Marriage Legal Overview

A wedding can be romantic, fun or stressful. It can be large or small. You can have a religious ceremony or a civil ceremony. No matter what type of wedding you plan to have there are certain legal requirements that must be met before you can have a ceremony. And marriage creates certain legal benefits and responsibilities as well.

Prenuptial agreements
Before you get married, you need to decide whether you want your spouse to sign a prenuptial agreement. A prenuptial agreement may be beneficial if you have a substantial amount of property in your own name that you want to keep separate.

Eligibility for marriage
Not everyone is legally eligible to get married in the United States. Eligibility depends on, among other things, age, mental capacity and relationship to each other.

Requirements for marriage licenses and ceremonies
In addition to being eligible for marriage, a couple must follow certain requirements before getting a marriage license. These may include a waiting period between the license and the ceremony as well as a blood test.

Benefits and responsibilities of marriage
Marriage gives certain legal rights, such as the right to inherit property from your spouse and the right to a share of marital responsibility. It also has certain responsibilities, including the obligation to pay for joint debts.

Marrying abroad
If you want to get married in another country, you need to follow the laws of that country. Usually, as long as the marriage is valid in that country, it will be valid in the United States.