Fort Worth Marriage License

Fort Worth residents get their marriage license through the Tarrant County Clerk's office at 200 Taylor Street in downtown Fort Worth. Both applicants must show up together, bring valid photo ID, and know their Social Security numbers. There is no residency requirement, so anyone can apply here regardless of where they live. The license is good for 90 days and there is a 72-hour wait before you can use it. Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in Texas and a major part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, so the clerk's office handles a high volume of applications year-round.

Tarrant County Clerk - Fort Worth Marriage Licenses

The Tarrant County Clerk issues all marriage licenses for Fort Worth. The main office is in downtown Fort Worth and handles applications for the entire county. Staff can answer questions about what to bring, how the process works, and when your license will be ready. The clerk also maintains the official record after your ceremony is complete and the signed license is returned.

Tarrant County is one of the most populous counties in Texas. It covers Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, Euless, Bedford, Haltom City, North Richland Hills, and many other communities. You can apply at this office even if you do not live in Fort Worth or Tarrant County. Texas has no residency requirement for marriage licenses.

The office accepts cash, check, and major credit or debit cards. The fee for a standard marriage license is approximately $82. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital course pay a reduced fee of around $22. Call the office or check their website to confirm current payment options before your visit.

Note: If either applicant was divorced in the last 30 days, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. Texas Family Code Section 2.009 requires a 30-day waiting period after a final divorce before a new license can be issued.

The Tarrant County Clerk's marriage license page has the most current details on fees, required documents, and office hours for Fort Worth applicants.

Checking the Tarrant County website before you go helps you confirm what to bring and whether hours have changed due to holidays or county closures.

How to Get a Marriage License in Fort Worth

Getting a marriage license in Fort Worth is a same-day process when you have the right documents. Both applicants go to the Tarrant County Clerk's office together, fill out the application, pay the fee, and receive the license. The whole visit usually takes less than an hour if the office is not busy.

Here is what each applicant must bring:

• Valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID
• Social Security number (you must provide it; carrying your card is helpful but not always required)
• Certified divorce decree if divorced within the last 30 days
• Court order removing disabilities of minority if either applicant is under 18

The application form asks for full legal names including maiden or prior surnames, dates of birth, places of birth, and Social Security numbers. The clerk will ask if either person has been married before and whether those prior marriages ended. This information is required by the state application form under Texas Family Code Section 2.004. All answers must be accurate. False statements on a marriage license application are a criminal offense under Texas law.

No blood test is required. No residency documents are needed. You do not have to be a Texas resident to get a marriage license in Fort Worth. The license you get here is valid anywhere in Texas for any type of ceremony, religious or civil. Once you use it, the officiant must return the signed license to the Tarrant County Clerk within 30 days.

72-Hour Wait and License Fees

Texas law requires a 72-hour waiting period after the clerk issues your license before you can hold the ceremony. This rule is found in Texas Family Code Section 2.204. If you pick up your license Monday at noon, your earliest ceremony time is Thursday at noon.

There are a few ways to waive this wait. Active duty military members can skip the 72-hour period. A judge can also grant a written waiver for documented good cause. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education program get two benefits at once: they skip the waiting period and they pay a much lower fee. The standard fee in Tarrant County is around $82. With a valid completion certificate from Twogether in Texas, that drops to approximately $22. The program is an 8-hour course available at locations across the state.

The license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued. Do not wait too long after applying. If the 90 days pass before you hold the ceremony, you have to start over and pay again. Most couples apply one to two weeks before the wedding to stay well within the window while still having time to plan around the 72-hour wait.

Fort Worth also has a large number of civil ceremony options. Tarrant County justices of the peace and judges are authorized to perform marriages. If you want a quick civil ceremony, you can often schedule one with a justice of the peace near the courthouse after the waiting period clears.

Fort Worth Marriage Records

After your ceremony, the person who performed it must sign the license and return it to the Tarrant County Clerk within 30 days. This is required under Texas Family Code Section 2.206. Once recorded, your marriage becomes part of the official public record maintained by the county clerk.

Certified copies of marriage records in Tarrant County cost approximately $21 each. You can request them in person at the clerk's office or by mail. Certified copies are needed for legal name changes, updating Social Security records, adding a spouse to insurance or benefits, and certain immigration processes. Plain copies without certification are not accepted for most official purposes.

If you need to find a marriage record from anywhere in Texas, the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics unit keeps a statewide index of records from 1966 forward. They can provide a verification letter confirming a record exists, but that letter is not the same as a certified copy. For a certified copy, you need to go to the county where the license was originally issued.

Nearby Qualifying Cities

These nearby cities are also in or around the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. Each one directs marriage license applicants to the clerk's office for their respective county.

Tarrant County Marriage License

Fort Worth is the county seat of Tarrant County, and all marriage license applications in the city go through the Tarrant County Clerk. The county page has more detail on procedures, additional office locations if any, and other county clerk services.

View Tarrant County Marriage License