Obtaining a Marriage License in Hawaii

To "tie the knot" legally in Hawai'i, whether a local resident or traveling from elsewhere, the process is much simpler and speedier now than in years past. As of January 1, 2012, the State of Hawai'i's Department of Health took another step toward the digital age by facilitating the process of applying for a marriage license, filing it, and obtaining a legal marriage certificate online.

Couples may apply for their marriage license online and then the two must appear in person before a marriage agent or at the Department of Health to pick up the license worksheet. The application costs $60 and the application processing fee costs another $5, payable online or in person when submitting the application to the licensed marriage agent. Upon approval of the application, the license is issued immediately thereafter and is good for 30 days. The marriage license enables couples to legally get married anywhere in the State of Hawaii.

On the day of the wedding, the licensed officiant then goes on-line to confirm that s/he has legally married the couple. The Department of Health then reviews this registration, which requires a full business day. The next day, assuming everything passes review, the married couple may download an official marriage certificate, good for 90 days, until the permanent one is sent to them in the mail by the Department of Health.

Gone are the days of signing an official document at the ceremony.

Photo by Kai Photo

Gone, too, are the days of forgetting the marriage license at home on the day of the wedding! While the tradition of signing the license will be no more, the tradeoff of easier filing and quicker turnaround should make it all worthwhile.

For more information, visit http://hawaii.gov/health/vital-records/vital-records/marriage/index.html.