George Boyle
Hawaii is a popular wedding destination, and for good reason. Its waterfalls, sunsets, blue oceans, and hiking trails through botanical gardens and rainforests make it a romantic place to tie the knot. If you're planning to get married in Hawaii, or perform a wedding there, there are a few things you need to know. For one, there is no waiting period after the marriage license has been issued—couples can pick up their license on the same day as their wedding. However, the marriage ceremony must take place within 30 days of receiving the license, and the completed marriage certificate must be submitted to the appropriate county clerk's office before the 30-day window has closed. To be eligible to perform a legally binding wedding ceremony in Hawaii, a minister must be at least 18 years old and registered with the Hawaii State Department of Health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marriage license cost | $65.00 ($60 application fee + $5 portal fee) |
| Marriage license validity | 30 days |
| Marriage certificate cost | Reasonable fees may be prescribed by the department |
| Minimum age to marry | 18 years old |
| Minimum age of minister | 18 years old |
| Residency requirements | None |
| Citizenship requirements | None |
| Blood test required | No |
| Mandatory waiting period after marriage license is issued | No |
| Proxy marriage allowed | No |
| Witnesses required | No |
| Style or content of the wedding dictated by the state | No |
| Additional documentation | Certified copy of a legal name change (if applicable) |
| Registration for ministers | Online |
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What You'll Learn
Marriage license and certificate
To lawfully marry in Hawaii, a couple must obtain a marriage license from an authorized agent. The couple must appear in person before the clerk of the county in which they plan to wed. Both applicants must present a valid government-issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, state ID, etc.) and pay a non-refundable fee of $65.00 ($60 application fee + $5 portal fee). There are no state residence or U.S. citizenship requirements, and blood tests are not needed. The minimum age to enter into a legal marriage in Hawaii is 18 years old, and proof of age is required. If either applicant is under 18, they must present a certified copy of their birth certificate, along with parental or guardian consent and government-issued photo identification. If either applicant was previously married, they must provide proof of the original divorce decree or death certificate if the divorce or death occurred less than 30 days before the wedding.
After obtaining the license, there is no mandatory waiting period before the marriage can take place. The couple has 30 days from the date of issuance to legally wed. If the ceremony does not occur within this period, the license becomes null and void. The couple must submit the completed marriage certificate to the appropriate county clerk's office before the 30-day window has closed.
Hawaii recognizes two types of marriage licenses: one for a religious ceremony officiated by a minister, priest, or officer of any religious denomination, and one for a civil ceremony performed by a justice of the peace or a judge. Ministers of the Universal Life Church (ULC) are considered religious actors who can perform legally binding weddings, even if the ceremony is non-religious.
All marriage performers (officiants or solemnizers) must be licensed by the State of Hawaii before conducting a marriage or civil union. To be eligible to perform a legally binding wedding ceremony in Hawaii, a minister must be at least 18 years old and registered with the Hawaii State Department of Health. There are no restrictions on beliefs, gender, or state or country of residence.
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Officiant registration
To perform a wedding in Hawaii, you must be a licensed officiant or solemniser. The State of Hawaii does not impose restrictions on your residency, faith, or gender. However, you must be at least 18 years old.
To become a licensed officiant, you must register with the Hawaii Department of Health. The registration process can be done online and requires you to pay a $10 portal administration fee. You will also need to supply personal information, such as your name, address, birth date, email, and phone number.
Once your application is approved, you will receive an email notification. This will contain a link to your license, a username, and a password to the electronic registration system for marriage. The approval process can take up to two weeks, so make sure to plan ahead.
After becoming a licensed officiant, you can perform weddings anywhere in Hawaii. There is no waiting period after the marriage license is issued, so couples can pick up their license on the same day as their wedding. However, the ceremony must take place within 30 days of the license being issued.
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$18.99
No waiting period
Unlike most other states, Hawaii does not impose a mandatory waiting period after a marriage license has been issued. This means that couples can pick up their license on the same day as their wedding if they so wish. If the couple would prefer, they have 30 days from the date of issuance to legally wed. The marriage license and marriage certificate are different documents. The former permits a marriage to take place, while the latter indicates that a legal marriage has been performed.
To obtain a marriage license in Hawaii, the couple must appear in person before the clerk of the county in which they plan to wed. The cost to obtain a marriage or civil union license is $65.00 ($60 application fee + $5 portal fee). All fees are non-refundable. There are no state residence or U.S. citizenship requirements, and blood tests are not required. The legal age to enter into a legal marriage or civil union is 18 years old, and proof of age is required. A certified copy of a birth certificate must be presented for anyone 18 years of age or under. Parental or guardian consent is required with government-issued photo identification and documentation of the relationship. If the applicants have been married before, proof of the original divorce decree or death certificate needs to be presented to the marriage agent by the applicant if the divorce or death occurred less than 30 days prior to picking up the license.
To be eligible to perform a legally binding wedding ceremony in Hawaii, a minister must be at least 18 years old and must be registered with the Hawaii State Department of Health. There are no restrictions on beliefs, gender, or state or country of residence. Ministers should begin the state registration process by visiting the Department of Health’s website. A license to solemnize marriages may be issued to, and the marriage rite may be performed and solemnized by any minister, priest, or officer of any religious denomination or society who has been ordained or is authorized to solemnize marriages according to the usages of such a denomination or society.
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Valid IDs
To perform a wedding in Hawaii, you will need to become a minister by getting ordained online. This can be done through websites such as Open Ministry or American Marriage Ministries, which is the only IRS Certified 501c3 Charitable Organization that offers online ordinations. Most of these websites do not charge a fee for ordinations. Once ordained, you will need to register with the Hawaii Department of Health, which is a state-level office. This means that once registered, you will be able to officiate weddings on any of the islands in the state.
To register, you must visit the Department of Health's website. Here, you will need to provide a physical copy of your ordination record, as well as your Letter of Good Standing and/or Ordination Credential. The department may also request to see your denomination, which can be listed as “Non-Denominational" if you do not have one.
In addition to the above, you will need a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a passport, driver's license, or state ID.
Once you have completed the registration process, you will be able to perform weddings in Hawaii.
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No witnesses required
If you're planning a wedding in Hawaii, there are a few legal requirements you'll need to meet. Firstly, there is no waiting period after the marriage license has been issued, so a couple can pick up their license on the same day as their wedding if they wish to. The cost of obtaining a marriage license is $65.00, which includes a $60 application fee and a $5 portal fee. The license is valid for 30 days, and the couple must submit the completed marriage certificate to the appropriate county clerk's office before the 30-day window has closed.
To be eligible to perform a legally binding wedding ceremony in Hawaii, a minister must be at least 18 years old and registered with the Hawaii State Department of Health. There are no restrictions regarding residency, faith, or gender. The minister must also be licensed by the State of Hawaii before performing the marriage. The process of getting ordained can be done online through websites such as Open Ministry or American Marriage Ministries, and it is often free and completed within a day. Once ordained, the minister can register with the Hawaii Department of Health to officiate weddings on any of the islands in the state.
When applying for a marriage license, the couple should specify whether they are having a religious ceremony conducted by a minister or a civil ceremony with a justice of the peace. Ministers of the Universal Life Church (ULC) are considered religious actors who can perform legally binding weddings, regardless of whether the couple is religious or not. It's important to note that Hawaii does not permit marriage by proxy, so the officiating minister and both members of the couple must be physically present for the wedding to be legally binding.
While some states require witnesses to be present at the wedding ceremony, Hawaii is not one of them. There is no minimum number of witnesses required, so the couple can choose to have their wedding with just the two of them and the officiating minister. This flexibility allows couples to have an intimate and private wedding ceremony if they so desire.
Hawaii offers a scenic backdrop for a memorable wedding, with its beautiful waterfalls, breathtaking sunsets, blue oceans, and lush botanical gardens. By familiarizing themselves with the legal requirements, couples can ensure their special day goes smoothly and creates lasting memories.
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Frequently asked questions
The couple must appear in person before the clerk of the county in which they plan to wed. They can apply online and pay the required fee ($60 application fee + $5 portal fee). They must then meet with an agent no more/sooner than 30 days prior to their ceremony date. During the meeting, the agent will review their application, verify photo IDs and any necessary documentation, and issue the license.
The marriage license is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance. If the ceremony is not performed within this period, the license is null and void.
To perform a wedding in Hawaii, one must be a minister who is at least 18 years old and is registered with the Hawaii State Department of Health. There are no restrictions on beliefs, gender, or state or country of residence.
The couple must be physically present and be at least 18 years old. There are no state residence or U.S. citizenship requirements. Blood tests are not required. Proof of age is required, and a certified copy of a birth certificate must be presented for anyone 18 years of age or under.
Hawaii's marriage code does not require witnesses. Only the officiating minister and both members of the couple must be physically present for the wedding to be legally binding.
