Billings Weddings
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Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, located in the south-central portion of the state. Billings is rapidly growing; as of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 89,847, while the Census Bureau's 2007 estimate listed the city's population at 101,876. It is the 60th fastest growing city out of the 259 cities in the U.S. with populations over 100,000, of which Billings is #259, the smallest. Billings is the county seat of Yellowstone County and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area. In terms of population, it is the largest metropolitan area in Montana. It is nicknamed the Magic City because of its rapid growth from its founding as a railroad town in 1882. Billings is named for Frederick H. Billings, president of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Because Billings is the largest city in a 500-mile (805 km) radius that includes Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, it serves as a shopping and accommodation center for area residents and highway travelers. The city's proximity to Yellowstone National Park, Pompey's Pillar, and the area where the Battle of the Little Bighorn was fought also draws visitors, especially during the summer months. BestLife Magazine, new from the editors of Men's Health, recently ranked Billings the 3rd best place in the U.S. to raise a family.
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Billings Weddings
Traditions
Why Billings?
Marriage License Requirements
Montana Thirteenth Judicial District Court
Yellowstone County
Laura A. Brent, Clerk of District Court/Jury Commissioner
217 N. 27th Street
Rooms 702,703 & 704
(406)256-2862
lbrent@co.yellowstone.mt.gov
Civil Division: 256-2851 | Criminal Division: 256-2860 | Probate Division: 256-2865
Marriage License: 256-2869 | Bookkeeping: 256-2864
A partial list of requirements for obtaining a Marriage License are as follows (this list is to be used only as a guideline and not to be interpreted as inclusive of all Montana marriage license laws. It is subject to change without notice):
1. Effective July 2005, the Marriage License fee or filing of a Declaration of Marriage fee will be $53.00(Cash only - no checks, debit, or credit cards).
2. The marriage requirements for men and women who are 18 years of age or older are found in MCA Sec. 40-1-203. This includes certified copies of birth certificates, blood test waiver (form available in the Clerk's office) and certified copies of divorce decrees.
3. Persons 16 or 17 years of age must have parental consent (both parents). Contact the Clerk of Court's Office on the procedure for this. However, in the case where only one parent has legal custody of that person, just the parent having custody is required to sign the consent form in the Clerk of Court's Office (proof of custody is required). At 16 or 17 years of age, it is a state law that there must be at least two sessions of counseling at least 10 days apart with a designated counselor. This will require a letter written on the letterhead of the church or designated counselor stating the names of the couple, their ages, the dates of counseling, and the opinion of the counselor on the pending marriage. Forms for counseling are also available in the Clerk of Court's office. Both male and female applicants, as a couple, must participate in the counseling, after which judicial consent must be given for the Clerk of court's office to issue a marriage license. A district court judge signs the judicial consent (40-1-213).
4. The marriage of a person 15 and under is prohibited in the State of Montana (40-1-213). Therefore, persons under the age of 16 may not marry within the State of Montana.
5. Proof of age shall be substantiated by a certified copy of a birth certificate. (You may not use the hospital form with baby foot prints)
6. In lieu of a medical certificate, applicants for a marriage license may file an informed consent form (available in the Clerk's office) acknowledging receipt and understanding of written rubella immunity information and declining rubella immunity testing. Filing of an informed consent form will effect a waiver of the requirement for a blood test for rubella immunity. Informed consent must be recorded on a form provided by the department and signed by both applicants.(40-1-203 & 40-1-206).
7. Those persons desiring to consummate a marriage by written declaration without solemnization must secure the premarital blood test waiver (available in the Clerk's office) for the female prior to executing the declaration (40-1-311 through 313 & 40-1-323).
8. Any marriage by proxy may be found under Sections 40-1-301(2) and 40-1-213(3).
9. Prohibited marriages are covered under Section 40-1-401.
10. If a person has been previously married and the dissolution granted, a certified copy of the decree must be presented at the time of application for a marriage license.
11. A marriage license issued to Montana residents authorizes a marriage ceremony to be performed in the county where the license was issued or in any county of the State of Montana; however, the license is not transferrable out of state. 40-1-201.
12. Persons who may now solemnize a marriage include a judge of a court of record, a public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages, by a mayor, city judge or justice of the peace, by a tribal judge, or in accordance with any mode of solemnization recognized by any religious denomination, indian nation or tribe, or native group (40-1-301)
13. No license to marry shall be issued if either of the applicants is under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs (40-1-210).
14. A license to marry becomes effective upon issuance. The marriage license has an expiration notice of 180 days after it becomes effective (40-1-212).
15. Effective July 1, 1997, the social security numbers of both male and female applicants must be on the marriage license application.
If further information is required, Please contact the Clerk of District Court (contact information at the top of this page).
How To Get There
Get in
By Air
- Logan International Airport, 1901 Terminal Circle, +1 406 247-8609, e-mail: airport@ci.billings.mt.us. Logan International is the major airport for Eastern Montana. It is served by Atlantic Southeast Airlines (under the Delta banner), Allegiant, Big Sky, Frontier Airlines, Horizon, Northwest, Skywest and United. Denver and Salt Lake City are the biggest hubs serving Billings.
By Car
- From the west - I-90 connects Billings with Bozeman, Butte, Missoula and Idaho.
- From the south - I-90 from Wyoming. U.S. 310 also comes north from Lovell, Wyoming.
- From the east - 10 miles east of Billings, I-94 joins I-90 from Miles City, Glendive and North Dakota.
- From the north - U.S. 87 connects Billings with Roundup.
By Bus
Billings is served by Greyhound and Rimrock Trailways.
Get around
- MET Transit - Toll free: +1 406 657-8218, e-mail: METTransit@ci.billings.mt.us. MET has 9 lines that provide service on weekdays and Saturdays with additional lines running during peak hours on weekdays. Weekday service is from 6:10 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Saturday service is from 8:10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. except for a one hour lunch period. There is no service on Sundays, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Fares - Regular: $0.75; Seniors (62 and older), Medicare, Disabled: $0.25; Children 5 and under: Free. Long Beach Transit also offers a 10 Ride Ticket for $6.00. Transfers - Free.
- Yellow Cab - +1 406 245-3033
- City Cab - +1 406 252-8700
- Red Lodge Shuttle - +1 406 446-2257 or toll free 1 888 446-2191.
Visit the Billings Convention and Visitors Bureau for resources on things to do and places to stay while visiting Billings.
Get out
Huntley Project-For additional activities near Billings, visit the Huntley Project area website.
Insider Tips
Best Time to Go
Climate
Billings, MT Weather
Billings, MT climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 70's and very cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 20's.
The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 88.40 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 13.30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temperature variations between night and day tend to be relatively big during summer with a difference that can reach 33 degrees Fahrenheit, and moderate during winter with an average difference of 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
The annual average precipitation at Billings is 13.96 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is May with an average rainfall of 2.39 Inches.
Normal Climate
Normal Temperatures
(BILLINGS WATER PLANT Weather station, 1.33 miles from Billings) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Max °F 37.3 44.2 53.2 62.7 71.7 81.1 88.4 87.8 77.1 65.3 47.9 39.1 63.0 Mean °F 25.3 31.3 39.3 48.3 57.4 66.2 72.3 71.3 61.0 50.3 36.0 27.5 48.9 Min °F 13.3 18.3 25.4 33.8 43.1 51.2 56.2 54.8 44.9 35.3 24.0 15.8 34.7
Normal Precipitation
(BILLINGS WATER PLANT Weather station, 1.33 miles from Billings) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Inch 0.62 0.49 0.87 1.55 2.39 1.98 1.19 0.92 1.42 1.32 0.64 0.57 13.96