Need a Wedding Ceremony to Be Legally Married?
A wedding ceremony and a legal marriage are not the same.
You don’t need flowers, guests, or even vows. What you do need is a legally authorized officiant who performs a brief declaration of intent and signs your marriage license.
A legal ceremony can take less than five minutes. At Get Married Today, we often provide simple courthouse-style ceremonies or officiate marriages at your location, such as your home, hospital room, or immigration attorney’s office.
Want to learn more about how this works? Read: What’s the difference between eloping and a courthouse wedding?
What Happens Legally After You Sign the License?
After the license is signed by both parties and the officiant:
- The document must be filed with the county within a specified timeframe (usually within 10 days).
- Once filed, the County Clerk’s office will register your marriage and make it official.
- You may then request a certified copy of your marriage certificate, which serves as proof of marriage.
➡️ To request a certificate in California: CA Department of Public Health – Marriage Certificates
Get Married Today helps you file your paperwork and request your certified copy fast—even with options to get an apostille for international use.
Who Can Legally Sign a Marriage License With You?
You can’t just sign the document privately and call it done.
Here’s who is involved:
- The couple (you and your partner) must be present.
- A licensed officiant must conduct the legal marriage and sign the license.
- One witness is required for a public license. No witness is needed for a confidential license.
⚠️ You cannot conduct your own ceremony without an authorized officiant. Doing so means your marriage is not valid.
Curious about authorized officiants? Check out: Where can I find a same-day wedding officiant?
Is a Marriage Legal Without a Public Ceremony?
Absolutely. The law does not require a wedding event—just that legal steps are taken.
Many couples skip the public ceremony and opt for:
- A private ceremony at home
- A simple signature-only ceremony in our office
- A ceremony for immigration or military benefit purposes
Private, confidential, and signature-only ceremonies are 100% legal in California when done correctly. Get Married Today makes this process fast and discreet.
What Happens If You Sign a License but Don’t File It?
If you never return your signed marriage license to the County Clerk, the marriage is not legally valid.
Common issues include:
- Forgetting to file the license
- Having an unauthorized person act as the officiant
- Losing the paperwork
- Attempting to “marry” yourselves without an officiant
If this happens, you’ll need to reapply for a new license and go through the legal process again.
To avoid mistakes, book a complete same-day marriage service here: Get Married Today – Book Now
How Get Married Today Makes It Easy
At Get Married Today, we handle the entire legal marriage process in one visit:
✅ Issue a valid California marriage license
✅ Provide a licensed officiant for a legal ceremony
✅ Sign and file the license with the county
✅ Provide guidance on requesting your marriage certificate
✅ Offer apostille certification for international use
This is ideal for:
- Couples on a deadline (immigration, military, insurance)
- Those who want to avoid courthouse delays
- People who don’t want a big ceremony
- Clients seeking 24/7 legal marriage services
We also offer mobile services to your home, hospital, or preferred location.
Check out: Same-Day Marriage License and Wedding
Why Some Couples Choose This Route
Here are the top reasons couples choose to “just sign the marriage license”:
1. Urgency
Immigration interviews, military deployment, or medical emergencies may require fast legal marriage.
➡️ Can you marry on the same day if you’re divorced?
2. Privacy
Some couples want to get legally married in private and plan a celebration later. This is common among celebrities, LGBTQ+ couples, and those with complicated family dynamics.
3. Affordability
A no-ceremony legal marriage is far more affordable than a wedding. With Get Married Today, you get licensed, married, and filed for less than most venues charge for flowers.
4. Flexibility
Whether at your home, a park, a beach, or your hospital bedside—we make it legal wherever you are.
➡️ Can I get married with an expired passport?
Conclusion: A Legal Marriage Starts With a License—and Ends With Filing It
So, what happens if you “just sign a marriage license”?
✅ If you do it properly—with a legal officiant and timely filing—you are 100% married under California law.
❌ If you just sign it privately without legal steps, your marriage is not valid.
At Get Married Today, we simplify the entire process: license, ceremony, and filing—done in one day.
Ready to Get Married Today?
Let us help you avoid delays and legal mistakes. We’ll guide you from license to ceremony to official marriage certificate—all in one visit.
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Suggested Internal Backlinks
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