Requirements to obtain a marriage license:

KRS 402.210 – Requirements for issuance of license.

1. Must be 18 years of age or older. If under 18, but at least 17 years of age, must have an order from the family court or district court allowing the marriage between 1 or both parties seventeen (17) years of age. A marriage license cannot be issued to individuals under the age of 17.
2. Both individuals must be present for a marriage license to be issued.
3. Present to the county clerk documentary proof of age in the form of:
   1. A copy of birth record
   2. A certification of birth issued by the state department of health, a local registrar of vital statistics, or other public office charges with similar duties by the laws of another state, territory, or country.
   3. A baptismal record showing the individual’s date of birth.
   4. A passport.
   5. An automobile driver’s license.
   6. Any government or school-issued identification card showing the individual’s date of birth.
   7. An immigration record showing the individual’s date of birth.
   8. A naturalization record showing the individual’s date of birth.
   9. A court record or any other document or record issued by a government entity showing the individual’s date of birth.
   10. If either of the parties is under seventeen (17) years of age, no license shall be issued.
   11. If either of the parties is seventeen (17) years of age, a marriage license shall NOT be issued unless:
   • the pary who is seventeen (17) years of age presents to the clerk a cerified copy of a court order by a family court or District Court judge that grants the party permission to marry and removes the party’s disability of minority, as provided in KRS 402.205; and
   • At lease fifteen (15) days have elapsed since the cours order was granted

Marriage must be performed within 30 days in the commonwealth of Kentucky for the license to be valid. The marriage license must be returned to the county clerk for recording upon completion of the ceremony.

Minister Requirements:

The “recognition” of a minister can take the form of ordination or license or any other form which expresses clearly the fact that a religious group recognizes the person or looks to the person as a minister of that specific group. Currently, there is not a registration process for a minister to perform ceremonies in Kentucky.

Prohibited and Restricted Marriages:

1. Marriages between persons who are nearer of kin to each other by blood, than second cousins.
2. Marriages between first cousins.
3. Marriages with a person mentally incompetent.
4. Marriages where one of the parties living, from whom the person marrying has not been divorced.
5. Marriages not solemnized or contracted in the presence of an authorized person or society.
6. Common law marriages.
7. Proxy marriages.

Solemnization of Marriage:

1. Marriages shall be solemnized only by clergy, justices and judges of the Court of Justice; retired justices and judges of the Court of Justice, except those removed for cause or convicted of a felony; county judge/executives; such justices of the peace and fiscal court commissioners as the Governor or the county judge/executive authorizes, and certain religious societies.
2. At least two persons, in addition to the parties and the person solemnizing the marriage, must be present at every marriage.
3. There are no residency requirements or licensing requirements applicable to ministers or priests who wish to perform marriages in Kentucky.
4. A minister or priest, all justices and judges of the Court of Justice, justices of the peace and fiscal court commissioners may perform marriages anywhere in Kentucky.

Marriage License FAQ’s