I was married 31 years ago in Montgomery, Alabama. I have lost my marriage license sometime over the years. I cannot get my Florida ID renewed without a marriage license. However, when I called the court in Alabama to get a copy, they told me that they had an issue date for my marriage license but no record date. 31 years ago, using my marriage license, I had my name changed on both my social security card & my drivers license. However, the state of Alabama is telling me that my husband & I are not legally married! Everything I have done in the past 31 years, I have done as married with my married name. The people I have spoken to have not been helpful whatsoever. They tell me I am simply not married, disregarding the fact that I legally had all my information changed with the marriage license I once had. I have no idea what to do! The state of Florida says I can get married here but my marriage license will not show my transition from my birth name to my married name, as I am already legally that name. However, that is what the DMV says they have to see in order for me to get any kind of identification for myself. Also, if we get married now, what does that mean for everything I have done in the past 31 years when I thought I was already married? My only income is social security disability & that too is through my married name. Will I have an issue with the things I have already done using my married name if I get married now? I am so confused! Please help; Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

In many places, marrige licensing is sort of a three-step process.

you get the license;
a minister, JP, or someone like that performs a marriage ceremony with you; and
you get a certificate recorded, registered, or whatever to the effect that the marriage actually took place.


It looks like the third step wasn't done. Do you have any documentation of the ceremony? Is whoever officiated still around?

Another possibility to explore would be to re-do the ceremony pursuant to the 31 year old license. I expect that the license might have "expired", but that is something to consider.


... I legally had all my information changed with the marriage license I once had. I legally had all my information changed with the marriage license I once had...

As I say, you should have had a marriage certificate, that your marriage ceremony had been performed pursuant to the license, with which to do that. I don't know how you could have changed your name with a mere license. Is it possible that the Social Security Administration, or the Alabama DMV has copies of whatever you used to change your name?

We had it done in the court house.. But they're saying they have not the recording of it just the issue..

Why would you need a marriage certificate to get your Florida ID renewed?

A woman has to show every time she goes to get her DL here in Florida.. You have to show why your birth name is not the same.. If you have been married more than once you will have to show both marriage certificates and divorce paper..