How does the government know you are married?

When you get married you have to get a marriage license, and that is what lets the government know you are married, and if you don't get one, you can't marry.

Charlotte yes you are right, but having a marriage licence doesn't mean you are married, it just means that you have your gov's acceptance to GET married. After it is signed, a copy is sent to the gov, and then they file it. It is then that they know you are married.

People don't get a marriage license to not get married, thanks, that was assumed. Giving bad reputation for answers that are not factually incorrect or very rude is abuse of the rating system.

I wasn't being factually incorrect... It's the truth. The government doesn't consider a person married when they get the marriage licence because many people get the marriage licence then at the last minute back out of the wedding. That is why after you have signed it a copy is sent to them, that is when you are considered married.

For Immigration purposes they can check to see if you are married, the onus is on the applicant to prove the marriage (providing the necessary documentation). So the Government will not look up if you are actually married, YOU yourself must prove that to their satisfaction, if they are suspicious about the bona fida of the marriage they have what is called a marriage interview.

I assume this is what information you wanted in that you posted it under Immigration Law.

I'm just saying, that the marriage license entitles you to marry, why get one if you're not going to marry?

There is no data base to find if you are married or not, it is not getting a marriage license, but it is the licnese being signed by the couple and by a proper authority who then returns it. Once it is received back by the court that issued the license, then the state views them as married as of the date it was signed by the authorty who did the service

I agree with you, I'm just assuming that people who get the marriage license get married and have it all taken care of haha.

Surprising no, a percent of license are not returned, There have been cases of the preacher losing or forgetting to turn them in. ( THERE ARE even time frames they have to be turned back in, or they are void)
I know of one case where the pastor did the wedding, and forgot to turn in the licnese, found it latter, they had to go to a judge to have him rule it valid,