To get a Rhode Island marriage license, both people must appear together in person at a town or city clerk’s office with a certified birth certificate, a valid photo ID, and proof that any prior marriage has ended. The license costs $24 in most municipalities, is issued the same day, and remains valid for 90 days. There is no waiting period and no blood test.
Documents to Bring
Bring originals. Photocopies and digital scans are not accepted.1Rhode Island Department of Health. Marriage Licenses
- A certified birth certificate for each person. A long-form certified copy with a raised state seal is preferred. If the certificate is not in English, bring a certified English translation prepared by a qualified translator along with the original.2Rhode Island Department of Health. General Marriage Requirements in the State of Rhode Island
- A valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport. Some towns have stricter policies, so call ahead if you’re unsure.1Rhode Island Department of Health. Marriage Licenses
- Proof that any prior marriage, civil union, or domestic partnership has ended. That means a certified copy of the final divorce decree or dissolution, or a certified death certificate if a former spouse has died. The document must carry a raised seal.1Rhode Island Department of Health. Marriage Licenses
The clerk will have you fill out a marriage worksheet that asks for each person’s full legal name, current address, birthplace, and the full names and birthplaces of both parents, including maiden names.3City of Providence. Requirements for Marriage License You will also be asked for Social Security numbers; they do not appear on the license and are kept as nonpublic records.
Where to Apply
Where you file depends on where you live. If at least one of you is a Rhode Island resident, apply at the clerk’s office in the town or city where either of you lives. If both of you live out of state, apply in the town or city where the ceremony will take place.4Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code 15-2-1 – License Required – Proof of Divorce – Obligation of Clerk to Issue License
Both of you must appear in person at the same time. The clerk reviews your documents and then has you sign the worksheet and the license in the clerk’s presence, attesting that the information is true.5Town of Bristol, Rhode Island. Marriage License You cannot send someone on your partner’s behalf, and you cannot handle any of this by mail.
Cost and Payment
The standard marriage license fee across Rhode Island is $24. The base statutory fee under Section 15-2-9 is $14, with an additional charge that funds the state’s family and children trust fund. Payment methods vary. Some clerk’s offices take only cash or checks; others accept credit cards. Call ahead to confirm.
No Waiting Period and No Blood Test
Rhode Island does not require a blood test.6City of Woonsocket. Do I Need a Blood Test to Get a Marriage License in Rhode Island? There is also no waiting period between picking up the license and holding the ceremony. Same-day is legal.
How Long the License Is Valid
A Rhode Island marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. If the ceremony does not happen within that window, the license expires and you have to reapply and pay again. An unused license should be returned to the clerk’s office that issued it.7Town of Lincoln, Rhode Island. Marriage License
The license only works for a ceremony performed in Rhode Island. If you decide to marry in another state, you will need to apply for a license there instead.8Town of North Providence. Marriage Licenses – Town of North Providence, Rhode Island
Who Is Eligible to Marry
Both parties must be at least 18. Rhode Island eliminated the exceptions that previously allowed minors to marry with parental consent.
State law prohibits marriages between close relatives: siblings, parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, stepparents and stepchildren, aunts or uncles and nieces or nephews, and a spouse’s children or grandchildren. Any marriage between people in these prohibited relationships is automatically void.9Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code 15-1-2 – Marrying Kindred Forbidden First-cousin marriages are not on the prohibited list; Rhode Island is among the minority of states that allow them.
A marriage is also void if either person is already married or in an undissolved civil union, or if either party lacks the mental capacity to consent.
Who Can Officiate
Rhode Island law authorizes a broad range of people to perform marriages.10Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code 15-3-5 – Officials Empowered to Join Persons in Marriage The main categories are:
- Any ordained clergy member or elder in good standing with their religious organization.
- Justices and former justices of the Rhode Island Supreme, Superior, Family, District, and Workers’ Compensation courts, as well as clerks, magistrates, and administrators of those courts. Federal judges, bankruptcy judges, and U.S. magistrate judges also qualify.
- Current and former probate judges, who may officiate anywhere in the state.
- The Secretary of the Senate and elected clerks of the General Assembly, along with certain former holders of those positions.
One-Day Officiant for a Friend or Family Member
If you want a friend or relative to perform the ceremony, Rhode Island allows a one-day officiant designation. The governor can authorize any person 18 or older to solemnize a specific marriage on a specific date in a specific town or city. You apply through the Secretary of State’s office. The fee is $25 for applications submitted by mail, fax, or hand delivery, or $20 for electronic submissions. The certificate of designation is issued within 21 days and expires once the ceremony is complete.10Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code 15-3-5 – Officials Empowered to Join Persons in Marriage Plan ahead; that 21-day processing window can sneak up on you. Only people listed in the statute or designated by the governor may legally perform the ceremony.11Rhode Island Secretary of State. FAQs – One-Day Marriage Officiant Certification
After the Ceremony
Your officiant handles the legal paperwork. They complete the marriage license and certificate and file the signed document with the clerk’s office that originally issued the license. This must happen within 72 hours of the wedding.12Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code 15-3-12 – Endorsement and Return of License Until the clerk records the license, your marriage is not officially on file. Missing the 72-hour deadline does not invalidate the marriage itself, but it can delay your ability to get certified copies.
Once the marriage is recorded, you can order certified copies through the local registrar. The fee is $20 for the first certified copy, which includes a search of two consecutive calendar years. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $15.13Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code 23-3-25 – Fees for Copies of Records Order more than one while the per-copy price is lower. Certified copies are what you’ll need to change your name on a driver’s license, Social Security card, passport, and financial accounts.