Do I need a marriage certificate?

alexandria412

Random question:

Pennsylvania makes you pay to recieve a hard copy of your marriage certificate. If I'm not changing my name, do I actually need this document for anything?

Thanks!

ElizabethRoad

I have never needed it for anything besides changing my name. If you ever need it in the future, you can order one then.

The only reason I can think of that you might need it is if you want to be on your spouse's health insurance or vice versa. There could be other things. But again, you can order it later.

coliema

Are you planning on moving anywhere? If you move out of state to a different state you will need it to get a new license. A coworker learned that the hard way. She was married in Mexico, lived in NY, moved to FL and didn't have her license. She had to call Mexico to get a copy of it. She hasn't reached them yet.

propskat

Yeah. Especially because you're not changing your name.

Some employers and/or insurance companies would require a copy of it to get him or you added to a policy.

ElizabethRoad

Are you planning on moving anywhere? If you move out of state to a different state you will need it to get a new license. A coworker learned that the hard way. She was married in Mexico, lived in NY, moved to FL and didn't have her license. She had to call Mexico to get a copy of it. She hasn't reached them yet.

Why would you need a marriage license to get a driver's license? That doesn't make sense.

wolverine66

i needed one when i got a new job and had to fill out my insurance information. i guess it was a measure to guard against fraud, or something.

coliema

Are you planning on moving anywhere? If you move out of state to a different state you will need it to get a new license. A coworker learned that the hard way. She was married in Mexico, lived in NY, moved to FL and didn't have her license. She had to call Mexico to get a copy of it. She hasn't reached them yet.

Why would you need a marriage license to get a driver's license? That doesn't make sense.

Don't ask me, I'm still in NY, I didn't go to the DMV with her. I would have to ask her and get back to you, but that was an issue she was going through this week. She had to switch her license, her registration on her bikes/cars, I'm not sure why, but she had to get a copy of her marraige license.

ElizabethRoad

Are you planning on moving anywhere? If you move out of state to a different state you will need it to get a new license. A coworker learned that the hard way. She was married in Mexico, lived in NY, moved to FL and didn't have her license. She had to call Mexico to get a copy of it. She hasn't reached them yet.

Why would you need a marriage license to get a driver's license? That doesn't make sense.

Don't ask me, I'm still in NY, I didn't go to the DMV with her. I would have to ask her and get back to you, but that was an issue she was going through this week. She had to switch her license, her registration on her bikes/cars, I'm not sure why, but she had to get a copy of her marraige license.

Are you sure it wasn't something to do with her changing her name? I mean you don't have to be married to have a driver's license.

bm99

I have needed my marriage certificate quite a few times. Just get it, it's a one time expense.

HMVOL7409

If you want added to any insurance, bank accounts, mortgage etc you will need proof you are in fact married. I think every state has a fee for it, ours was $5.

HotCuppaJo

Are you planning on moving anywhere? If you move out of state to a different state you will need it to get a new license. A coworker learned that the hard way. She was married in Mexico, lived in NY, moved to FL and didn't have her license. She had to call Mexico to get a copy of it. She hasn't reached them yet.

Why would you need a marriage license to get a driver's license? That doesn't make sense.

Don't ask me, I'm still in NY, I didn't go to the DMV with her. I would have to ask her and get back to you, but that was an issue she was going through this week. She had to switch her license, her registration on her bikes/cars, I'm not sure why, but she had to get a copy of her marraige license.

It's to prove your name change. It's the only document you have that proves your name was changed... I had to show my divorce decree to everyone for them to change my name BACK to my real name.

coliema

Are you planning on moving anywhere? If you move out of state to a different state you will need it to get a new license. A coworker learned that the hard way. She was married in Mexico, lived in NY, moved to FL and didn't have her license. She had to call Mexico to get a copy of it. She hasn't reached them yet.

Why would you need a marriage license to get a driver's license? That doesn't make sense.

Don't ask me, I'm still in NY, I didn't go to the DMV with her. I would have to ask her and get back to you, but that was an issue she was going through this week. She had to switch her license, her registration on her bikes/cars, I'm not sure why, but she had to get a copy of her marraige license.

Are you sure it wasn't something to do with her changing her name? I mean you don't have to be married to have a driver's license.

I'm positive, I've known her for a while and she hasn't changed her name since she got married about 20 years ago. I know you don't have to be married to have a driver's license, I'm not sure why she had to get it, but she did. I'll ask her tonight and report back for you.

ElizabethRoad

Yeah I really don't need to know that badly.

alexandria412

Thanks, everyone!!

jcpmoore

If you want a passport, yes.

angeldaae

Some employers and/or insurance companies would require a copy of it to get him or you added to a policy.

This. Mine did.

lmelangley

I had to get one for my minor child to get her passport.

ElizabethRoad

I had to get one for my minor child to get her passport.

Why? If you weren't married would your child be unable to get a passport?

odusgolp

I had to get one for my minor child to get her passport.

Why? If you weren't married would your child be unable to get a passport?

Totally curious...

And, in Wisconsin, I didn't need it for anything...

jadesign19

Insurance, if you go on his /her plan?
Life insurance claims?
If you have children together and you don't have his name... May be an issue in the future.
I say get the paper now, put it in a safe, you may or may not need it. But it will be more aggravation if you need it in the future.

HelloDan

You might also need one if you ever end up moving around the world, for visa issues etc...

Bentley2718

Neither my employer, nor my employer sponsored insurance company required a copy of my marriage certificate to include my husband--I was actually a litle surprised. Although I guess they can, at some point, require me to prove that we're married if they decide to do so.

As for a driver's license, when I last moved (to a new state), I don't think they even asked for my marital status. I think this would only come up if the name on your new license didn't match the name on your old one.

Personally, unless it was really expensive, I would want a copy, just in case, but that's just me.

propskat

Are you planning on moving anywhere? If you move out of state to a different state you will need it to get a new license. A coworker learned that the hard way. She was married in Mexico, lived in NY, moved to FL and didn't have her license. She had to call Mexico to get a copy of it. She hasn't reached them yet.

Why would you need a marriage license to get a driver's license? That doesn't make sense.

Florida recently (circa2010) "reset" all the DMV records so EVERYONE has to prove their identity no matter how long you have held a FL license. That means showing your birth certificate and any and all marriage and/or divorce certificates that prove how you got from your birth name to your current name. A coworker had a real time trying to hunt down marriage and divorce papers from 3 marriages in three different states. She hadn't kept them as the most recent one was 20 years ago. This wouldn't be a problem for the OP if she's not changing her name but it is an example of an unplanned situation that could come up.