To get a Rhode Island marriage license, both partners must appear together in person at a city or town clerk’s office, show photo ID and a certified long-form birth certificate, pay the local fee (the state base is $14), and use the license within three months for a ceremony performed in Rhode Island. There is no waiting period and no blood test.
Who Qualifies to Marry
Both people must be at least 18. Rhode Island banned child marriage in 2021 and eliminated the parental- and judicial-consent exceptions that used to allow minors to marry.1State of Rhode Island General Assembly. Governor McKee Signs Legislation Banning Child Marriages in RI Into Law There are no exceptions.
State law prohibits marriage between close relatives: parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, niece, nephew, aunt, or uncle. Marriages between relatives that are permitted under Jewish religious law are allowed even where they would otherwise fall within the prohibited degrees, and first-cousin marriages are not prohibited generally.2Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island General Laws Title 15 Chapter 1 – Persons Eligible to Marry
Any eligible person can marry any other eligible person regardless of gender. Rhode Island legalized same-sex marriage in 2013 and recognizes marriages and civil unions lawfully performed in other jurisdictions.
Where to Apply
The correct clerk’s office depends on where you live:3Rhode Island Department of Health. General Marriage Requirements in the State of Rhode Island
- If both of you live in Rhode Island, apply where either of you lives. The ceremony can be held anywhere in the state.
- If one of you lives in Rhode Island, apply where that person lives. The ceremony can be held anywhere in the state.
- If neither of you lives in Rhode Island, apply in the city or town where the ceremony will take place. The license is valid only in that municipality.4Pawtucket, RI. Marriage Licenses
That last rule catches out-of-state couples. A license issued in Providence does not cover a Newport ceremony if neither of you is a Rhode Island resident. Residents have statewide flexibility.
What to Bring
Each applicant needs:
- A government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport.
- A certified long-form birth certificate issued by the state or city of birth, listing both parents’ full names and birthplaces. Hospital records, church records, short-form abstracts, and photocopies are not accepted.5Town of Bristol, Rhode Island. Marriage License
- Proof that any prior marriage has ended: a certified final divorce decree with the court seal, or a certified death certificate for a former spouse.6Town of Westerly, Rhode Island. Town of Westerly – Marriage Licenses
Most clerks will also ask you to complete the Rhode Island Department of Health Marriage Worksheet before your appointment. It collects the information used to generate the official license: full names, dates of birth, birthplaces, residence addresses, Social Security numbers, and parents’ information for both parties.7City of Providence. Rhode Island Department of Health Marriage Worksheet Check every detail. Errors on the final certificate can create problems later with name changes and benefits.
Knowingly providing false information on any vital record is punishable by a fine up to $1,000, up to a year in jail, or both.
How Much It Costs
The statutory license fee is $14.8Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code 15-2-9 – License Fee – Presentation of License to Person Performing Ceremony Many municipalities charge more. Woonsocket, for example, charges $24. Call the clerk’s office where you plan to apply to confirm the exact amount and the accepted payment methods. Some offices take only cash, checks, or money orders.
After the wedding, you will probably want certified copies of the marriage certificate for name changes, insurance updates, and benefits. The statutory fee from a local registrar is $20 for the first copy and $15 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.9Rhode Island General Assembly. General Laws of Rhode Island Section 23-3-25 – Fees for Copies and Searches Municipal amounts can vary slightly.
How the Application Works
Both partners must appear together in person. You cannot send one person alone and you cannot apply by mail.10City of Providence. Marriage License in Providence At the counter, the clerk verifies your documents, and you sign the license in front of them.
Rhode Island has no waiting period and no blood test requirement.11Portsmouth, RI – Official Website. Marriage Licenses Once the clerk issues the license, you can hold the ceremony the same day.
Who Can Perform the Ceremony
Rhode Island authorizes a broad range of officiants, including ordained clergy or elders in good standing from any denomination; state judges, magistrates, and various court officials; federal judges, bankruptcy judges, and U.S. magistrate judges; probate judges; and a handful of other named officials.12Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island General Laws Section 15-3-5 – Officials Empowered to Join Persons in Marriage
Ministers ordained online are already permitted to perform religious ceremonies and do not need any additional certification.13Rhode Island Department of State. One-Day Marriage Officiant Certification
One-Day Officiant for a Friend or Relative
If you want a friend or family member who is not clergy to officiate, Rhode Island’s one-day officiant program lets the governor designate that person to solemnize one specific marriage on a specific date in a specific city or town. The applicant must be at least 18 and cannot already be authorized to perform marriages in another capacity.13Rhode Island Department of State. One-Day Marriage Officiant Certification
Applications go through the Rhode Island Department of State: $22 online (including processing) or $25 by mail. Apply no earlier than three months before the wedding and no later than five business days before it. Processing takes about five business days. Neither the officiant nor the couple has to live in Rhode Island to use this program.14Rhode Island Department of State. Applying for One-Day Marriage Officiant Designation Certificate
After the Ceremony
Bring the license to the ceremony. The couple, the officiant, and two witnesses aged 18 or older must sign it, in black ink.5Town of Bristol, Rhode Island. Marriage License
The officiant must return the completed, signed license to the clerk’s office that issued it within 72 hours of the ceremony, in person or by mail.15Rhode Island Department of Health. General Marriage Requirements in the State of Rhode IslandMarriage License in Providence Confirm with your officiant that they know the deadline and the correct office. Until the license is filed, the state has no record of your marriage and you cannot obtain certified copies.
Once the clerk records the returned license, you can request certified copies. Birth, marriage, and death certificates are not public records in Rhode Island, so only authorized individuals may request them.16Rhode Island Department of Health. Public Records Requests
Changing your name is a separate process. The marriage license application itself does not include a field for a new name. Take a certified copy of the marriage certificate to the Social Security Administration first to update your card, then use the updated card at the DMV and elsewhere.
How Long the License Is Good For
A Rhode Island marriage license is valid for three months from the date of issue. If you do not hold the ceremony within that window, the statute requires you to return the unused license to the clerk who issued it, and you would start over with a new application and new fees.17Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code 15-2-8 – Period of Validity of License Return if Unused
The license is only valid for ceremonies performed in Rhode Island. Taking it to another state does not produce a legally recognized marriage. And for out-of-state couples, the license only works in the specific city or town where it was issued, not statewide.4Pawtucket, RI. Marriage Licenses
Common Law Marriage as an Alternative
Rhode Island is one of the few states that still recognizes common law marriage: a couple can be legally married without a license or ceremony if they mutually agree to be married and hold themselves out publicly as a married couple, with no minimum time period required. Proving one, however, can be far harder than getting a license, especially in disputes over property, insurance, or inheritance. For most couples, the license is the straightforward path.