Gotta prove we're married .. but license copy is delayed
November 3, 2014 11:15 AM Subscribe
I need to demonstrate our married status to an insurance company, sooner rather than later. Can't find our marriage license; I ordered a copy from the issuing authority, but it will take a couple of weeks.
The insurance company says 'Send any other documents that show you're married,' and they'll make a decision based on those.
I'm thinking IRS correspondence, mortgage papers, old insurance policy ... any other ideas?
I would think your mortgage and tax documents would work as interim proof until your official license arrives.
Were you married in an actual church? You can probably get a copy of the church records by just walking into the parish office.
If you got your license in a small county, the issuing of the license may have been listed in the notices portion of the local paper. Or was your wedding announced in the paper? A copy of the notice in the paper from the library should suffice until your copy of the license can arrive.
posted by crush-onastick at 11:26 AM on November 3, 2014 [3 favorites]
Were you married in an actual church? You can probably get a copy of the church records by just walking into the parish office.
If you got your license in a small county, the issuing of the license may have been listed in the notices portion of the local paper. Or was your wedding announced in the paper? A copy of the notice in the paper from the library should suffice until your copy of the license can arrive.
posted by crush-onastick at 11:26 AM on November 3, 2014 [3 favorites]
Did you fill out a W4 for employment? That has a pretty clear "married" box on it.
posted by plinth at 11:27 AM on November 3, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by plinth at 11:27 AM on November 3, 2014 [3 favorites]
Health insurance coverage details?
posted by srboisvert at 11:27 AM on November 3, 2014
posted by srboisvert at 11:27 AM on November 3, 2014
If you filed last year's taxes as married, that's probably your best bet. Give them the first page of your 1040 where it shows both names and the box checked for filing married.
Mortgages are issued to non-married people all the time, so probably not the best option.
posted by trivia genius at 11:28 AM on November 3, 2014 [3 favorites]
Mortgages are issued to non-married people all the time, so probably not the best option.
posted by trivia genius at 11:28 AM on November 3, 2014 [3 favorites]
Seconding tax return.
An immediate copy of your last year's return would be a good start, but back it up with a signed IRS 4506-T ("Request for Transcript") so the insurance company can pull the official IRS copy of the form and verify your spouse's SSN.
posted by JoeZydeco at 11:31 AM on November 3, 2014
An immediate copy of your last year's return would be a good start, but back it up with a signed IRS 4506-T ("Request for Transcript") so the insurance company can pull the official IRS copy of the form and verify your spouse's SSN.
posted by JoeZydeco at 11:31 AM on November 3, 2014
We needed to provide a copy of our marriage license a couple of years ago for the very same reasons. We found ours tucked into our wedding photo album. I know you said you can't find it, but did you look there?
posted by tommasz at 11:42 AM on November 3, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by tommasz at 11:42 AM on November 3, 2014 [2 favorites]
trivia genius: many (if not all) US jurisdictions require mortgages taken by married persons to indicate that the person is married, both if the mortgage is in only one person's name or if it's issued to both persons. This is because property rights flow both from marriage and from mortgages. Conflicts can arise if a mortgage is issued to only one spouse without an acknowledgement from the nonsigning spouse. Some confusion about rights can also arise is a mortgage is issued to two married people without acknowledging that they are married. Mortgage docs are notarized, too, which makes them a reasonable alternative for showing that you're married.
The title of your house, if you own it jointly with your spouse, is likely to show that you're married and is a pretty official document.
posted by crush-onastick at 11:55 AM on November 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
The title of your house, if you own it jointly with your spouse, is likely to show that you're married and is a pretty official document.
posted by crush-onastick at 11:55 AM on November 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
If you filed your 2013 taxes in a married filing status, that should provide verification.
Send that, and a copy of your order for the legal marriage certificate, to the requesting party.
Some jurisdictions have recorder's documents in abstract form online. Is this done in the location where you were married? You can also submit that, as verification pending receipt of the legal marriage certificate.
posted by FergieBelle at 12:30 PM on November 3, 2014
Send that, and a copy of your order for the legal marriage certificate, to the requesting party.
Some jurisdictions have recorder's documents in abstract form online. Is this done in the location where you were married? You can also submit that, as verification pending receipt of the legal marriage certificate.
posted by FergieBelle at 12:30 PM on November 3, 2014
Do you have any receipts for wedding-related expenses? They came in handy when my wife and I had to prove to US immigration authorities that we married before her K-1 visa expired, and also helped get her her green card.
posted by starbreaker at 12:47 PM on November 3, 2014
posted by starbreaker at 12:47 PM on November 3, 2014
A notarized/sworn statement on official letterhead from the officiant (or official witness), stating that they performed/witnessed your marriage ceremony on such and such date, might work.
posted by phoenixy at 1:18 PM on November 3, 2014
posted by phoenixy at 1:18 PM on November 3, 2014
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posted by blue t-shirt at 11:23 AM on November 3, 2014