Marriage Licenses

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:

• If both persons live in Rhode Island, you may apply for a marriage license at the city or town hall where either party has legal residency;

• If only one person lives in Rhode Island, you must apply for a marriage license from the city or town hall where the Rhode Island resident lives; 

• If neither person lives in Rhode Island, you must apply for a marriage license from the city or town hall of the city or town in which the marriage ceremony will be performed.  Applicants for a marriage license must know the city or town in which the marriage will be solemnized.   

PRESENT THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:

• All applicants must provide CERTIFIED COPIES OF BIRTH CERTIFICATES which includes parents information from the City, Town State office or Foreign Country where the birth occurred when applying for a marriage license.  Wallet size, photo copies and hospital records of birth are NOT accepted; 

• Valid Government issued picture id;
• If either person is a minor, additional requirements may apply.  Contact the City Clerk's office for more information about these additional requirements.    

IF EITHER PARTY HAS BEEN IN A MARRIAGE OR OTHER LEGAL RELATIONSHIP THE FOLLOWING APPLIES:

• Any person who, having been previously married or been a party to another relationship that provides substantially the same rights, benefits and responsibilities as a marriage, must prove that the marriage or relationship has ended to the City Clerk's Office before a license to marry is issued;  

• The City Clerk must be presented with a CERTIFIED COPY (a copy that includes a raised state seal or similar mark) of the decree granting the divorce or an authenticated copy of the final dissolution of the previous relationship; 

• If the other party to that relationship is deceased, a certified copy of the death certificate must be presented;