Search Texas Marriage License Records
Texas issues marriage licenses through the county clerk in each of the state's 254 counties. You can apply at any county clerk office in Texas, no matter where you live or where you plan to hold the ceremony. Both applicants must appear in person with valid photo ID. Once issued, the license stays valid for 90 days. This page covers what to bring to the clerk's office, the 72-hour waiting period before you can legally marry, fees across the state, the Twogether in Texas discount, how to return the completed license after the ceremony, and where to find Texas marriage license records once they are on file.
Texas Marriage License Overview
How to Apply for a Texas Marriage License
Under Texas Family Code Section 2.001, any couple wanting to enter a ceremonial marriage must get a marriage license from the county clerk of any county in Texas. You are not required to apply in the county where you live, and you are not required to hold the ceremony there either. Texas has no residency requirement for marriage licenses. Any of the 254 county clerks will work. This flexibility means couples planning destination weddings sometimes get their license in a different county from where the ceremony takes place, and that is perfectly legal. Out-of-state couples can also apply at any Texas county clerk and use the license for a ceremony in another state, as long as that state accepts it.
Per Section 2.002 of the Texas Family Code, both applicants must appear before the county clerk at the same time. There is no fully online option for submitting the completed application. Each person takes an oath and signs the form in front of the clerk. If one person truly cannot appear, Section 2.006 allows the other applicant or another adult to apply on their behalf by submitting a notarized affidavit from the absent party. Active duty military members stationed away from home may also qualify for this option. The clerk walks you through the form, checks your documents, collects the fee, and issues the license on the spot. Most offices handle applications on a walk-in basis, though some larger county offices now offer scheduled appointments.
The county clerk uses an application form prescribed by the state's vital statistics unit. The form asks for each applicant's full name, current address, Social Security number, date of birth, and place of birth including city and state. You also mark boxes confirming that you are not presently married to someone else, not divorced within the last 30 days, and not related to the other applicant within the prohibited degrees of kinship listed in state law. The clerk reviews all of this before issuing the license. Once issued, you walk out with the license in hand.
Texas law also addresses proxy marriages in limited circumstances. Proxy marriages are allowed only for individuals serving in the military and stationed outside the country. In all other cases, both parties must be physically present at the county clerk's office to obtain the marriage license.
The Texas Legislature's official page for Family Code Chapter 2 contains the complete statutory framework governing marriage licenses in the state, covering everything from application procedures and identity requirements to the waiting period and the duties of the county clerk.
County clerks in all 254 Texas counties follow these statutes when processing every marriage license application submitted at their offices.
Texas Marriage License Requirements
Each applicant must provide proof of identity and age at the clerk's office. Under Section 2.005 of the Texas Family Code, acceptable documents include a certified birth certificate, driver's license, state ID card, passport, military ID, or another government-issued identification. A current driver's license or passport is what most people bring. If your name on the ID does not match the name you are applying under, you may need supporting paperwork such as a divorce decree showing a restored name or a legal name change document.
Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Anyone under 16 cannot get a Texas marriage license. Since September 1, 2017, anyone between 16 and 17 must present a district court order that removes the disabilities of minority before the clerk can issue a license. No parental consent alone is sufficient since that law change took effect. A person who is incarcerated may not apply for a marriage license under Texas law.
Both parties need to know their Social Security numbers. You don't need the physical card, but the clerk will ask for the number and record it on the application form. If either applicant has been divorced in the last 30 days, you must wait. State law requires a 30-day gap between the final date of a divorce decree and when a new marriage license can be issued. The new license can be issued on day 31. One exception: if you are remarrying the same former spouse, the 30-day waiting period does not apply.
No blood test is required anywhere in Texas. Witnesses are not required to apply for the license, and Texas law does not require witnesses at the ceremony itself either.
The 72-Hour Waiting Period
Once the county clerk issues your marriage license, you must wait at least 72 hours before the ceremony can legally take place. Section 2.204 of the Texas Family Code sets this mandatory waiting period for all Texas marriage licenses. The officiant cannot perform the ceremony until the 72-hour window has passed. A ceremony performed before the waiting period ends is not legally valid. Most couples plan accordingly and pick up their license at least three days before the wedding.
The waiting period can be waived in three situations. Active duty members of the United States armed forces are exempt automatically. A judge with jurisdiction over family law cases can issue a written waiver for good cause. And couples who complete the Twogether in Texas state-approved premarital education course may have the wait waived when they present their course completion certificate to the county clerk at the time of application. The certificate must be from a class taken within one year before the application date. The Twogether in Texas program is run jointly by state agencies and also cuts the license fee significantly for participating couples. See the Williamson County Clerk's FAQ page for an example of how the waiver works locally.
Note: The license is valid for 89 days from the date it is issued and expires on the 90th day. If your ceremony does not happen within that window, you must purchase a new license and pay the fee again.
Marriage License Fees Across Texas
Fees vary from one county to the next. Most Texas counties charge between $67 and $82 for a formal marriage license. Harris County charges $74. Travis County in Austin charges $81, cash only. Bexar County in San Antonio charges $81 and accepts cash or credit card. Bell County charges $67. Hays County charges $82. Waller County charges $72. Fort Bend County charges $72. Montgomery County charges $81, cash only. These figures are examples and fees can change, so call the specific county clerk before you go to confirm the current rate. The Travis County Clerk's Office and the Montgomery County Clerk both provide fee details and instructions on their official websites.
The Twogether in Texas program cuts the cost substantially. Couples who complete a state-approved eight-hour premarital education course can get their formal marriage license for around $21 to $22 in most counties, down from the standard rate. Travis County reduces the fee to $20 for course completers. Rockwall County reduces it to $21. Local preservation fees may still apply in some counties even with the course discount. The completion certificate must be presented to the clerk at the time the license is issued. Some counties, like Williamson County, also note that local preservation fees of $11 apply even with the Twogether certificate. Check with your specific county clerk for exact post-discount amounts.
Most county clerks accept cash only. Some take money orders. A few accept credit cards or debit cards. It is worth calling ahead. Many offices do not accept large bills, so bring smaller denominations or a money order when in doubt.
Active duty members of the National Guard or armed forces preparing to deploy to a designated hostile fire zone may qualify for a fee exemption at certain county offices. Travis County has a documented exemption for this situation. Check with your county clerk directly to confirm whether a military waiver is available locally.
Note: Marriage license fees are set locally and subject to change. Always call the county clerk's office to confirm the current amount before your visit.
After the Ceremony
When the ceremony ends, the officiant fills out their section of the marriage license. They record their full name, their title or the religious authority under which they presided, and the date and location of the ceremony. Under Section 2.206 of the Texas Family Code, the officiant must return the signed and completed license to the county clerk's office within 30 days of the ceremony date. This is the officiant's legal obligation. Returning the license late or not at all creates problems for the couple's official marriage record. The couple should follow up with the officiant if the license has not been returned within a reasonable time after the wedding.
Once the county clerk receives and records the license, it becomes part of the official public records. Most clerks mail the original back to the couple after recording. That document serves as proof of the legal marriage. Travis County accepts returned licenses by mail addressed to their P.O. Box in Austin or in person at the courthouse. The Montgomery County Clerk accepts returns at any of its three office locations in Conroe, New Caney, and The Woodlands.
Texas law specifies who may legally perform a wedding. The list includes licensed or ordained Christian ministers and priests, Jewish rabbis, officers of recognized religious organizations, justices of the peace, retired justices of the peace, active and retired Texas state judges, and active and retired federal judges with Texas jurisdiction. No witnesses are required at the ceremony under Texas state law.
The Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Unit operates the state's central repository for marriage and other vital records submitted by county clerks across all 254 Texas counties.
DSHS can verify that a marriage occurred and identify the county where the license is on file, but certified copies of the license must be obtained directly from the county clerk where it was issued.
Texas Marriage License Records
Once a county clerk records a completed marriage license, it becomes part of that county's official public records. Anyone can request a copy. Certified copies of marriage licenses cost around $6 per copy in counties like Montgomery and Coryell. Plain copies cost less per page. The Montgomery County Clerk offers online ordering through VitalDirector, an authorized vendor. Montgomery County's records go back to 1838. The Coryell County Clerk's office at coryellcountyclerk.com provides detailed instructions for in-person requests at their offices in Gatesville and Copperas Cove.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit maintains a statewide index of marriages. DSHS can confirm a marriage took place and tell you the county where the license is filed, but they do not issue certified copies of marriage licenses. For a certified copy, always contact the county clerk where the license was originally issued. The Rockwall County Clerk's Marriage Licenses page explains its records search process and also offers a $10 fee for historical record searches.
Rockwall County holds a unique status in Texas. As of May 30, 2025, Senate Concurrent Resolution 6 officially named Rockwall County the Marriage Capital of Texas for ten years, a designation signed by Governor Greg Abbott. Rockwall has been drawing couples for ceremonies for over 90 years and now offers Heirloom Anniversary Certificates for $50 for couples who were married there. The county clerk has made historical marriage records searchable online as part of that tradition.
Common Law Marriage in Texas
Texas recognizes informal marriage, commonly called common law marriage. To create an official record, the couple files a Declaration and Registration of an Informal Marriage with the county clerk. Both parties must appear in person, meet the same ID and age requirements as a formal marriage license, and state the date they agreed to be married and began living together as a married couple. No ceremony is needed. No officiant is required. The signed and recorded declaration is the legal proof of the marriage under Texas law.
Fees for the Declaration of Informal Marriage are lower than for a formal license. Travis County charges $45. Coryell County charges $46. Montgomery County charges $46, cash only. A $6 certified copy fee applies in Montgomery County. The declaration is recorded with the county clerk just like a formal marriage license and becomes part of the county's permanent public records. Both parties must be over 18, not currently married to someone else, and not related within the prohibited degrees of kinship. The requirements for informal marriage are the same as for formal marriage in every other respect.
Browse Texas Marriage License by County
Each of Texas's 254 counties issues marriage licenses through the county clerk's office. Select a county below to find local clerk contact information, fees, office hours, and details about getting a marriage license in that area.
Texas Marriage License by City
Residents of major Texas cities apply for marriage licenses at the county clerk office that serves their area. Select a city below to find the right clerk office, what to bring, and how the process works in that location.