Marriage Certificate?

If you plan to have a mortgage together, it may be needed.

I’ve heard you may need it when applying for a loan for a house, but that’s the only other thing I can think of

I definitely needed it when i changed my health insurance plans. i mean i think it's just something good to have anyway in case.

Yes it's good to have one. At first, I also didn't think we would need it because like you, I kept my last name and decided to remain on my own insurance plan. However, we will need it if I decide to switch to my husband's plan in the future, so we just paid for a certified copy.

My suggestion; get 3. Then you'll always have one.

We only have the 1, and only needed to send scanned versions to the health insurance and the loan office for our refinancing. Other than that it’s in a folder and I’ve never had to take it out because I have a scanned copy on my email.

As others said, it's good to have 1 in case you are buying a home or maybe something happens. I don't know about where you live, but in my state they are $25 and $2 for any additional one you order at the same time, so we got 2 copies for $27. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn't that expensive and we keep them in the lock box along with birth certificates and such.

A marriage certificate is an important legal document, and while you may not anticipate needing it often in your daily life, there are several situations where having a certified copy of your marriage certificate can be useful or even necessary:

1. Legal Name Change: If you or your spouse decide to change your last name after marriage, you will typically need a certified copy of your marriage certificate to update your identification documents (such as driver's license, passport, and Social Security card). While you mentioned you're not changing your name, your spouse might consider it in the future.

2. Proof of Marriage: Some institutions and government agencies may require a marriage certificate as proof of your legal marital status. This can include matters related to taxes, estate planning, and property ownership.

3. Beneficiary Designation: When making changes to beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance policies, or other financial assets, a certified copy of your marriage certificate may be required to establish your spouse as the rightful beneficiary.

4. Spousal Benefits: Certain benefits and privileges, such as health insurance, may be extended to spouses. Insurance providers often require a marriage certificate to add a spouse to a policy.

5. Immigration and Citizenship: If either you or your spouse is a non-U.S. citizen, a certified copy of your marriage certificate may be needed for immigration or citizenship applications.

6. Adoption: If you decide to adopt a child together in the future, your marriage certificate may be required during the adoption process to establish your legal relationship as a married couple.

7. Divorce Proceedings: In the unfortunate event of divorce, a marriage certificate may be needed as part of the legal process.

8. Social Security and Pension Benefits: To claim spousal Social Security benefits or survivor benefits, or to divide pension assets in the event of divorce, a certified copy of your marriage certificate may be required.

When it comes to certified vs. photocopies:

• Certified Copy: A certified copy of a marriage certificate is an official document issued by the government or vital records office, confirming the authenticity of the original certificate. It typically has a raised seal, a registrar's signature, and may be required for legal purposes.

• Photocopy: A photocopy of your marriage certificate is a simple reproduction of the original document. While it may be useful for personal reference, it may not be accepted as proof of marriage in legal or official transactions.

Given the potential need for a certified copy in various legal and official situations, it's a good idea to obtain at least one certified copy of your marriage certificate. You can keep additional photocopies for sentimental or personal reasons. Obtaining multiple certified copies at the same time can be more cost-effective, as you mentioned.