Frequently Asked Questions - Marriage Licenses, Name Changes, Certificates
The information concerning the requirements for marriage licensing in Johnson County are available online at: http://courts.jocogov.org/dc_ML_MeetRequirements.aspx.
For comparison, the marriage license information for the State of Kansas can be found on the following website; www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/kansas/index.shtml.
Contact the Civil Division of the Johnson County District Court to request information concerning procedures necessary to achieve a name change
precipitated by divorce.
The information you seek can be found on the website for the State of Kansas: www.kdheks.gov/vital/amend_birth_adults.html.
Your marriage certificate or license is your proof that you have taken your spouse’s name. Certified copies of your marriage certificate can be obtained from the Office of Vital Statistics in Topeka, KS via internet at Vital.Records@kdheks.gov or via phone at (785) 296-1400.
Certified copies of vital records are released to the person named on the record, immediate family, a legal representative, or anyone who can prove a direct interest, such as a named beneficiary or someone who jointly owns property with the person whose record is requested. The record must be necessary for the determination of personal or property rights. Proof of legal representation, direct interest, or written authorization is required if the requestor is not named on the record or an immediate family member.
The following are authorized to be officiating persons:
• Any currently ordained clergyman or religious authority of any religious denomination or society;
• any licentiate of a denominational body or an appointee of any bishop serving as the regular clergyman of any church of the denomination to which the licentiate or appointee belongs, if not restrained from so doing by the discipline of that church or denomination;
• any judge or justice of a court of record;
• any municipal judge of a city of this state; and
• any retired judge or justice of a court of record.
The two parties themselves, by mutual declarations that they take each other as husband and wife, in accordance with the customs, rules and regulations of any religious society, denomination or sect to which either of the parties belong, may be married without an authorized officiating person.
Officiants: Any ordained clergyman of any religious denomination or society may perform marriages. Ministers are required to file credentials or ordination with the judge of a probate court before performing marriages. Minister must return the marriage license and a certificate of marriage to the probate judge who issued the marriage license within 10 days after the marriage.
Death Certificates can be obtained from the State of Kansas Vital Statistics department in Topeka. You may contact the department via telephone at (785) 296-3253, or online at www.vitalchek.com. Missouri residents can contact vital records at: http://www.vitalrec.com/mo.html.
