Arizona Marriage Laws

Statutes

Arizona Revised Statutes:

• Section 25-101
• Section 25-102
• Section 25-111
• Section 25-112
• Section 25-121

Valid Marriage

For a valid marriage in Arizona:

• The couple must obtain a marriage license;
• Participate in a marriage ceremony; and
• The marriage must be solemnized (by a person legally authorized to do so) before the license expires.

Marriage Licenses Requirements

To obtain a license:

• The couple must appear together at one of the Justice Court offices and must provide a valid form of I.D.
• No blood test and no waiting period is required.
• The license is valid for 12 months.

Marriage Ceremony

The ceremony doesn't have to be a wedding, but it must be performed by a person authorized to solemnize marriages in Arizona.

Covenant Marriage

You have two options: a standard marriage or a covenant marriage because Arizona recognizes "covenant marriages" ( a marriage contract where the couple promises to remain married for life and not to get a divorce).

Covenant Marriage Requirements

• Complete the marriage license documentation;
• Obtain pre-marriage counseling from a marriage counselor or a clergy member who advises the couple that marriage is a lifelong union;
• After completing the counseling, the couple signs a notarized statement that the counseling was completed; and
• The notarized statement is submitted with the marriage license.

Conversion of Standard Marriages

If a married couple wants to convert their marriage to a covenant marriage, they can get an application from the Superior County Clerk, submit the application and their marriage will convert to a covenant marriage when the application process is complete.

Other Types of Marriages / Prohibited Marriages

Same-Sex Marriage

Same-sex marriage is legal in all states including Arizona.

Common Law Marriage

Common law marriages created within the state aren't valid. However, Arizona recognizes common law marriages that are valid in other jurisdictions.

Prohibited Marriages

• No marriages between parents/child, brother/sister, uncle/niece, aunt/nephew, or first cousins except under some conditions.
• If the first cousins are at least 65 years old, they can marry; first cousins may marry if one or both are under 65 and they get court approval based on showing that one of them is sterile and incapable of reproducing.
• If a party is at least 16, they must get parental consent to marry.
• If a party is under 16, they must get parental consent and court approval.