Local Guides

    National Services

  General and Contact Information

Bledsoe County Marriage License Office
County Clerk
P.O. Box 149
Pikeville, TN 37367
423-477-2137

Getting a marriage license in Tennessee is a relatively easy process. Although I believe the following information to be up-to-date, it is always a good idea to double-check the requirements with your County Clerk's Office prior to applying - especially if you have any unusual or questionable circumstances.

Basically, both the bride and groom must be 18 years of age or older to apply for a license without parental consent.

If either party is under the age of 18 they must be accompanied by his/her parents. Tenn. Code Ann. 36-3-106 provides that if either applicant is under 18 years of age, the parents, next of kin, guardian, or person having custody of the applicant are required to join in the application, under oath, stating that the applicant is 16 years of age or over and that the applicant has their consent to marry. If the applicant is in the legal custody of any public or private agency or in the legal custody of any person other than a parent, guardian or next of kin, then such person or the duly authorized representative of such agency must join in the application with the parent, guardian or next of kin, stating under oath that the applicant is 16 years of age or older but less than 18 years of age and that the applicant has their consent to marry. This provision does not apply to applicants who are in the custody of the department of mental health and mental retardation. Tenn. Code Ann. 36-3-106.

Tennessee law does not permit those under the age of 16 to marry without a court order.

For all offices, you both must appear in person together to apply for the license. You will be required to prove your age. A driver license, state issued birth certificate or passport are acceptable forms of identification for this purpose.

Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. 36-3-104(a) (1997), " No county clerk nor deputy clerk shall issue a marriage license until the applicants make an application in writing, stating the names, ages, addresses and social security numbers of both the proposed male and female contracting parties and the names and addresses of the parents, guardian or next of kin of both parties." The application must be sworn to by both parties. Id. The requirement of a social security number was added by legislative amendment, Acts 1997, ch. 551, 30, effective July 1, 1997. You must have proof of Social Security.

Federal law directed the states to adopt procedures to record social security numbers on marriage licenses, and other licenses issued by the states, as part of comprehensive legislation to achieve efficient collections of child support obligations. Collection and Use of Social Security Numbers for Use in Child Support.

Passports are acceptable substitutions for a social security number for non-American citizens visiting the United States.

The fee for a marriage license is $98.50. However, license applicants who have completed a premarital preparation course within a year prior to the date of application for the license are exempted from paying $60.00 of this fee. The couple must provide a Certificate of Completion form that has been completed and signed by the course provider. Effective July 1, 2004, the course provider's signature on the Certificate of Completion must be notarized.

Tennessee Residents: If you live in the sState of Tennessee you will now pay $98.50 for your marriage license. If you attend 4 hours of premarital preparation course and present a certificate of completion your cost will be $38.50.

All Non-Residents: If you are getting married in Tennessee and are from another state the price is $38.50 ONLY if you obtain a license from Sevier County. If you get a license any where else in the state the price will be $98.50.

If your spouse has a TN drivers license and you have one from out of state you will be charged $98.50.

Blood tests are not required.

In the case of a previous marriage that ended either in divorce or death, you will also need the month and year of your divorce or the date of your deceased spouse's death. To be safe, be prepared with the divorce decree or death certificate - no matter how long ago the death or divorce occurred.

If the bride has had a name change in her divorce and has not had her name changed on her drivers license, she will need to provide a certified copy of her divorce decree.

You do not need to be a resident of Tennessee to apply for a license.

There is no waiting period to get a marriage license in Tennessee which means you can marry immediately after obtaining the license.

The license is valid for 30 days so you must get married within 30 days of its issuance.

1. All regular ministers, preachers, pastors, priests, rabbis, and other spiritual leaders of every religious belief, more than eighteen (18) years of age, having the care of souls.
   • Provided, however, in order to solemnize the rite of matrimony, any such minister, preacher, pastor, priest, rabbi or other spiritual leader must be ordained or otherwise designated in conformity with the customs of a church, temple or other religious group or organization; and such customs must provide for such ordination or designation by a considered, deliberate, and responsible act.
   • If any marriage has been entered into by license issued pursuant to this chapter (Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36, Chapter 3) at which any minister officiated before the effective date of this act, such marriage shall not be invalid because the requirements of the preceding subdivision have not been met.
2. Members of county legislative bodies.
3. County executives and former county executives.
4. Current and former judges and chancellors of this state.
5. Current and former judges of general sessions courts.
6. Current and former governors of this state.
7. The county clerk of each county.
8. Current and former speakers of the senate and speakers of the house of representatives.
9. Mayors of municipalities.

   Unless otherwise provided by law, officials authorized to perform marriages may do so only within their jurisdiction. Thus, county clerks and county executives can perform marriages only within the county from which they were elected. See Op. Tenn. Att'y Gen. 85-189 (6/10/85) (elected officials have no jurisdiction to perform marriages outside their jurisdiction). However, the General Assembly has authorized county commissioners and general sessions judges to perform marriages in any county in the state. Tenn. Code Ann. 36-3-301.

   Same Sex Marriages

   Tennessee statutes prohibit marriages between two persons of the same sex, and Tennessee does not recognize marriages performed in other jurisdictions between persons of the same sex. Tenn. Code Ann. 36-3-113 (enacted by 1996 Public Chapter 1031). County clerks are statutorily prohibited from issuing a marriage license to two persons of the same sex. Tenn. Code Ann. 36-3-103(c)(1). Two persons of the same sex cannot obtain a valid marriage license in Tennessee. Op. Tenn. Att'y Gen. 88-43 (2/19/88).

   Although courts in other states have recognized marriages between two persons of opposite sexes by virtue of one person having completed a successful sex reassignment, Tennessee law provides that the sex of a person will not be changed on an original Tennessee birth certificate as a result of sex change surgery. See, e.g., M.T. v J.T., 355 A.2d 204, 140 N.J. Super. 77 (1976); T.C.S. 68-3-203(d). Therefore, it appears that Tennessee has adopted the "sex at birth" view. While the issue has not been decided by any court in Tennessee, the Attorney General is of the opinion that Tennessee courts could find that sex is determined at birth, and that sex change surgery does not alter a person's sex for the purpose of obtaining a valid marriage license. Op. Tenn. Att'y Gen. 88-43 (2/19/88).

   Common Law Marriages

   Marriage is controlled by statute and not common law in Tennessee. Although Tennessee does not recognize common law marriages, Tennessee will recognize a valid common law marriage entered into in a jurisdiction which recognizes common law marriages. In re Estate of Glover, 882 S.W.2d 789 (Tenn. App 1994); Andrew v. Signal Auto Parts, Inc., 492 S.W.2d 222 (Tenn. 1972); Lightsey v. Lightsey, 407 S.W.2d 684, 56 Tenn. App 394 (Tenn. App 1966); Troxel v. Jones, 322 S.W.2d 251, 45 Tenn. App 264 (tenn. App. 1959). But see Crawford v Crawford, 198 Tenn. 9, 277 S.W.2d 389 (1955) (parties may be estopped to deny marriage, as between themselves, in exceptional circumstances).