Wisconsin Wedding Laws
Wisconsin has something for everyone, including marrying couples and wedding coefficients. With hundreds of miles of shoreline, scenic hills and vast swaths of farmland, the Badger State is the perfect place for a gorgeous wedding in nature. If the couple has more cosmopolitan tastes, walking down the aisle in Madison or Milwaukee is an excellent option. While finding the right venue, selecting a menu and picking a band may be high on the priority list for any marrying couple, it is critical to comply with Wisconsin's unique marriage laws. After all, failing to do so may result in a marriage that is not legally binding. This guide explains the legal requirements for a valid marriage in the Badger State. Whether you intend to marry in dairy country or to officiate a wedding somewhere in Wisconsin, you can find important details about your legal responsibilities in the next sections.
How to Become a Wedding Officiant in Wisconsin
- Min. Age of Minister:
- Age 18
- Residency:
- Not Required
- Document(s) Required:
- Varies by County
- Online Ordination Recognized:
- Yes
- Relevant Office of Registration:
- County Clerk
- Latest Document(s) Submission Date Allowed:
- Varies by County
- Minister I.D. # Issued:
- No
Wisconsin only allows for those who are at least 18 to officiate weddings. The Universal Life Church only ordains ministers who are at least 18, so there should be no conflict with state law. Furthermore, the residence, gender, and belief systems of ministers do not matter.
Those who want to officiate a wedding in the Badger State should pursue online ordination. Then, it is important to visit the county clerk's office to see which documents are necessary. The clerk may want to see ordination credentials or ask for additional information.Because the practices of county clerks may differ, the minister must work with the same clerk's office that issues the marriage license. The Universal Life Church's Classic Wedding Package contains the ordination certificate and other documents ministers may need.
765.16 Marriage contract, how made; officiating person.
(1m) Marriage may be validly solemnized and contracted in this state only after a marriage license has been issued therefor, and only by the mutual declarations of the 2 parties to be joined in marriage that they take each other as husband and wife, made before an authorized officiating person and in the presence of at least 2 competent adult witnesses other than the officiating person. The following are authorized to be officiating persons:
(a) Any ordained member of the clergy of any religious denomination or society who continues to be an ordained member of the clergy.
(b) Any licentiate of a denominational body or an appointee of any bishop serving as the regular member of the clergy of any church of the denomination to which the member of the clergy belongs, if not restrained from so doing by the discipline of the church or denomination.
(c) The 2 parties themselves, by mutual declarations that they take each other as husband and wife, in accordance with the customs, rules and regulations of any religious society, denomination or sect to which either of the parties may belong.
(d) Any judge of a court of record or a reserve judge appointed under s. 753.075.
(e) Any circuit court commissioner appointed under SCR 75.02 (1) or supplemental court commissioner appointed under s. 757.675 (1).
(f) Any municipal judge.
(2m) An officiating person under sub. (1m) (a), (b), (d), (e), or (f) must be at least 18 years old.
History: 1977 c. 323; 1979 c. 32 ss. 48, 92 (4); 1979 c. 176, 259; Stats. 1979 s. 765.16; 1981 c. 20 s. 2200; 1985 a. 29; 1991 a. 315; 1999 a. 85; 2001 a. 61; 2013 a. 372.
Getting Married in Wisconsin
- Marriage By Proxy Allowed:
- No
- Minister Required to be Present:
- Yes
- Number of Witnesses Required:
- 2
- Min. Age of Witnesses:
- 18 Years
- Couple's Consent Required:
- Yes
- Pronouncement Required:
- Yes
Wisconsin does not allow proxy marriages. Consequently, all necessary parties must appear in person at the wedding ceremony. Under state law, necessary parties include the minister, the couple and two competent adult witnesses.
The only legal requirements for a solemnized wedding are the couple's expression of consent and the minister's pronouncement of the marriage. Other than these, marrying couples and officiants may create the ceremony they want with little interference from the state.
765.16 Marriage contract, how made; officiating person.
(1m) Marriage may be validly solemnized and contracted in this state only after a marriage license has been issued therefor, and only by the mutual declarations of the 2 parties to be joined in marriage that they take each other as husband and wife, made before an authorized officiating person and in the presence of at least 2 competent adult witnesses other than the officiating person. The following are authorized to be officiating persons:
(a) Any ordained member of the clergy of any religious denomination or society who continues to be an ordained member of the clergy.
(b) Any licentiate of a denominational body or an appointee of any bishop serving as the regular member of the clergy of any church of the denomination to which the member of the clergy belongs, if not restrained from so doing by the discipline of the church or denomination.
(c) The 2 parties themselves, by mutual declarations that they take each other as husband and wife, in accordance with the customs, rules and regulations of any religious society, denomination or sect to which either of the parties may belong.
(d) Any judge of a court of record or a reserve judge appointed under s. 753.075.
(e) Any circuit court commissioner appointed under SCR 75.02 (1) or supplemental court commissioner appointed under s. 757.675 (1).
(f) Any municipal judge.
(2m) An officiating person under sub. (1m) (a), (b), (d), (e), or (f) must be at least 18 years old.
History: 1977 c. 323; 1979 c. 32 ss. 48, 92 (4); 1979 c. 176, 259; Stats. 1979 s. 765.16; 1981 c. 20 s. 2200; 1985 a. 29; 1991 a. 315; 1999 a. 85; 2001 a. 61; 2013 a. 372.
How to Get a Wisconsin Marriage License
- Who Picks Up License:
- The Couple
- Where License is Valid:
- Any County in Wisconsin
- Marriage License Pick-Up:
- In Person Only
- Cost of License:
- $49.50 + Fees
- Accepted I.D. Types:
- Photo ID and Birth Certificate
- Proof of Divorce Required (If Applicable):
- Yes
- Blood Test Required:
- No
Before marrying, couples in Wisconsin must apply for a marriage license. To do so, the couple must apply in person at a county clerk's office. Nevertheless, during the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual applications are possible. The cost to apply for a marriage license in the Badger State is $45.50 plus fees.
Typically, the couple must pick up a marriage license in person after providing a birth certificate and government-issued photo identification. If either member of the couple has divorced, the couple must also furnish divorce decrees. Because of COVID-19, couples must also provide proof of residency to pick up a marriage license.
Couples do not have to submit to a blood test or provide test results to secure a marriage license. Nonetheless, if county clerks question the completeness or accuracy of any information in the marriage license application, they may ask a judge to weigh in on the matter.
765.05 Marriage license; by whom issued. No person may be joined in marriage within this state until a marriage license has been obtained for that purpose from the county clerk of the county in which one of the parties has resided for at least 30 days immediately prior to making application therefor. If both parties are nonresidents of the state, the marriage license may be obtained from the county clerk of the county where the marriage ceremony is to be performed. If one of the persons is a nonresident of the county where the marriage license is to issue, the nonresident's part of the application may be completed and sworn to or affirmed before the person authorized to accept marriage license applications in the county and state in which the nonresident resides.
History: 1979 c. 32 ss. 48, 92 (2); 1979 c. 89, 176, 177, 355; Stats. 1979 s. 765.05; 1981 c. 20, 142, 314; 1999 a. 85.
765.09 Identification of parties; statement of qualifications.
(1)
(a) No application for a marriage license may be made by persons lawfully married to each other and no marriage license may be issued to such persons.
(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to persons whose marriage to one another is void under s. 765.03 (2) and who intend to intermarry under s. 765.21.
(2) No marriage license may be issued unless the application for it is subscribed by the parties intending to intermarry, contains the social security number of each party who has a social security number and is filed with the clerk who issues the marriage license.
(3)
(a) Each applicant for a marriage license shall present satisfactory, documentary proof of identification and residence and shall swear to or affirm the application before the clerk who is to issue the marriage license or the person authorized to accept marriage license applications in the county and state where the party resides. The application shall contain the social security number of each party, as well as any other informational items that the department of health services directs. The portion of the marriage application form that is collected for statistical purposes only shall indicate that the address of the marriage license applicant may be provided by a county clerk to a law enforcement officer under the conditions specified under s. 765.20 (2).
(b) Each applicant for a marriage license shall exhibit to the clerk a certified copy of a birth record, and each applicant shall submit a copy of any judgment or death record affecting the applicant's marital status. If any applicable birth record, death record or judgment is unobtainable, other satisfactory documentary proof of the requisite facts therein may be presented in lieu of the birth certificate, death certificate or judgment. Whenever the clerk is not satisfied with the documentary proof presented, he or she shall submit the presented proof to a judge of a court of record in the county of application for an opinion as to its sufficiency.
History: 1977 c. 418; 1979 c. 32 s. 48; 1979 c. 221; Stats. 1979 s. 765.09; 1981 c. 20; 1985 a. 103; 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 1995 a. 469; 1997 a. 191; 1999 a. 85; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 214; 2017 a. 334.
765.15 Fee to county clerk. Each county clerk shall receive as a fee for each license granted the sum of $49.50, of which $24.50 shall become a part of the funds of the county, and $25 shall be paid into the state treasury. The county shall use $20 of the amount that it retains from each license fee only for expenses incurred under s. 767.405. The county may, but is not required to, use any or all of the remainder of the amount that it retains for education, training, or services related to domestic violence. Each county board may increase the license fee of $49.50 by any amount, which amount shall become a part of the funds of the county.
History: 1971 c. 125; 1979 c. 32 s. 48; 1979 c. 176; Stats. 1979 s. 765.15; 1981 c. 20; 1985 a. 29; 1991 a. 269; 2003 a. 225; 2005 a. 443 s. 265; 2013 a. 20.
Applying For a Marriage License in Wisconsin
- ULC-Officiated Ceremony Type:
- Religious
- Mandatory Waiting Period:
- 5-7 Days
- License Valid For:
- 30 Days
- License Must Be Submitted:
- Within 3 Days of Ceremony
Even though Wisconsin law allows for both religious and civil ceremonies, Universal Life Church ministers are ordained religious actors. Consequently, couples who want a ULC minister to officiate at their weddings should indicate the religious nature of the ceremony.
To comply with state law, all issued marriage licenses have written warnings about both fetal alcohol syndrome and cocaine use during pregnancy. This language is standard, and couples should take no offense.
After obtaining a marriage license, couples must wait roughly five to seven days before holding their marriage ceremonies. If couples wish to marry sooner, they may pay a fee to expedite the marriage license application process. This fee is usually around $25.
Marriage licenses in Wisconsin are valid for a month. After completing the marriage ceremony, the completed marriage license must return to the county clerk who issued it within three days.
765.08 Application for marriage license.
(1) Except as provided in sub. (2), no marriage license may be issued within 5 days of application for the marriage license.
(2) The county clerk may, at his or her discretion, issue a marriage license within less than 5 days after application if the applicant pays an additional fee of not more than $25 to cover any increased processing cost incurred by the county. The county clerk shall pay this fee into the county treasury.
History: 1979 c. 32 s. 48; 1979 c. 176; Stats. 1979 s. 765.08; 1981 c. 20, 142; 2009 a. 28.
765.12 Marriage license, when authorized; corrections; contents.
(1)
(a) If ss. 765.02, 765.05, 765.08, and 765.09 are complied with, and if there is no prohibition against or legal objection to the marriage, the county clerk shall issue a marriage license. With each marriage license the county clerk shall provide information describing the causes and effects of fetal alcohol syndrome and the dangers to a fetus from the mother's use of cocaine or other drugs during pregnancy.
(b) If, after completion of the marriage license application, one of the applicants notifies the clerk in writing that any of the information provided by that applicant for the license is erroneous, the clerk shall notify the other applicant of the correction as soon as reasonably possible. If the marriage license has not been issued, the clerk shall prepare a new license with the correct information entered. If the marriage license has been issued, the clerk shall immediately send a letter of correction to the state registrar to amend the erroneous information.
(c) If, after completion of the marriage license application, the clerk discovers that correct information has been entered erroneously, the clerk shall, if the marriage license has not been issued, prepare a new license with the correct information correctly entered. If the marriage license has been issued, the clerk shall immediately send a letter of correction to the state registrar to amend the erroneous information.
(2) The marriage license shall authorize the marriage ceremony to be performed in any county of this state within 30 days of issuance, excepting that where both parties are nonresidents of the state, the ceremony shall be performed only in the county in which the marriage license is issued. The officiating person shall determine that the parties presenting themselves to be married are the parties named in the marriage license. If aware of any legal impediment to such marriage, the person shall refuse to perform the ceremony. The issuance of a marriage license shall not be deemed to remove or dispense with any legal disability, impediment or prohibition rendering marriage between the parties illegal, and the marriage license shall contain a statement to that effect.
History: 1977 c. 105; 1979 c. 32 ss. 48, 92 (2); 1979 c. 176, 196; Stats. 1979 s. 765.12; 1981 c. 20; 1985 a. 19; 2001 a. 16; 2015 a. 162.
765.19 Delivery and filing of marriage document. The marriage document, legibly and completely filled out with unfading black ink, shall be returned by the officiating person, or, in the case of a marriage ceremony performed without an officiating person, then by the parties to the marriage contract, or either of them, to the register of deeds of the county in which the marriage was performed within 3 days after the date of the marriage.
History: 1977 c. 418; 1979 c. 32 s. 48; 1979 c. 221, 355; Stats. 1979 s. 765.19; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 221.
Wisconsin Marriage Requirements
- Min. Age of Couple:
- Age 18, or Age 16 with Guardian Consent
- Residency:
- Not Required (Required During COVID)
- Min. Distance of Kin Allowed:
- Second Cousins
- Marriage Equality:
- Yes
Wisconsin law requires both members of the marrying couple to be at least 18. There is a provision in the law for 16- and 17-year-olds to marry with the express consent of a parent or legal guardian, however.
Wisconsin does not allow anyone who has divorced in the previous six months to marry. Consequently, if the date on either member of the couple's divorce decree falls within the six months before the wedding date, the ceremony may require postponement.
First cousins may not marry in the Badger State. There is an exception to this rule, however if a woman is over the age of 55 or either member of the couple is permanently sterile. State law requires proving permanent sterility with a medical affidavit.
Wisconsin does not have a residency requirement for marriage, so neither member of the couple must live in the state. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a temporary residency requirement for applying for marriage licenses in Wisconsin.
Finally, like with all other states in the U.S., Wisconsin law recognizes marriage equality. Same-sex and opposite-sex couples alike are welcome to marry in dairy country.
765.02 Marriageable age; who may contract. (1) Every person who has attained the age of 18 years may marry if otherwise competent. (2) If a person is between the age of 16 and 18 years, a marriage license may be issued with the written consent of the person's parents, guardian, custodian under s. 767.225 (1) or 767.41, or parent having the actual care, custody and control of the person. The written consent must be given before the county clerk under oath, or certified in writing and verified by affidavit or affirmation before a notary public or other official authorized to take affidavits. The written consent shall be filed with the county clerk at the time of application for a marriage license. If there is no guardian, parent or custodian or if the custodian is an agency or department, the written consent may be given, after notice to any agency or department appointed as custodian and hearing proper cause shown, by the court having probate jurisdiction. History: 1971 c. 149; 1971 c. 213 s. 5; 1975 c. 39, 94, 200; 1979 c. 32 ss. 48, 92 (4); Stats. 1979 s. 765.02; 1981 c. 20 s. 2200; 1999 a. 85; 2005 a. 443 s. 265. 765.03 Who shall not marry; divorced persons. (1) No marriage shall be contracted while either of the parties has a husband or wife living, nor between persons who are nearer of kin than 2nd cousins except that marriage may be contracted between first cousins where the female has attained the age of 55 years or where either party, at the time of application for a marriage license, submits an affidavit signed by a physician stating that either party is permanently sterile. Relationship under this section shall be computed by the rule of the civil law, whether the parties to the marriage are of the half or of the whole blood. A marriage may not be contracted if either party has such want of understanding as renders him or her incapable of assenting to marriage. (2) It is unlawful for any person, who is or has been a party to an action for divorce in any court in this state, or elsewhere, to marry again until 6 months after judgment of divorce is granted, and the marriage of any such person solemnized before the expiration of 6 months from the date of the granting of judgment of divorce shall be void. History: 1971 c. 220; 1977 c. 8, 83, 203; 1979 c. 32 s. 48; Stats. 1979 s. 765.03. A marriage can be declared null and void after the death of a spouse, although a marriage may not be annulled after the death of a party. Ellis v. Estate of Toutant, 2001 WI App 181, 247 Wis. 2d 400, 633 N.W.2d 692, 00-2535. Chapter 765 sets out the criteria for a valid marriage in this state. Failure to meet one of these criteria often results in a void marriage. An action for declaratory judgment under s. 806.04 is the established mechanism for testing the validity of a marriage in an estate case because s. 806.04 explicitly provides standing for interested parties in an estate action. McLeod v. Mudlaff, 2013 WI 76, 350 Wis. 2d 182, 833 N.W.2d 735, 11-1176.
Finalizing the Union
- Officiant's Title on Marriage License:
- Minister
- Church/Ordaining Body:
- Universal Life Church Ministries
- Address of Church:
- Minister's Home Address
Even though officiating at the ceremony is a large part of the minister's job description, the job does not end when the ceremony does. Instead, ministers must complete the relevant section of the marriage license using unfading black ink.
When completing the Wisconsin marriage license, ULC ministers should use "minister" when prompted for their title. They should also list the ordaining body as Universal Life Church Ministries and provide their home address for the address of the church.
Once the minister completes the marriage license and reviews it for accuracy, the license should go back to the register of deeds in the county where the license was issued. Couples and ministers only have 3 days after the ceremony to get this task done.
765.19 Delivery and filing of marriage document. The marriage document, legibly and completely filled out with unfading black ink, shall be returned by the officiating person, or, in the case of a marriage ceremony performed without an officiating person, then by the parties to the marriage contract, or either of them, to the register of deeds of the county in which the marriage was performed within 3 days after the date of the marriage.
History: 1977 c. 418; 1979 c. 32 s. 48; 1979 c. 221, 355; Stats. 1979 s. 765.19; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 221.