Garland Marriage License

Garland residents get a marriage license through the Dallas County Clerk's office at 509 Main Street in downtown Dallas. Garland is a large city in northeastern Dallas County and is fully served by the county clerk there. Both applicants must appear in person, show valid photo ID, and know their Social Security numbers. Texas law sets the same rules for everyone: a 72-hour wait after the license is issued, and the license stays valid for 90 days. There is no residency requirement, so you do not need to live in Garland or Dallas County to apply here.

Dallas County Clerk - Garland Marriage Licenses

The Dallas County Clerk issues marriage licenses for all cities in Dallas County, including Garland. The main office is in downtown Dallas. Dallas County is one of the most populous counties in Texas, so the clerk's office handles a large number of applications. Plan to go during regular business hours and bring all required documents.

Dallas County covers not just Dallas but also Garland, Mesquite, Irving, Grand Prairie, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Duncanville, De Soto, and many other cities. You can apply at the Dallas County Clerk regardless of which city in the county you live in. The license works anywhere in Texas once it is issued.

The Dallas County Clerk accepts cash, money orders, and 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. Bring your completion certificate on the day you apply.

Note: Both people must appear together. An absent applicant affidavit is not available for marriage license applications in Texas. If one person cannot come in person, you cannot apply that day.

The Dallas County Clerk's marriage license page has current requirements, fees, and contact information for Garland and all other Dallas County applicants.

Checking the Dallas County website before your visit ensures you have up-to-date information on hours and any special requirements that may apply on the day you plan to go.

How to Get a Marriage License in Garland

To get a marriage license as a Garland resident, you drive to the Dallas County Clerk in downtown Dallas. Both applicants go together. Bring the right documents and the process usually takes less than an hour.

What each applicant needs to bring:

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

The application asks for full legal names, maiden names, dates of birth, places of birth, and Social Security numbers. It also asks about prior marriages. You need to say whether any prior marriage ended and how. All answers must be accurate and truthful. The state form is required under Texas Family Code Section 2.004. False information on the application is a criminal offense under Texas law.

Texas has no blood test requirement. No residency documents are needed. The license you get in Dallas County is valid for any ceremony anywhere in Texas. Once you use it, the officiant must sign it and return it to the Dallas County Clerk within 30 days of the ceremony under Texas Family Code Section 2.206.

72-Hour Waiting Period and Fees

Texas requires you to wait 72 hours after the clerk issues your license before you can hold the ceremony. This comes from Texas Family Code Section 2.204. Apply at least three days before your ceremony date. If you get your license on Tuesday at 10 AM, your first valid ceremony time is Friday at 10 AM.

There are ways to skip the wait. Active duty military members are exempt. A judge can grant a written waiver for good cause. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education course can waive the waiting period and also pay a lower fee. The standard fee in Dallas County is about $82. With a Twogether in Texas certificate, the fee drops to roughly $22. The course is 8 hours and offered at locations around the state.

The license is valid for 90 days from the issue date. If you don't hold your ceremony before then, you lose the license and have to apply and pay again. Most couples apply about a week before the wedding to stay on track.

Garland Marriage License Records

Once the signed license is returned to the Dallas County Clerk after your ceremony, it becomes part of the permanent public record. You can then request certified copies. These are needed for name changes, benefits updates, and legal matters. Certified copies cost approximately $21 each in Dallas County.

You can request copies in person at the clerk's office or by mail. In-person requests are typically faster. Include full names of both spouses, the date of the ceremony, and payment when mailing a request.

For statewide records from 1966 forward, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit provides verification letters. Those letters confirm a record exists but are not certified copies. A certified copy requires a direct request to the Dallas County Clerk.

Nearby Qualifying Cities

These cities are in or near Dallas County. They all use the Dallas County Clerk or a neighboring county's clerk for marriage license applications.

Dallas County Marriage License

Garland is in Dallas County, and all marriage license applications go through the Dallas County Clerk. The county page has more information on the office, procedures, and records access.

View Dallas County Marriage License