The marriage application, Form V.S. 18, is the Montana form on which two spouses give their personal details, any prior marriages, the planned marriage and the officiant, and certify that they are free to marry under the laws of the state. It is published by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Records, and it is sworn before the Clerk of Court. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the original PDF is published by the agency at dphhs.mt.gov.
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What is V.S. 18?
The Marriage Application (Form V.S. 18) is the Montana form that collects the identifying information of two spouses, their previous marriages, and the details of the marriage, and carries their signed certification that the information is correct and that they are free to marry under the laws of the state.
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Records, publishes the form. It is printed with the heading "Clerk of Court Montana" and has spaces for a State File Number, a Marriage License Number, the county and the date the license was issued.
The form is organized in blocks:
- A Spouse 1 block and a matching Spouse 2 block: name, maiden surname if different, Social Security number, residence, birthplace, date of birth, age, parents' names and addresses, race, sex, education, the number of this marriage and any previous marriage.
- The date and county of the marriage and the officiant, marked as a religious or civil official.
- A block for the local official making the report to the State Health Department.
- Questions on whether the parties are related, whether either party is under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs, and whether a prior application was rejected.
- A future address and telephone number, the spouses' signatures, the Clerk of Court's sworn statement, a proof-of-age section and a line for permission granted under 40-1-213 M.C.A. (underage).
Who needs to file V.S. 18?
Two people who are applying to marry in Montana complete this marriage application together. Each spouse has a full block (Spouse 1 and Spouse 2), and both sign the certification that the information is correct to the best of their knowledge and belief and that they are free to marry under the laws of the state.
Points the form itself raises:
- Both spouses answer for their own prior marriages: the number of this marriage (first, second, etc.), how the previous marriage ended, the name of the former spouse, and the place and date of dissolution or death.
- A party who is under age has a separate line on the form for permission granted pursuant to 40-1-213 M.C.A. (Underage), which is signed by a Deputy District Judge, and the proof of age section applies to the application.
- The form asks whether the parties are related and, if so, what the relationship is.
The form does not name any other person who may sign for the spouses. Its signature blocks are for the two spouses, the Clerk of Court (or deputy) who swears them, and the local official who reports to the State Health Department.
When to file V.S. 18
The form prints no deadline or validity period. It is tied to the marriage license and the wedding by its own fields: the Marriage License Number and Date License Issued at the top, the Date of Marriage and Place of Marriage (County) in the middle, and the Date Received by Local Official next to the local official's signature. The spouses' signatures are sworn before the Clerk of Court, so the application is completed when you appear before the clerk. For any timing rule, such as how long before the ceremony the application must be made, ask the Clerk of Court or the Office of Vital Records at (406) 444-2685.
Documents you need
- Proof of age for the parties: the form's proof of age section has boxes for a birth certificate, a driver's license or another document that you specify.
- Permission granted pursuant to 40-1-213 M.C.A. (Underage), recorded on the form and signed by a Deputy District Judge, only when a party is under age.
How to fill out V.S. 18
Review the license details at the top
The top of the form has State File Number, Marriage License Number, County and Date License Issued (Month, Day, Year). Enter them as the form asks; the Clerk of Court's area covers the clerk entries.
Enter Spouse 1 name and Social Security number
Under SPOUSE 1, write the first, middle and last name, the maiden surname if different, and the Social Security number.
Enter Spouse 1 residence and birth details
Give the state and ZIP code, county, and street and number, city, town or location of residence. Then enter the birthplace (city, county and state or country), date of birth (Month, Day, Year) and age.
Enter Spouse 1 parents' information
Write the father's name (first, middle, last) with his city and state and birthplace, then the mother's name (first, middle, maiden surname) with her address if different and her birthplace.
Add race, sex, education and marriages for Spouse 1
Enter race, sex, and only the highest grade completed (elementary-secondary 0-12 or college 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5+). Then give the number of this marriage and, for any previous marriage, how it ended, the former spouse's name, the place and the date.
Complete the SPOUSE 2 block
Repeat the same entries for Spouse 2: name, Social Security number, residence, birth details, parents, race, sex, education, number of this marriage and previous marriage.
Enter the marriage and officiant details
Write the Date of Marriage (Month, Day, Year), the Place of Marriage (County), the officiant, and mark whether the officiant is a religious or civil official.
Answer the legal questions
Answer whether the parties are related and, if so, the relationship; whether either party is under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs; and whether a prior application was rejected, with the reason and date.
Add your future address and telephone
Enter the future address (street and number, city, town or location, state and ZIP code) and a telephone number.
Sign the certification before the clerk
Both spouses sign under the statement that the information is correct and that they are free to marry under the laws of this state. The Clerk of Court completes the sworn statement ("subscribed and sworn to before me").
Mark proof of age and review
Check Birth Certificate, Driver's License or Other (specify), and note any permission under 40-1-213 M.C.A. if a party is under age. Check every entry, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF.
How to submit V.S. 18
The form names no mailing address, portal or appointment rule of its own. It is built for handling through the Clerk of Court: the spouses' signatures are "subscribed and sworn" before the Clerk of Court (or a deputy), and a separate block is for the local official making the report to the State Health Department.
- Clerk of Court: complete the form and sign it before the clerk, who completes the sworn statement and the license details.
- Questions or other forms: the Office of Vital Records, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, lists (406) 444-2685 and [email protected] for forms that are not listed on its Forms and Applications page.
Bring the proof of age the form lists (a birth certificate, a driver's license or another document you specify), and, if a party is under age, the permission granted pursuant to 40-1-213 M.C.A. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving the Spouse 2 block empty or incomplete; the form has a full block for each spouse, including parents, education and previous marriage details.
- Skipping the previous marriage columns when a spouse was married before: how it ended, the former spouse's name, and the place and date of dissolution or death.
- Entering age without the date of birth, or the reverse; the form asks for both the date of birth and the age.
- Leaving the questions on relationship, influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs, and prior application rejected unanswered.
- Signing the certification without appearing before the Clerk of Court, when the form says the signatures are subscribed and sworn before the clerk.
- Not marking any proof-of-age box (birth certificate, driver's license or other) or leaving "Other" without specifying the document.
- Omitting the permission under 40-1-213 M.C.A. when a party is under age.
- Completing the State File Number, local official and clerk areas yourself as if they were part of the spouses' sections.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Montana marriage application?
It is Form V.S. 18, the Marriage Application published by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Records. It records both spouses' details, previous marriages, the date and county of the marriage and the officiant, plus the spouses' sworn certification that they are free to marry.
Can I fill out the marriage application online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the application; the form is signed and sworn before the Clerk of Court as the form directs.
Do both spouses have to sign the marriage application?
Yes. The form has a signature line for Spouse 1 and one for Spouse 2 under the certification that the information is correct and that they are free to marry under Montana law. The signatures are subscribed and sworn before the Clerk of Court.
What proof of age does the marriage application ask for?
The proof of age section has three boxes: Birth Certificate, Driver's License and Other (Specify). Mark the document used. For a party who is under age, the form also has a line for permission granted pursuant to 40-1-213 M.C.A.
Where do I turn in the Montana marriage application?
The form prints no address of its own. Its signatures are sworn before the Clerk of Court, and a local official reports to the State Health Department. Contact the Office of Vital Records at (406) 444-2685 or [email protected] for questions.
What information about previous marriages is required?
For each spouse, the form asks the number of this marriage (first, second, etc.) and, for a previous marriage, how it ended, the former spouse's name, the county and state of the dissolution or death, and its date (Month, Day, Year).
Who do I contact if I need other Montana vital records forms?
The Office of Vital Records says that if a form is not listed on its Forms and Applications page, you can call (406) 444-2685 or email [email protected].
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