Marriage license copies

You will need certified copies to send into each place. They don't give them back. Depending on how many places you have to change your name at I'd suggest 10 to 20 extra. That way you'll also have extra on hand if anything comes up

You can get two copies to be safe but places won’t keep it as long as you go in person. I wouldn’t put sensitive information like that in the mail.

I have one certified copy and 2 copies. No place has needed to keep an original, they’ve just scanned it and made copies

Passports and social security cards, to mention two,need an actual certified copy of your marriage license. A quick check online also confirms this.
Texas DL doesn't say if they need an original or not, so not sure there.

View Quoted Comment The social security office gives your copy back though, they don’t keep it.

View Quoted Comment I did my social security card already, in person, and they just looked at my original and gave it back

View Quoted Comment Do they mail it back? I have absolutely no office in my area. I'd have to drive over two hours. So I'll be mailing mine in.

I was gonna say the SS won’t keep it. If you do your passport online you mail it in and they mail it back they don’t keep it

View Quoted Comment Hopefully this holds true since I plan to do almost everything in person. Thanks!

View Quoted Comment Nice I’ll def get a copy for that I don’t trust mailing it in lol thanks!!

I think I ordered 10 copies when I got mine but I changed everything in person so I still have all 10 copies. I wanted to have too many just in case so I didn't need to order more.

Soooo the original marriage license is what you hand in to the registrar/ country clerk/ whatever you want to call them. They never give that license to you. Just clarifying here, since many places will SAY they want your original marriage license, and they are wrong, they can't have that, what they want is a certified copy.

Mine was $14 for the first certified copy, and $2 for each after that. I had four made just to be safe.

I've found that even if the place says they will or won't keep it, it depends on who you see and what they decide to do. So far, no one has kept the certified copy, including social security. I did send one in for my passport, but I was told I get it back... we'll see...

My friend had her copy taken at social security and not given back. They also filled out a form for her, and marked her as male, whereas I pre-filled out mine so.... I've just experienced that what each agency/ company/ whatever wants and does seems to be different, regardless of what it says on a website/ what policy is.

IMO, do 4-5 and you'll be safe. I also made a PDF copy I can email and have saved on my google drive (do it with a picture, not a scan).

I got 4 copies and dont regret it! One mailed off to change my passport, one sent to my husband's insurance company so I could get on his insurance, one with me at all times for the DMV, banks, etc. and one in my important papers file!

I would get like 5 copies!!

I always got my copies back, but it still feels like they've disappeared over the last 2 years! I know I have have one or two, but definitely less copies than I started with!

View Quoted Comment Thank you for the clarification! The wording at some of these places is definitely confusing

View Quoted Comment I wish I had thought to get some copies while I was there getting the first one. But it sounds like I should get a few! Thanks!

I was planning on getting two copies - not sure who needs to know about the legality of our marriage other than SS which I plan to handle in person, the copies will really just be for my peace of mind. I am however affiliated with the Military community and the military needs like 3 or 4 copies of your marriage license and I'm assuming this has to do with dependent paperwork.

Every place I went to when I changed my name gave it back right then and there. To change my name on my passport you do have to mail a tour licence in if you don't have to go into and office and is a straight name change. They do mail your license back to you. So realistically you only need one, but I would say 2 just to have a second if needed

I live in TX and I went in person to change my name with Social Security and the DMV. Both places just asked to see my license that was mailed back to me, then they gave it back.

View Quoted Comment Thank you, this is very helpful! I also live in TX & I'll keep this in mind. ♥