To get married at a Tennessee courthouse, you need a marriage license from any county clerk’s office and a short civil ceremony performed by an authorized officiant, usually a judge you book through the county’s General Sessions Court. Tennessee has no waiting period for adults, so both steps can happen the same day. The license costs roughly $97.50 to $107.50 depending on the county, and it is valid for 30 days from the date it is issued.
Get the Marriage License First
The license comes before the ceremony. You can apply at any county clerk in Tennessee, no matter where you live or where you plan to marry. Both people must appear together to sign the application. Limited exceptions exist for people who are incarcerated, people whose disabilities prevent them from traveling, and active-duty military deployed overseas.1Justia. Tennessee Code 36-3-104 – Conditions Precedent to Issuance of License
What To Bring
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID, or passport. The application asks for both people’s names, ages, current addresses, and Social Security numbers.1Justia. Tennessee Code 36-3-104 – Conditions Precedent to Issuance of License If either of you was previously married, know the exact date that marriage ended by divorce or death. Non-U.S. citizens must present a valid passport. A person who was never issued a Social Security number is not required to provide one, according to a Tennessee Attorney General opinion interpreting the statute.2Tennessee Attorney General. Opinion No. 08-126 – Requirement of Social Security Number for Marriage License
Fees and the Premarital Course Discount
License fees vary by county, generally between $97.50 and $107.50. You can pay significantly less by completing a premarital preparation course of at least four hours within one year before applying. The course must be taught by a qualified instructor such as a licensed therapist, counselor, psychologist, or representative of a religious institution. Both people must complete it, together or separately, and present a signed, notarized Certificate of Completion to the clerk. In Knox County, the standard fee is $97.50 and drops to $37.50 with the certificate.3Knox County Tennessee Government. Knox County Marriage License In Montgomery County, the standard fee is $107.50 and drops to $47.50.4Montgomery County, TN Government. Marriage Licenses
No Waiting Period, 30-Day Window
For adults 18 and older, the clerk issues the license the same day you apply.4Montgomery County, TN Government. Marriage Licenses Once issued, the license is valid for 30 days. If you do not have the ceremony within that window, the license expires and you have to apply again.5Rutherford County Government. Marriage Licenses Rutherford County, for example, requires that you return all marriage documents to the clerk’s office if the 30 days pass without a ceremony.
Book the Courthouse Ceremony
For a courthouse wedding, most couples contact a judge’s chambers at the county’s General Sessions Court, or ask the county clerk’s office for guidance. Nashville’s General Sessions Court lets couples book a ceremony online or by phone, and it does not typically charge a fee for the ceremony itself.6General Sessions Court of Metropolitan Nashville & Davidson County. General Sessions Court Wedding Services Policies vary by county, so call ahead. Availability tightens on popular dates like Valentine’s Day, and walk-in ceremonies are not always possible.
Who Can Officiate
Tennessee authorizes a broad list of people to solemnize marriages. It includes current and former judges and chancellors, county clerks, county mayors, municipal mayors, notaries public, members of county legislative bodies, and members of the state General Assembly who have filed the required notice. Religious leaders of any faith who are at least 18 and have the care of a congregation also qualify, along with law enforcement chaplains and district attorneys general.7Justia. Tennessee Code 36-3-301 – Persons Who May Solemnize Marriages Federal judges, magistrates, and bankruptcy judges who are Tennessee citizens count as state judges for this purpose. For a courthouse ceremony, that officiant is almost always a judge or judicial officer.
What the Ceremony Has To Include
Tennessee law does not require any specific script. The only legal requirement is that both people declare, in the presence of the officiant, that they accept each other as spouses.8Justia. Tennessee Code 36-3-302 – Formula Not Required The statute does not require witnesses. A courthouse ceremony can be as brief as a couple of spoken statements and a signature.
What Happens on the Day
Bring your marriage license and your photo ID. The ceremony itself usually takes just a few minutes. The officiant asks each of you whether you accept the other as your spouse, and once you both say yes, the officiant signs the license. That signature, combined with your declarations, is what makes the marriage legally valid. Some couples bring a small group of family or friends; others come alone. There is no legal requirement for guests.
After the Ceremony
Once the officiant signs the license, they must note the time and date of the marriage, sign the document, and return it to the county clerk’s office within three days.9Justia. Tennessee Code 36-3-303 – Return of License to Clerk An officiant who fails to return the license commits a Class C misdemeanor. Make sure your officiant files the paperwork, because that is the step that officially records your marriage with the county.
After the clerk processes the returned license, you can request certified copies of your marriage certificate. You will need those copies for name changes, insurance updates, tax records, and other legal purposes. In Davidson County (Nashville), certified copies cost $5.00 each, plus a $2.00 mailing fee if you request them by mail.10Nashville.gov. Certified Copy of Marriage License Fees at other county clerks vary. Certified copies are also available from the Tennessee Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records. Order several copies at once, because multiple agencies will each want their own original.
Who Is Eligible
Both people must be at least 18 to marry without restriction. A 17-year-old may marry only if the other person is less than four years older and a parent consents. No one under 17 can legally marry in Tennessee under any circumstances.11Justia. Tennessee Code 36-3-105 – Minimum Age of Applicant for Marriage License Marriage between close family members, including any direct ancestor or descendant, siblings, and certain other relationships by blood or marriage, is prohibited.12Justia. Tennessee Code 36-3-101 – Prohibited Degrees of Marriage Both people must freely consent, meaning neither can be under the influence of drugs or alcohol or lack the mental capacity to agree. If either person is already married, the new marriage is void, and bigamy is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 on top of any jail time.13FindLaw. Tennessee Code 39-15-301 – Bigamy