PAGING NANCY - Marriage license not sent back

Contact the county clerk.

10 days is quick! Call your county probate court and see what they suggest. (Assuming your probate court handles that, ours does in ga)

Also glad I'm not the only one-my brother/officiant forgot to send it in, but we have 30 days..

It's the job of your officiant to mail it back. Why didn't your officiant take it and finish his job?

I really don't know. My friend asked me the same question. I guess I didn't know he had to?

If you had an officiant that didn't KNOW he had to send the license back?

Kill me now.

Tomorrow, you will call your FUCKING unprofessional officiant and ask why he didn't take care of this. And you'll ask for your money back. Because it is our responsibility and most of us take that very, very seriously. No; call his ass RIGHT NOW. And keep calling until he answers you.

Then you'll call the clerk in charge of your license (I am not that familiar with Fla; maybe put "paging Nancy" in your title.)

Find out what to do next.

In NJ, when I say you're married, you are, but we are psychotic about our licenses. I don't let anyone file their own unless I've called the clerk to let them know, and that's only in situations of deployment or death.

Keep us posted.

I have been calling him! But I just realized this at 9 pm. Ugh my officiant was actually amazing and he was listed as a preferred vendor so I assumed he would take it as seriously as well! The fact I have to wait until tomorrow morning gives me anxiety! I changed my title and will let you know.

I can't tell you how many time this was repeated to us in court and the front sheet of the packet says it in bold letters.

This info should also be listed on the county court website.

I agree that you should get some kind of compensation from your officiant. Like, literally. He had one job. If he didn't do it, you should get your money back.

Why did you ask your mom to send in your license? That's why you hired an officiant...

I am sorry to hear all of this........Celia-LOVE you and Your Fucking Honesty!!!!!

Stephanie, can you or your mom walk it in (faster than mailing). There may be a bit of a grace period.

I actually recommend that my couples take the completed license back to the issuing courthouse so they can get their certified copy right then & there. If they (or I) mail it back, it can take 4-6 weeks for the certified copy to be mailed to their home.

I appreciate all the responses! I called the county clerk first thing this morning. The sweet woman told me to relax. The 10 period is not a law and they understand there are delays. She said to make sure I make of copy of it and mail it in or walk it in (as Nancy suggested) whenever I get the chance to.

Thanks all! I can breathe now lol

Did you tell your officiant your mom was going to handle filing it? If they thought it was being taken care of then I don't think this is necessarily their fault. I get the argument that people say it's the officiant's responsibility but my type A personality wouldn't allow anyone but myself to bring the signed license into the county clerks office. I had to physically watch it get recorded and handed back to me to make sure everything was done. When we applied for the license the clerk told us it was best to bring it back ourselves to have it recorded and to avoid mailing it. They had multiple instances of licenses getting lost in the mail.

Phew - so glad everything's ok!! Definitely walk it in like Nancy suggested ASAP!

Sorry, it IS their fault. I've had exactly one license lost in the mail, in roughly 2500 licenses filed by my officiants (this is why we make copies of everything so we can keep them as a record...).

As I said before, I won't let my couples take their own because it's on my head, and I've had a handful of people asking me if I can NOT file their license after the wedding was performed. Unfortunately, they are married and if they just destroyed the license? Guess who has the problem. Me.

In my state, a few offices will issue the 'real' license on the spot, but most won't, so walking it back and waiting may or may not work. But just get it there.

I'm glad it has worked out for you, (whew), but would be calling your venue when you have time and relay the story. It takes blood, sweat, tears and usually bucks to get on a preferred list and they should know that the person THEY referred dropped the ball. It doesn't matter what you told them regarding the license return, it is their responsibility to make sure it got filed. I have had clerks call me to follow up on missing licenses (generally, this is a case where someone listed us at the officiant, got a license and never got married....)

Celia, it's different in Florida. The Clerk's office actually recommends that the couple brings it in. Perhaps because we have so many destination weddings and the couples want to go home with their official marriage certificate.

I have sometimes mailed in the licenses (when the couples asked me to because they were leaving the next day). But, I almost never walk it in myself (unless I anticipate a problem -- like the courthouse made a mistake with the effective date of the license).

@Nancy. Weird, but understandable. Thank you. I always have my international couples bring their licenses back to NYC because the clerk will do it on the spot. But I do make them sign a release form.

The release form is a good idea. I knew a groom was having cold feet before the wedding. I made him sign the release form that he was returning the license (I doubt that he did).

The release form is a good idea. I knew a groom was having cold feet before the wedding. I made him sign the release form that he was returning the license (I doubt that he did).

@Nancy, you married them anyway, but think they broke up shortly after? Scandalous!