<P> For most of Western history, marriage was a private contract between two families . Until the 16th century, Christian churches accepted the validity of a marriage on the basis of a couple's declarations . If two people claimed that they had exchanged marital vows--even without witnesses--the Catholic Church accepted that they were validly married . </P> <P> Some states in the US hold that public cohabitation can be sufficient evidence of a valid marriage . Marriage license application records from government authorities are widely available starting from the mid-19th century . Some are available dating from the 17th century in colonial America . Marriage licenses have been required since 1639 in Massachusetts, with their use gradually expanding to other jurisdictions . </P> <P> A requirement for banns of marriage was introduced to England and Wales by the Church in 1215 . This required a public announcement of a forthcoming marriage, in the couple's parish church, for three Sundays prior to the wedding and gave an opportunity for any objections to the marriage to be voiced (for example, that one of the parties was already married or that the couple was related within a prohibited degree), but a failure to call banns did not affect the validity of the marriage . </P> <P> Marriage licences were introduced in the 14th century, to allow the usual notice period under banns to be waived, on payment of a fee and accompanied by a sworn declaration, that there was no canonical impediment to the marriage . Licences were usually granted by an archbishop, bishop or archdeacon . There could be a number of reasons for a couple to obtain a licence: they might wish to marry quickly (and avoid the three weeks' delay by the calling of banns); they might wish to marry in a parish away from their home parish; or, because a licence required a higher payment than banns, they might choose to obtain one as a status symbol . </P>

When was the first marriage license issued in the usa