For years obtaining a marriage license was a requirement in order to say that your marriage was legal. In some states, there is a particular time frame in order to get your license before you marry or else you will have to delay the nuptials. However, each state has different requirements for couples wishing to be granted a marriage license. Marriage licenses are also used to prevent what the court considers to be inappropriate marriages. But after the U.S. Supreme Court made the decision to allow gay marriages to become legalized, some do not see the purpose of a marriage license.
The Supreme Court Ruling states, “The Fourteenth Amendment requires a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between to people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state” (Vogue and Diamond, 2015, pg.1). Opposition has risen as a result of this verdict as states such as Alabama decided not to issue marriage licenses to gay couples. Governor Phil Bryant in Mississippi also pushed to protect religious freedoms. But many states have to realize the purpose of a marriage license differs greatly against what it was required for in the past. This is one reason why the idea of removing marriage licenses have surfaced. So should we do away with marriage licenses /state permission to get married in Arizona?
Arizona follows some of the same requirements of obtaining a marriage license as other states. According to City Applications, “To get married in Arizona, you must first obtain a marriage license and then solemnize the marriage through a wedding ceremony” (City Applications LLC, 2013, pg. 1). Arizona is also one of western states that are considered to be a Community Property State. However, although many see a marriage license as a document solidifying an official union under God. A state’s marriage license is a secular document that is not issued by the church but by the state. Under the state, the marriage is more of a business that allows the couple to receive varying tax benefits. The marriage license then grants the State jurisdiction over your marriage. However, a couple does not need a marriage license to prove that they were married. Only witnesses are needed to make that determination. Typically in any wedding there is a best man and a maid or matron of honor that serves these purposes. This is why many simply see a marriage license as just a piece of paper.
This cliché has been overused many times as some actually believe it is a piece of paper. They do not see the any benefits of a marriage license. But is this true? In actuality, the marriage license does have some value to it. Just like your birth certificate. There are so many valuable pieces of information that are simply in the form of a piece of paper. These are documents that you also must be protective of just like a marriage license. A marriage license can also show how much you value the person you plan to spend the rest of your life with just as you would do your college education which is documented on a piece of paper. Remember a marriage goes beyond the wedding party. If a person is not ready to register their union to someone else publicly, then you are not ready to have the party. There are contemporary community standards that have persuaded some people to view marriage quite differently. However, even, Christians have to be careful not to change their perspective of marriage because of what seems to appear socially acceptable.
Yes, marriage is a commitment between two people, however there are still some legal requirements that need to be followed. Some still asked why they have to sign a paper to make it legal. Marriage is a private decision that is not made by the state. But everyone must understand that signing a marriage license has meaning to it. The marriage license serves as a document that proves that a covenant was made between the two people. In the bible, a covenant is an agreement between parties. According to Grace Communion International, “A covenant is more personal than a contract — it involves loyalty and allegiance, not just a financial exchange” (Grace Communion International, 2016, pg. 1). Marriage then becomes a commitment that the community takes seriously. If one of the partners does not behave properly or fails to abide by the duties of the marriage commitment, there can be severe repercussions. So just because the marriage license is not a religious document, does not mean that a marriage license which legalizes the union should be avoided. For those considering to do away with marriage licenses in the State of Arizona, they must understand that a license permits people to do a particular thing. If this form of permission is not obtained from some level of authority, it then becomes illegal.
Driving a car without a license is illegal. Caring for people in the medical profession without a license is illegal. Running a business without a license is illegal. So if a couple has a wedding ceremony without obtaining a license, technically the marriage is illegal. This is because it does not contain the proper identification. A license is not simply a piece of paper that one signs. In order to obtain a license, there are certain qualifications a couple must meet. Before the verdict came down by the Supreme Court, a couple had to prove they were of the opposite sex.
Other qualifications that must be met is that the couple must not be related. Also the couple has to meet the age requirements in order to marry. They must also not be presently married to anyone else. This helps to prevent a polygamous relationship. It is a legal document that is held in courts to prove that two people united in matrimony legally. This is proven as well when couples decided to end their marriage. They must obtain a court order in order divorce. So if Arizona does away with marriage licenses, do they also do away with court orders to prove that the marriage terminated? This may be difficult to fight against.
Marriage is a foundation that helps to establish the guidelines upon which a family intends to base its values. The government simply wants to help with the stability of this foundation. By making it a requirement that couples also sign a marriage license to legalize the union, the government helps to build upon the foundation of the family. The government also rewards this practice with tax incentives. Society, on the other hand, also supports other benefits such a procreation.
Legally, a marriage license is necessary. Although there are some aspects of your life where a license is not required such as meeting a new friend or even when deciding what form of religion you will follow. Obviously, a court is also not required to put an end to such decisions. But marriage is something special that the government has taken a particular interest in to prove its uniqueness. A marriage license simply validates you telling the world who you love. So should we do away with marriage licenses/state permission to get married in Arizona? After analyzing all of the legalities of the document, it is obviously that the response should be no.
A marriage license carries a lot of weight and anyone getting married should feel honored that they are recognized as a union publicly. Now if the cost to print these documents becomes a concern, now marriage license can be obtained online. It is just up to the couple to make sure that they follow protocol before having a well-planned wedding bash that symbolizes their union. Marriage is more than the relationship between two people. It is a legal contract between two people that must be obtained. The marriage license serves as proof of this binding agreement. A binding agreement that must be documented in order to prove that it is legal.
References
Apply for an Arizona Marriage License. (2013). City Applications LLC. Retrieved from http://www.cityapplications.com/marriage-licenses/AZ-Arizona/mrg-Arizona.html
Covenants in the Bible. (2016). Grace Communion International. Retrieved from https://www.gci.org/law/covenants
Vogue, Arlane and Jeremy Diamond. (2015). Read the opinion: Supreme Court rules states cannot ban same-sex marriage Cable News Network. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/26/politics/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-ruling/index.html
