A second marriage in Utah Valley usually carries two sets of questions that a first one did not: what happens to an earlier temple sealing, and what changes legally for the children, the money and the paperwork. Both have written answers. The Church's answers are in the General Handbook, chapter 38, which is public. Utah's are in the Domestic Relations Code, Title 81. This page quotes both and leaves the rest to you, your family and your bishop.
A note before the details: the people who need this page are in very different places. Some are widowed after decades. Some divorced years ago and are ready to try again. Some are blending three or four children from two households. None of that is unusual here, and nothing below is meant as a judgment about how anyone arrived at a second marriage.
Step one is legal, not religious: the divorce has to be absolute
You cannot marry again in Utah until your divorce is finished, and the statute defines finished.
- The 30-day floor. Utah Code 81-4-402 says a court "may not enter a decree of divorce until 30 days after the day on which the petition is filed," unless it finds extraordinary circumstances.
- The mandatory courses. If the divorcing couple has a minor child, both parties must attend the mandatory courses (a divorce orientation course and a parenting course, as the statute defines them) before the decree, unless a judge waives them. Utah Code 81-4-105 caps the orientation course fee at $30.
- The day it becomes absolute. Under 81-4-406, a decree becomes absolute on the date the court signs it and the clerk enters it, unless the court designates a later date (no more than six months later) or an appeal is pending.
- The remarriage rule. The same section says a party "may not marry another individual other than the other party for whom the divorce was granted until the party's divorce becomes absolute."
The Church's process starts from the same place. Every cancellation and clearance application begins with the bishop confirming "the divorce is final." Our Utah County family court guide explains where these cases are filed and what the courthouse handles.
The sealing questions, by situation
The General Handbook's section 38.4.1 sorts sealing policy by the situation you are in. Here is what it says for the cases that come up most in a remarriage. Read your own row, then talk with your bishop; the Handbook tells members to counsel with their bishop when a question is not answered there, and tells the bishop to contact the stake president, who can contact the Office of the First Presidency.
| Your situation | What the Handbook requires before a new sealing |
|---|---|
| A woman who was sealed, then divorced | A cancellation of that sealing |
| A man who was sealed, then divorced | A sealing clearance, even if the old sealing was canceled or the former wife has died |
| A woman whose sealed husband died | A cancellation of the first sealing |
| A man whose sealed wife died | No clearance, unless he divorced her before she died |
| A couple married civilly | Both members for at least a year, prepared and worthy |
A few details inside those rows matter:
- The clearance is about the most recent sealing. The Handbook says a clearance "is needed only if a man is divorced from the woman who was most recently sealed to him." A man who received a clearance to be sealed again, and whose second wife then died, would not need another one.
- Anyone can ask for a cancellation. "Members of either gender may seek a sealing cancellation even if they are not preparing to be sealed to another spouse."
- Adultery restriction. A person who commits adultery while sealed to a spouse may not be sealed to the partner in the adultery without First Presidency approval, and a couple may ask for that approval only after at least five years of marriage. The Handbook lays out a letter process through the bishop and stake president.
- Time-only temple marriages are no longer performed, and couples who had one "are not usually sealed later"; it takes a cancellation of the woman's previous sealing.
How the application works
Section 38.4.1.5 spells out the steps:
- You talk with your bishop.
- The bishop makes sure the divorce is final and that you are "current in all legal requirements for child and spousal support related to the divorce."
- If he recommends approval, he fills out an Application to the First Presidency in the Church's leader system and sends it to the stake president.
- The stake president meets with you and checks the same two things.
- If he recommends approval, he submits it to Church headquarters.
- If approved, the First Presidency sends a letter, and "after approval is granted, the member may schedule an appointment for a temple sealing."
The Handbook gives no processing time, so we will not guess at one. If you are planning a date, start the conversation with your bishop early and leave room in the calendar.
What a cancellation does and does not change
People hesitate over a cancellation because they are not sure what it means for them or their children. The Handbook's own words:
- While a sealing stays in place, "a member who is faithful to temple covenants will receive the personal blessings promised in the temple," even if the other spouse "has broken the covenants or withdrawn from the marriage."
- After a cancellation, "the covenants and blessings related to that sealing are no longer in force."
- Children keep their blessings. "Faithful children who are born in the covenant or sealed to parents retain the blessings of eternal parentage," even if their parents' sealing is later canceled.
- On agency, the Handbook says priesthood leaders counsel with members seeking a cancellation and "honor members' agency in these decisions," and that "God will not require anyone to remain in a sealed relationship throughout eternity against his or her will."
Marry civilly first, or wait to marry in the temple?
For many second marriages, this is the practical decision. A couple whose cancellation or clearance is still pending, or who wants children and family members who cannot enter the temple to see the vows, can marry civilly and be sealed later. The Handbook allows it: a civilly married couple "may be sealed in the temple as soon as circumstances permit" if both have been members for at least a year and are prepared and worthy, and chapter 27 says the civil-then-sealing pattern "may also be followed when a temple marriage could cause parents or immediate family members to feel excluded."
Two details for that path:
- A bishop can perform the civil wedding. The Handbook includes the wording a Church officer uses for a civil marriage, and Utah law recognizes bishops as officiants. Our guide to civil and non-temple weddings in Utah Valley covers the clerk's office, meetinghouse and venue options.
- Rings can be exchanged twice. Couples married civilly before their sealing "may exchange rings at their civil ceremony, at their temple sealing, or at both ceremonies." Couples sealed and married in one ceremony may hold a later ring exchange for family who could not attend, without vows; our ring ceremony guide explains that program.
A couple marrying and being sealed in the same temple ceremony needs a valid Utah marriage license and must bring it to the temple. A couple sealed after a civil marriage does not; they give the date and place of the civil marriage instead. Our Utah County marriage license guide walks through the online application, the $71.75 fee most couples pay and the 32-day limit.
The children: who can be sealed to whom
In a blended family, this is often the most tender question. The Handbook's section 38.4.2 answers it.
Children already born in the covenant stay in that covenant. A child born after the mother was sealed to a husband "is born in the covenant of that sealing" and does not need to be sealed to parents. If that sealing is later canceled, the child keeps the blessings described above. Children born to a woman after her sealing was canceled are not born in the covenant unless she was sealed to another man before the birth.
Stepchildren who were not born in the covenant can be sealed to a parent and stepparent, with conditions. For a living minor child, section 38.4.2.5 requires all of these:
- The child was not born in the covenant or sealed previously.
- The child has not been adopted by another parent.
- The other natural parent has signed a letter of consent. The Handbook adds: "A court decree granting legal custody is not sufficient clearance for a sealing," and gives model wording that ends, "I understand that the sealing is a religious ceremony and does not have legal implications."
Adult children may be sealed to one natural parent and a stepparent if they were not born in the covenant or previously sealed to parents. Members 21 or older must be endowed first.
A child is sealed to only two parents, a husband and wife who are married and sealed to each other. The parents must be sealed before children are sealed to them.
That consent letter can be the hardest part. If the other parent will not sign, the Handbook offers no workaround for a living minor, so it is worth knowing before the family plans a sealing day around it.
The Utah law that changes when you remarry
The sealing questions get the attention, but the legal ones cost money when they are missed.
Alimony usually ends. Utah Code 81-4-505 says an alimony order "automatically terminates upon the remarriage or death" of the person receiving it, unless the decree says otherwise. If that person cohabits with someone, the paying ex-spouse can ask the court to end alimony, within a year of when they knew or should have known about it. If you receive alimony, read your decree before you set a date.
A premarital agreement is an option, and it has limits. Utah law calls a prenup a "premarital agreement." Under 81-3-202 it must be in writing and signed by both people, and it becomes effective on marriage. Section 81-3-203 lets couples agree on property, the "modification or elimination of spousal support," and life insurance death benefits. It also says a child's right to support, medical expenses, medical insurance and child care coverage "may not be affected by a premarital agreement." Section 81-3-205 says one is not enforceable if the challenging spouse proves they did not sign voluntarily, or that it was fraudulent when signed and they had no reasonable disclosure of the other's property and debts, did not waive that disclosure in writing, and could not reasonably have known. For a family with children from earlier marriages and a house, this is a lawyer conversation; our legal help guide lists low-cost options.
Beneficiaries and wills. Utah divorce decrees include an acknowledgment that each party has reviewed the beneficiaries on life insurance policies and annuities, and that if no changes are made, the beneficiaries currently listed will be paid. A remarriage is the moment to look again at every policy, retirement account and will. Our wills and probate guide explains Utah's basics.
Survivor benefits for widows and widowers. One of the conditions Social Security lists for a surviving spouse is that you "didn't remarry before age 60 (age 50 if you have a disability)." A widow or widower in their 50s who is counting on survivor benefits should check with Social Security before choosing a date.
Names. The Utah County Clerk's name-change page notes that a divorce settlement typically either keeps the right to use the married name or restores a prior name, and that the same ID-change processes apply. If you are changing your name again at remarriage, the county's certified marriage certificate is the document agencies ask for. Our legal name change guide covers changes that need a court.
Stepparent adoption is a separate legal process under Utah's adoption chapter (Title 81, Chapter 13), and the statute treats it differently from other adoptions in places. It changes legal parentage; a sealing does not. Talk to a family law attorney if adoption is on the table.
The wedding itself is often different
Second weddings here tend to be smaller and to include the children. A few patterns that fit the rules above:
- A civil ceremony with everyone present, sealing later, when a clearance is pending or when children and family members cannot enter the temple.
- A meetinghouse ceremony with the bishop officiating, followed by a simple reception in the cultural hall. The Handbook's section 38.3.4 covers receptions in Church buildings.
- A temple sealing with a later ring exchange for the family, kept free of vows.
If money is part of the planning, our newlywed money guide was written for first marriages but covers the joint-account and budgeting conversations that apply to any. And if the hardest part is emotional, our guide to finding a therapist in Utah Valley explains how to find a counselor who works with blended families and how billing works.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a sealing cancellation and a sealing clearance?
How do you apply for a sealing cancellation or clearance?
Can a widow be sealed to her second husband?
Can my children from a previous marriage be sealed to me and my new spouse?
How soon after a divorce can I remarry in Utah?
Does alimony stop when I remarry?
Are prenuptial agreements valid in Utah?
If I am widowed and remarry, do I lose Social Security survivor benefits?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- Survivors benefits: Eligibility, Social Security Administration. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Utah County Clerk, Marriage License: Name Changes, Utah County Clerk, Marriage License. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Apply for a License, Utah County Clerk, Marriage License. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Utah Code Title 81, Chapter 4: Dissolution of Marriage (81-4-105, 81-4-401, 81-4-402, 81-4-406, 81-4-505), Utah State Legislature. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Utah Code Title 81, Chapter 3, Part 2: Premarital Agreements (81-3-201 to 81-3-207), Utah State Legislature. Checked October 19, 2026.
- Utah Code Title 81, Chapter 13: Adoption (81-13-502), Utah State Legislature. Checked October 19, 2026.
- General Handbook, 38: Church Policies and Guidelines (38.4 Sealing Policies), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Checked October 19, 2026.
- General Handbook, 27: Temple Ordinances for the Living (27.3 Sealing of a Husband and Wife), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Checked October 19, 2026.
