Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Married in Hawaii:
Facts About a License
Age -- The legal age to marry is 18 years for all applicants. However, with the written consent of both parents, legal guardian or family court, the applicant may be married at 16 or 17. Applicants age 15 may marry with the written consent of both parents or legal guardian and the written approval of the judge of the family court. The parents or guardian do not have to reside in the state. Consent forms may be obtained by emailing doh.marriage@doh.hawaii.example.gov or by requesting from the Marriage & Civil Union License Office at 808-586-4544
Proof of Age -- A certified copy of a birth certificate must be presented for anyone age 18 and under. For anyone age 19 and over, proof of age may be requested in the form of a valid government issued photo ID
Blood Relationship -- Cousins may marry, but a blood relationship between the prospective applicants cannot be closer than first cousins (for example: uncle-niece, half-brother-sister may not marry).
Blood tests are not required.
Some Items to Remember
- Applicants must appear together in person before an agent prior to the ceremony to pick up their license. Proxies are not allowed.
- A marriage & civil union license expires 30 days from and including the date of issuance; it is valid for use only in the State of Hawaii.
- Marriage performer must be currently licensed in the State of Hawaii to perform the ceremony.
Commonly Asked Questions Regarding Declaring Middle & Last Names after Marriage
Q: Can a divorced woman who did not resume using her maiden or family surname declare it as a middle name in her next marriage?
A: YES.
Q: Can one of the combination middle names or one of the combination surnames of a person be dropped when declaring a middle or last name?
A: YES.
Q: Can a person drop an unwanted middle name by not declaring a middle or last name?
A: YES.
Q: Can a middle name be used as a last name?
A: YES.
Q: Can the bride drop her previous husband's last name which formed a combination with her surname when she remarries?
A: YES. She can drop his last name and form a new combination made of her surname and new husband's last name.
Q: Can the bride and groom interchange their middle names as their declared middle name?
A: YES.
Q: Can diacritical marks (example ' or ^ or ") be added to middle
or last names?
A: YES.
Q: Can a person use a shortened version of a middle name, an initial, a nickname, or a name not on his/her birth certificate as his/her declared
middle name?
A: YES.
Commonly Asked Questions Regarding Performer Renewals and Fee Changes
Performer Renewal Instructions
Q: I currently have a marriage performer’s license will the new fee change affect when my license expires?
A: NO. All currently active and valid licenses will retain their expiration date.
Q: I currently have a marriage performer’s license will I have to reapply or pay again?
A: NO. Only upon renewal of your license will you pay the new fees.