License to Wed

License to Wed

January 12th, 2010 @ 1:53 pm by Mrs. Nachos
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I mentioned in my post about Carnival that I had to call the courthouse to make sure they’d be open so we could pick up our marriage license, and whew, they will be! Mr. Nachos wasn’t too keen on the idea of a civil ceremony at home so he was very happy to hear that. I didn’t really mind the thought of taking care of the legalities beforehand and going to the courthouse here, (plus a marriage license is cheaper in IL), but I am in fact very happy that we’ll be making it official at our Wyndham ceremony.

In order to have the marriage license ready for us when we get to the courthouse, there are a few steps that need to be done. The instructions for obtaining our marriage license in St. Thomas don’t seem too difficult, but there’s a lot to do. We have to send the following to their courthouse…

Marriage application which we can get online
A court certified copy of my divorce certificate (I only have 1 certified copy so I have to get another to send)
$100 money order or certified cashier’s check
A letter to the court explaining our arrival and departure dates, date and location of our ceremony, and the name of our officiate

These all have to be at the St. Thomas courthouse at least 8 days before we arrive, although some websites I’ve seen recommend sending it all up to 2 months before, which would be next month. GAAAAAHHH, time is starting to speed up on me! Then we have to call to confirm that they received everything and ask for our license confirmation number.

Once we arrive, we have to go to the courthouse in person with photo IDs and sign for the license. We wanted to go straight from the airport, but I doubt our shuttle would be willing to stop and wait, we’ll have all our luggage, AND we arrive at 3 and the courthouse closes at 5. It’s a shame though because…

License to Wed : wedding license Map map

(Map from Google, altered by me)

…oh well. I guess we’re taking a taxi the next day.

Then a few days later, we get married!!!

After the ceremony, our officiant will sign our license and send it to the courthouse to have it notarized. It now becomes a court certified copy of the marriage license. The court will mail it to our home in Chicago and we should have it within 2-3 weeks. The day of our wedding, we will get a signed copy of our license, but apparently our marriage isn’t legal until the courthouse certifies the license. I also double checked IL marriage laws to make sure we’d be legal in IL, and since it’s US territory, we’re in the clear.

Got all that? Again, it’s not too difficult, but just a lot to prepare.

Were you surprised at the steps you had to take to get your license? DW brides, did you have to jump through any hoops to make sure you were ‘legal’?

*side note* one interesting little tidbit I learned when I was looking up IL marriage laws is that first cousins can marry if over the age of 50. Discuss amongst yourselves.

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22 Responses to “License to Wed”

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Hostess

august15bride (message) 1,667 posts, Bumble bee

Oooh and that’s a fun ride from the Wyndham to Amalie. Luckily taxis in St Thomas have flat fees, but don’t expect them to use the brake too often!

1/12/10 @ 2:04 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Sewing (message) 2,701 posts, Sugar bee

whoa, that’s a lot of hooping. I have a little work to do, but not as much as you. Seems like you’ve got it under control though!

1/12/10 @ 2:06 pm (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Mouse (message) 5,844 posts, Bee Keeper

That’s a very weird sidenote, Miss Nachos! I can’t imagine what the reasoning behind that would be!

1/12/10 @ 2:19 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Cheeseburger (message) 1,020 posts, Bumble bee

That law is RIDIC. haha. I bet the shuttle would drop you off and you could get a taxi the rest of the way? Or yeah, just go the next day

1/12/10 @ 2:24 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Guinea Pig (message) 1,377 posts, Bumble bee

Hahaha - I like the ‘discuss amongst yourselves’. My guess is they figure 50+ means they won’t procreate! I love ridiculous laws.

I have to say I’m glad you’re on top of things, because that sure sounds like a lot of hoops to me! Sorry you have to drive all the way back out there the next day

1/12/10 @ 2:32 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Spaniel (message) 6,792 posts, Bee Keeper

Wow, that’s a lot of work!

1/12/10 @ 2:32 pm (reply)

Member

miss sweden (message) 40 posts, Newbee

I’m embarrassed to say it but over here in Sweden first cousins are always allowed to marry, no matter their age. I actually looked it up just now to make sure it was still so and then I learned that with special permission we are actually allowed to marry half siblings! Hmm….maybe it’s time to emigrate…

1/12/10 @ 2:35 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss French Fries (message) 2,218 posts, Buzzing bee

I don’t know what the magical (and I use “magical” loosely) age of 50 has to do with marrying your first cousin! Craziness.

1/12/10 @ 2:40 pm (reply)

Member

AprilBride10 (message) 528 posts, Busy bee

In NYC first cousins are allowed to marry at any age, weird huh?

1/12/10 @ 2:46 pm (reply)

10.

Member

tea (message) 7,288 posts, Bee Keeper

ugh, i’d have to have to double back like that too! what a bummer you can’t get it done on the way to the resort

1/12/10 @ 2:52 pm (reply)

11.

Member

beach01 (message) 74 posts, Worker bee

Our DW is in Punta Cana, and we’ve had to jump through a few hoops - we’re paying a Dominican service called WeDo that’s US-based to legalize and translate all of the paperwork that we need. A bit of hassle, but we too aren’t marrying before we leave.

1/12/10 @ 2:55 pm (reply)

12.

Hostess

Jessie516 (message) 5,480 posts, Bee Keeper

What a weird sidenote. You can marry your cousin…if you’re older? weird.

1/12/10 @ 3:12 pm (reply)

13.

Member

Cole B (message) 1,362 posts, Bumble bee

When I was looking up about Indiana marriage licenses I found out that you have to wait until you are 60 to marry your 1st cousin.

1/12/10 @ 3:50 pm (reply)

14.

Bee

Miss Pudding (message) 1,180 posts, Bumble bee

I’m with Guinea Pig! I think it’s because people over 50 can’t have kids.

1/12/10 @ 4:24 pm (reply)

15.

Guest

Sarah

I saw a pair of maps recently, one showing states allowing same-sex marriage, and the other showing states allowing marriage between first cousins. It was…odd?

Actually, I just found an expansion on that: http://www.mediaite.com/online/comparing-same-sex-marriage-to-marrying-cousins-just-the-start/

1/12/10 @ 5:17 pm (reply)

16.

Bee

Miss Elephant (message) 6,182 posts, Bee Keeper

Sounds like a lot of work, glad you’re on top of it all.

1/12/10 @ 5:48 pm (reply)

17.

Member

skibobrown (message) 1,902 posts, Buzzing bee

That cousin marriage law? Kinda creeping me out!

1/12/10 @ 6:32 pm (reply)

18.

Member

KMSull (message) 6,442 posts, Bee Keeper

… wow, that’s alot of jumping! We… are probably avoiding a destination wedding for that reason. But I cannot WAIT for yours!

1/12/10 @ 7:32 pm (reply)

19.

Bee

Miss Cola (message) 2,868 posts, Sugar bee

1st cousins can marry over 50? Whaaaa?

I’m glad we don’t have to do much to get our license, just show up with the check and driver’s licenses!

1/12/10 @ 8:05 pm (reply)

20.

Bee

Miss Nachos (message) 1,733 posts, Bumble bee

@miss sweden: Hahaha, you win!

@Miss Guinea Pig: @Cole B: @Miss Pudding: That was totally my theory…no cousin procreation, although people are having kids at a later age these days. If that’s the reason, they may have to up the age law!

1/12/10 @ 8:18 pm (reply)

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