Marriage Affidavit Templates by State

What Is a Marriage Affidavit?

To prove that two individuals are wedded legally, a signed declaration is required which is known as a Marriage Affidavit and in some instances, it must be presented to a judge, educational establishment, or any other authority that could require it. It is often seen as an alternate option for a certificate of marriage as legally it will hold the same weight.

Alternate Name:

Affidavit of Marriage

The document can be requested and may be absolutely necessary in cases involving custody of any children in the marriage, during divorce proceedings, and even if one of the partners decides to change their legal name.

In most cases, they will be requested by a court to demonstrate the authenticity of a statement in court. The document may occasionally be used by a lawyer to avoid the need for their clients to show up in court. Additionally, you can avoid having to invest your cash and time in court proceedings by letting the lawyer do the work. This is inclusive of legal actions involving immigration and for actions concerning real estate.

It is extremely important to ensure that you are honest in your affidavit and that the information you provide is accurate and genuine. If you fail to do this, you will actually be in breach of the law as this would mean that you have lied under oath – for this reason you need to be extremely cautious to evade punishment and utilize a Bona Fide Marriage Affidavit which may sometimes require supporting letters.

Marriage Affidavit by State

Different states may have different laws for Marriage Affidavits and the requirements may differ considerably. Prior to preparing your Marriage Affidavit, you should make sure that you are fully aware of the laws and regulations concerning this document in your state, particularly the legal requirements for an Affidavit of Marriage witness. You can find information on each state below:

Alabama	Hawaii	Massachusetts	New Mexico	South Dakota
Alaska	Idaho	Michigan	New York	Tennessee
Arizona	Illinois	Minnesota	North Carolina	Texas
Arkansas	Indiana	Mississippi	North Dakota	Utah
California	Iowa	Missouri	Ohio	Vermont
Colorado	Kansas	Montana	Oklahoma	Virginia
Connecticut	Kentucky	Nebraska	Oregon	Washington
Delaware	Louisiana	Nevada	Pennsylvania	West Virginia
Florida	Maine	New Hampshire	Rhode Island	Wisconsin
Georgia	Maryland	New Jersey	South Carolina	Wyoming

How to Write an Affidavit for Marriage?

In most cases, an Affidavit for Marriage will come in handy for those that do not possess a marriage certificate but are required to prove their marriage, for example when applying for a visa or green card. Some requirements may differ depending on the state you are in, but a general Affidavit for Marriage should involve the steps below:

Start by downloading an editable template which you can edit to include information specific to your case;
You need to decide and indicate if just one partner should sign the document or if both partners will do so;
The document should be filled out by an individual that can swear under oath that they have firsthand direct knowledge about the details concerning the marriage;
This individual may be a spouse or a guest that was present on the wedding day, someone that is a close friend;
The document contains information such as the full names and dates of birth along with the full address of the individuals applying;
Information about the wedding day itself is also described along with information about the location and time that the events took place;
It should also detail the circumstances of how the couple met;
Remember to name the state in which the marriage took place – not the ceremony itself but the place where a couple signed and dated the certificate;
You should also indicate the country and state where the Marriage Affidavit itself will be signed;
Once you have completed the form with all of the relevant information you should print it and sign it being sure to take into account the local state laws concerning signing requirements. You may need to do so before witnesses and/or in the presence of a notary public.