In NYC, you have to apply marriage license 24 before getting marriage certificate. Both have to be obtained from the city hall. The marriage license is a form, but certificate is a small piece of paper, 75% of a A4 paper in size.
Right. The form (形式) may be different from state to state (in some states, even different from county to county), but the principle is generally the same: Marriage License – 允许结婚, 但并不表明结了婚. Marriage Certificate – 结了婚的证明书; but you first have to get / have the Marriage License to be able to marry. That’s why, usually, there is a waiting period between getting a Marriage License and getting married / getting the Marriage Certificate (it seems to be from 3 to 30 days, from the above posts for different states). I remember, years ago, in some locals, after you got your Marriage License, the office that issued the Marriage License would publish both your names on the local newspaper, announcing 某某某 和 某某某 获得了 结婚许可. So, if anyone is against your marriage, they can file their objections within the waiting period. Now, they don’t seem to do that anymore. I guess probably because the advancement of social media / social networking, everybody knows everybody / everything? Also, in matrimonial proceedings, the wedding officiants always ask, “if anyone can show just cause why this couple cannot lawfully be joined together in matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace”, before announcing the couple is married, which gives someone a chance to object – at least traditionally.
【在 B*****o 的大作中提到】 : Marriage License: 结婚许可证。允许法官、牧师为你们举行婚礼 : Marriage Certificate: 结婚证。证明你经结婚了 : : certificate
Well, actually, legally, it is not only valid but also necessary. Say, if you are married to someone in another state or in China, then trying to marry again in your current state or in the US, then your current spouse of course can and should object (both China and US are monogamy countries, at least legally), although the means may not be effective, at least it provides a legal avenue. There are many other reasons that a couple may not or cannot marry. For example, if you and your spouse are first cousins, which, by law in many states in the US, cannot marry, then someone knows that fact can object your marriage.