<P> Since 1 July 1837, civil marriages have been a legal alternative to church marriages under the Marriage Act 1836, which provided the statutory basis for regulating and recording marriages . So, today, a couple has a choice between being married in the Anglican Church, after the calling of banns or obtaining a licence or else, they can give "Notice of Marriage" to a civil registrar . In this latter case, the notice is publicly posted for 15 days, after which a civil marriage can take place . Marriages may take place in churches other than Anglican churches, but these are governed by civil marriage law and notice must be given to the civil registrar in the same way . The marriage may then take place without a registrar being present if the church itself is registered for marriages and the minister or priest is an Authorised Person for marriages . </P> <P> The licence does not record the marriage itself, only the permission for a marriage to take place . Since 1837, the proof of a marriage has been by a marriage certificate, issued at the ceremony; before then, it was by the recording of the marriage in a parish register . </P> <P> The provisions on civil marriage in the 1836 Act were repealed by the Marriage Act 1949 . The Marriage Act 1949 re-enacted and re-stated the law on marriage in England and Wales . </P> <P> Marriage law and practice in Scotland differs from that in England and Wales . Historically, it was always considered legal and binding for a couple to marry by making public promises, without a formal ceremony but this form has not been available since 1940 . More recently "marriage by cohabitation with repute" has also been abolished for any relationship commenced since 2006 . Church marriages "without proclamation" are somewhat analogous to the English "marriages by licence", although the permission to perform them is not a church matter . Religious marriages in Scotland have never had a restriction on the place in which they are performed . Marriages in Scotland normally require between 2 and 6 weeks' notice to the district registrar depending on the previous marital status and other procedural matters usually involving the country of residence and the nationality of the parties . Marriages with less than the normal amount of notice require the permission of the Registrar General . </P>

When did the us start requiring marriage licenses