If you are active duty military and you want to get married, you have probably heard the same advice over and over. Go see JAG. Make an appointment. Fill out the forms. Wait in line.
Here is the truth. You do not have to do any of that.
Thanks to Montana double proxy marriage, active duty service members can get legally married 100% online. No JAG visit. No courthouse trip. No leaving the barracks. 406 Proxy Marriage handles everything from start to finish, and the whole process can be done in as little as 5 hours.
Why Do So Many Service Members Think They Need JAG?
JAG, which stands for Judge Advocate General, is the military’s legal office. They help service members with wills, power of attorney, and legal questions. For years, going to JAG was the only way many soldiers, sailors, and airmen knew how to handle marriage paperwork.
The problem is that JAG offices have limited hours. They get busy. Appointments fill up fast. And if you are deployed or stationed overseas, getting to a JAG office may not even be possible.
The good news is that you do not need JAG to get married. You just need a notary. And at 406 Proxy Marriage, our online notary is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from anywhere in the world.
What Is a Montana Double Proxy Marriage?
Montana is the only state in the United States that allows a double proxy marriage. That means neither you nor your partner has to be present at the wedding. Two stand-ins, called proxies, sign the marriage license for you.
The marriage is completely legal. It is recognized by all 50 states and every branch of the US military. Your command will accept the Montana marriage certificate just like any other marriage certificate.
Learn more about how it works on our Active Duty Military page.
How Does the Online Process Work?
The entire process is done on your phone, tablet, or computer. Here is what it looks like from start to finish:
Step 1: Fill Out Your Application Online
The application takes less than 30 minutes to complete. There is nothing to print, scan, or fax. You do it all on our secure online system. Both you and your partner fill out your parts separately, from wherever you are in the world.
Step 2: Meet With Our Online Notary
This is the step where most people expect trouble. But it is actually the easiest part. Our notary service runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You connect with the notary by video call. The whole session takes about 20 minutes. You can do it from your barracks room, your ship, your base in Germany, or anywhere else you happen to be.
You do not need a JAG appointment. You do not need to find a bank or a UPS store. Our notary comes to you.
Step 3: We Handle the Rest
Once your notarized paperwork is complete, our team submits everything to the Montana Clerk of Courts. We handle all the filing. We arrange the proxies. We make sure every document is correct before it goes in.
Step 4: Receive Your Marriage Certificate
Once your marriage is approved, we email you a copy of your certificate right away. We also mail the original with priority shipping to whatever address you choose. Your command can process your benefits as soon as you have the certificate in hand.
See full step by step instructions on our Instructions page.
What ID Do You Need?
For the online notary, you will need one of the following forms of photo ID:
- US Driver’s License
- US Passport
- State ID card
- Passport card
- Permanent resident card
- Work permit
Note that military IDs are not accepted by our online notary system. This is a requirement of the notary service, not something we control. If you only have a military ID, you will need to use the Bronze Package and find your own notary through your base, a bank, or a JAG office. See all package options on our Pricing page.
What If My Partner Is in a Different Country?
That is not a problem. Double proxy marriage was built for exactly this situation. You can be in Japan and your partner can be in Texas. You can both be deployed in completely different parts of the world. It does not matter.
If your partner is not a US citizen, they will need to find a local notary in their area. Once their paperwork is notarized, we take it from there. Read more on our FAQ page.
What Benefits Do You Get After Getting Married?
Once your command processes your marriage certificate and updates your records in DEERS, your benefits kick in fast. Here is what changes right away:
- Your spouse is enrolled in TRICARE for medical, dental, and vision coverage
- You become eligible for Basic Allowance for Housing, which can add $1,000 to $2,500 or more per month depending on your rank and location
- Your spouse gets access to the commissary, the exchange, and base facilities
- Your family is covered by life insurance through SGLI
- Your spouse can get free legal help through JAG
See everything your spouse is entitled to on our Military Marriage Benefits page.
How Much Does It Cost?
We offer three packages for active duty military, all with a military discount built in:
- Bronze Package: $570 – Includes everything except the notary. You provide your own notary through your base, a bank, or JAG.
- Silver Package: $620 – Includes our free 24/7 online notary service. This is the most popular choice for service members who want to skip the JAG visit entirely.
- Gold Package: $670 – Includes the free notary plus an Apostille document, which is needed if your partner is a foreign national or if you need the marriage recognized internationally.
See full details on our Pricing page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really not need a JAG appointment to get married online?
Correct. If you choose the Silver or Gold package, our online notary handles everything that JAG would normally help you with for the marriage process. You do not need to make an appointment, travel to a legal office, or wait in line. The whole thing is done by video call from wherever you are.
Is this marriage recognized by my branch of the military?
Yes. A Montana double proxy marriage is a legal, binding marriage that is recognized by every branch of the US military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force. Your command will accept the Montana marriage certificate to update your pay and benefits records.
Can I get married online if I am currently deployed?
Yes. Being deployed does not stop you from getting married. Our entire process is online. As long as you have an internet connection and a valid photo ID, you can complete your application and meet with our notary from anywhere in the world. Many of our customers get married while actively deployed overseas.
How long does the whole process take?
If you submit your paperwork on a weekday before 2pm Mountain Time, we can have your marriage certificate completed and emailed to you the same day. The fastest we have ever completed the process from start to finish is under 3 hours. Most couples are done within 5 hours on a business day.
What if I am in a different time zone than my partner?
Time zones are not a problem at all. Our notary service runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You and your partner can meet with the notary separately at times that work for each of you. We have helped couples where one partner was in Germany and the other was in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Can same sex military couples use this service?
Absolutely. Montana law allows same sex couples to marry, and our service is open to all military couples regardless of gender. We have helped many same sex couples get legally married through our online proxy marriage service.
Ready to Skip the JAG Line?
You have enough on your plate. Getting married should not mean more appointments, more waiting rooms, and more paperwork shuffled between offices.
Visit our Military Proxy Marriage page to get started, check our Pricing page to pick your package, or call us at 406.717.5858. We are ready when you are.
