El Paso Texas Marriage License
El Paso couples apply for a marriage license at the El Paso County Clerk's office, located in downtown El Paso on East San Antonio Avenue. Both people must appear in person at the same time, show valid photo ID, and pay the license fee. Texas law requires a 72-hour wait between the issue of the license and the ceremony date. The license is valid for 90 days from issue. El Paso is far from the rest of Texas but operates under the same Texas Family Code rules as every other county in the state.
El Paso Overview
El Paso County Clerk - Marriage License Office
The El Paso County Clerk handles all marriage license applications for El Paso County. The office is at 500 E San Antonio Avenue, Room 105, in downtown El Paso. This is the only location in El Paso County where you can apply for a formal or informal marriage license. The clerk's office also maintains all marriage records for the county.
El Paso is a large city with a large population, so the clerk's office processes many applications. Mornings earlier in the week tend to be less busy than afternoons or Fridays. The office is closed on state and federal holidays. If you are coming from a distant part of El Paso, check parking options before you go. The downtown courthouse has limited parking nearby.
| Office | El Paso County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 500 E San Antonio Ave, Rm 105 El Paso, TX 79901 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Fee | ~$82 standard; reduced with Twogether in Texas certificate |
| Website | epcounty.com |
Call the office before your visit to confirm accepted payment methods. If you and your partner complete the Twogether in Texas premarital program, you pay a reduced fee and also waive the 72-hour waiting period. Bring the printed completion certificate to the clerk at the time of application. The program is free, available online, and takes about eight hours to complete.
How to Apply for an El Paso Marriage License
Both people must go to the El Paso County Clerk's office together. You cannot apply separately or by mail. Bring all your documents and payment. Most applications are completed in under 30 minutes.
What each applicant needs:
- Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID)
- Social Security number for each applicant (know it by heart; a card is helpful)
- Certified divorce decree if either person was divorced within the last 30 days
- A court order if either applicant is under 18 (required since September 1, 2017)
You do not have to be a Texas resident or a U.S. citizen to apply. Texas has no residency requirement for marriage licenses. The license is valid anywhere in the state. No blood test is needed. The clerk will have both of you fill out and sign the application form, which covers full legal names, dates and places of birth, Social Security numbers, and prior marriage history if any. Once you pay and sign, the clerk prints the license and gives it to you.
Keep the license safe. It is a legal document and you need it for your ceremony. The officiant signs it and must return it to the El Paso County Clerk within 30 days after the wedding. That filed, signed document becomes the official marriage record.
Visit the El Paso County Clerk's website for current information on office hours, location, and marriage license requirements in El Paso.
The El Paso County Clerk's office at the courthouse on East San Antonio Avenue processes all marriage license applications for El Paso and the surrounding county.
72-Hour Waiting Period and Fees
Texas law requires a 72-hour waiting period after the license is issued before the ceremony can take place. This requirement comes from Texas Family Code Chapter 2. The wait starts from the exact time of issue, not from midnight. If the clerk issues your license at 9 AM on a Tuesday, your earliest ceremony time is 9 AM on Friday. Plan accordingly.
Two exceptions apply. Active duty military members can waive the 72-hour wait. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital program can also skip the wait and pay a reduced fee. The standard El Paso County fee is about $82. With a Twogether in Texas certificate, the fee drops to around $21 to $22. The program is free, runs about eight hours online, and is available to anyone. The savings make it worth checking into, especially for couples watching their wedding budget.
The license is valid for 90 days from the issue date. No extensions are offered. If the ceremony does not happen in that time, you start over and pay again. Most couples apply about a week or two before the wedding. That covers the 72-hour wait with room to spare while keeping the ceremony well within the 90-day window.
El Paso County also processes informal marriage declarations. Both parties must appear in person for that process. Call the clerk's office for the current fee and any additional requirements specific to that application type.
El Paso County Marriage Records
After your ceremony, the officiant signs the marriage license and returns it to the El Paso County Clerk within 30 days. The clerk records the marriage and it becomes part of the permanent public record. You can then request certified copies for name changes, passports, and other legal needs.
Certified copies from the El Paso County Clerk cost about $21 each. You can request them in person or by mail. Order a few right after the wedding. You will need at least one for your Social Security card name change, one for your driver's license, and possibly one for a passport update. Having extras on hand saves time when agencies ask for original certified copies rather than photocopies.
The Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics maintains a statewide index of Texas marriages from 1966 to present. A verification letter from DSHS costs $20 and confirms a marriage is on file in the state system. This letter works for some purposes but is not the same as a certified copy from the county. For most legal uses, request the certified copy from the El Paso County Clerk directly.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying Texas cities near El Paso with marriage license services:
El Paso County Marriage License
El Paso is located in El Paso County. All marriage licenses for El Paso residents are issued by the El Paso County Clerk at the downtown courthouse. Visit the county page for full details on requirements and what to expect.