How to Marry Someone in Prison
Think about timing., Learn the prison rules., Obtain counseling., Complete any paperwork required by the prison., Set a date., Get a license., Locate an officiant., Arrange for guests., Be aware of the clothing restrictions., Leave contraband at...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Think about timing.
There are a variety of factors that go into choosing when to get married.
Some of them involve children or financial benefits.
When marrying a prisoner, you must also consider the potential release date.If the release date is soon, you and your spouse will be dealing with the challenges of two major transitions at the same time If the release date is far off, you and your spouse can adjust to being married and then to the release Regardless of the release date, think about whether it may be best to wait until after you and your potential spouse adjust to release before getting married -
Step 2: Learn the prison rules.
Each prison has its own rules concerning marriage.
Talk with the prison chaplain, warden or other appropriate official to learn the rules and policies of your finance’s particular prison.
Some policies include:
Not all prisons allow inmates to marry Some particular inmates are not allowed to marry Some require the prison chaplain officiate Many prisons do not allow conjugal or extended visits after the ceremony , You and your fiancé should seek counseling regarding your marriage, both separately and together.
Some prisons require this prior to allowing an inmate to marry.
Further, counseling will likely be beneficial after the prisoner’s release.
Keep in mind that prison marriages have an even higher failure rate than marriages in which incarceration is not a factor., Many prisons require a packet of paperwork to be completed by both potential spouses before granting permission for the wedding to take place.
Check with the warden or other appropriate prison official to learn how to submit your application, if necessary.
Some common paperwork requirements include:
Proof that both potential spouses are of legal age to marry Statements that the marriage is entered into willingly Statements regarding the reason the wedding is requested while one potential spouse is incarcerated , Unlike in a traditional wedding setting, the prison likely sets strict guidelines about when weddings can and cannot occur.
You will need to consider these guidelines when setting your date.Some facilities only allow group weddings on certain days of each year.
Some facilities do not allow weddings on weekends. , Every state requires potential spouses to obtain a marriage license prior to becoming legally married.
This requirement is not waived because one potential spouse is in prison.
Contact the warden or other appropriate official of the prison in which the inmate is housed to learn the process for obtaining this license.
Often, the non-incarcerated potential spouse will be tasked with this., In many prisons, you will not have a choice of officiant because the prison will only allow the prison chaplain to officiate weddings.
If you can and want to use your own officiant, some things to consider are:
The cost the officiant will charge, including any additional costs for travel to and from the prison Whether the officiant is willing to undergo the security measures required by the prison Some prisons maintain a roster of approved officiants Whether the officiant will be allowed to wear any ceremonial garb, such as robes , Not all prisons allow guests to attend weddings.
For witnesses, they require you to use prison officials or other inmates.
If your prison allows guests, you want to consider:
Any limits the prison may set on the number of guests Any requirements the prison has for approving the individual guests (such as background checks, etc) Any clothing restrictions that will apply to guests when entering the prison , As with guests and the officiant, there will likely be clothing restrictions for the marrying couple.
The inmate will likely be required to wear a prison jumpsuit.
The spouse coming in should be aware of any restrictions on clothing.
This may require that you forego a tuxedo or formal gown.
Some clothing restrictions include:
Many prisons restrict revealing clothing, such as low-cut necklines, spaghetti (or no) straps, exposed waistlines, etc.
Many prisons restrict clothing with multiple places for storing contraband, such as cummerbunds and multipaneled, train-length and/or flowing skirts Many clothing decorations are likely to set off the metal detector, such as metallic sequins or beads, jewelry, and certain inserts in high-heeled shoes , Talk with the warden or other appropriate prison official for a list of what items may not be brought into the prison for the ceremony.
Frequently, items that cannot enter the prison include:
Cameras Cell phones Pagers Outside food (such as a wedding cake) , Prison officials will likely be standing by during your ceremony to ensure that no rules are broken, but it is best to talk to the officials to know what is and is not allowed.
For instance, prior to the ceremony, you should determine whether there are restrictions on physical contact that will impact whether and how you can kiss once the officiant pronounces you married. -
Step 3: Obtain counseling.
-
Step 4: Complete any paperwork required by the prison.
-
Step 5: Set a date.
-
Step 6: Get a license.
-
Step 7: Locate an officiant.
-
Step 8: Arrange for guests.
-
Step 9: Be aware of the clothing restrictions.
-
Step 10: Leave contraband at home.
-
Step 11: Follow the prison’s guidelines.
Detailed Guide
There are a variety of factors that go into choosing when to get married.
Some of them involve children or financial benefits.
When marrying a prisoner, you must also consider the potential release date.If the release date is soon, you and your spouse will be dealing with the challenges of two major transitions at the same time If the release date is far off, you and your spouse can adjust to being married and then to the release Regardless of the release date, think about whether it may be best to wait until after you and your potential spouse adjust to release before getting married
Each prison has its own rules concerning marriage.
Talk with the prison chaplain, warden or other appropriate official to learn the rules and policies of your finance’s particular prison.
Some policies include:
Not all prisons allow inmates to marry Some particular inmates are not allowed to marry Some require the prison chaplain officiate Many prisons do not allow conjugal or extended visits after the ceremony , You and your fiancé should seek counseling regarding your marriage, both separately and together.
Some prisons require this prior to allowing an inmate to marry.
Further, counseling will likely be beneficial after the prisoner’s release.
Keep in mind that prison marriages have an even higher failure rate than marriages in which incarceration is not a factor., Many prisons require a packet of paperwork to be completed by both potential spouses before granting permission for the wedding to take place.
Check with the warden or other appropriate prison official to learn how to submit your application, if necessary.
Some common paperwork requirements include:
Proof that both potential spouses are of legal age to marry Statements that the marriage is entered into willingly Statements regarding the reason the wedding is requested while one potential spouse is incarcerated , Unlike in a traditional wedding setting, the prison likely sets strict guidelines about when weddings can and cannot occur.
You will need to consider these guidelines when setting your date.Some facilities only allow group weddings on certain days of each year.
Some facilities do not allow weddings on weekends. , Every state requires potential spouses to obtain a marriage license prior to becoming legally married.
This requirement is not waived because one potential spouse is in prison.
Contact the warden or other appropriate official of the prison in which the inmate is housed to learn the process for obtaining this license.
Often, the non-incarcerated potential spouse will be tasked with this., In many prisons, you will not have a choice of officiant because the prison will only allow the prison chaplain to officiate weddings.
If you can and want to use your own officiant, some things to consider are:
The cost the officiant will charge, including any additional costs for travel to and from the prison Whether the officiant is willing to undergo the security measures required by the prison Some prisons maintain a roster of approved officiants Whether the officiant will be allowed to wear any ceremonial garb, such as robes , Not all prisons allow guests to attend weddings.
For witnesses, they require you to use prison officials or other inmates.
If your prison allows guests, you want to consider:
Any limits the prison may set on the number of guests Any requirements the prison has for approving the individual guests (such as background checks, etc) Any clothing restrictions that will apply to guests when entering the prison , As with guests and the officiant, there will likely be clothing restrictions for the marrying couple.
The inmate will likely be required to wear a prison jumpsuit.
The spouse coming in should be aware of any restrictions on clothing.
This may require that you forego a tuxedo or formal gown.
Some clothing restrictions include:
Many prisons restrict revealing clothing, such as low-cut necklines, spaghetti (or no) straps, exposed waistlines, etc.
Many prisons restrict clothing with multiple places for storing contraband, such as cummerbunds and multipaneled, train-length and/or flowing skirts Many clothing decorations are likely to set off the metal detector, such as metallic sequins or beads, jewelry, and certain inserts in high-heeled shoes , Talk with the warden or other appropriate prison official for a list of what items may not be brought into the prison for the ceremony.
Frequently, items that cannot enter the prison include:
Cameras Cell phones Pagers Outside food (such as a wedding cake) , Prison officials will likely be standing by during your ceremony to ensure that no rules are broken, but it is best to talk to the officials to know what is and is not allowed.
For instance, prior to the ceremony, you should determine whether there are restrictions on physical contact that will impact whether and how you can kiss once the officiant pronounces you married.
About the Author
Judith Gibson
Professional writer focused on creating easy-to-follow creative arts tutorials.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: