Lubbock Texas Marriage License
Lubbock couples apply for a marriage license at the Lubbock County Clerk's office on Broadway Avenue in downtown Lubbock. The clerk's office is located right in the city since Lubbock is the county seat of Lubbock County. Both applicants must appear in person together, bring valid photo ID, and pay the fee at the time of application. Texas law requires a 72-hour wait after the license is issued before the ceremony can be held, and the license stays valid for 90 days from the issue date.
Lubbock Overview
Lubbock County Clerk - Marriage License Office
The Lubbock County Clerk handles all marriage license applications for the county. The office is at 904 Broadway Avenue, Room 207, in Lubbock. Since Lubbock is the county seat, all residents of the county come to this single location to apply. There are no satellite offices for marriage licenses. The clerk also maintains all official marriage records for the county after licenses are returned post-ceremony.
The office is in the county courthouse. Parking is available nearby. Lubbock is a sizable city, and the clerk's office can be moderately busy during peak times. Going early in the morning on a weekday is usually the fastest experience. Fridays and afternoons are often busier. The office does not operate on state holidays.
| Office | Lubbock County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 904 Broadway Ave, Rm 207 Lubbock, TX 79401 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Fee | ~$82 standard; reduced with Twogether in Texas certificate |
| Website | co.lubbock.tx.us |
Call the office or check the website to confirm accepted payment methods. Cash, check, and money order are standard. If you and your partner complete the Twogether in Texas premarital program, you pay a reduced fee of about $21 to $22 instead of $82. You also skip the 72-hour waiting period. Print the completion certificate and bring it when you apply. The program is free and available online.
How to Get a Marriage License in Lubbock
Both applicants must go to the county clerk together. No mail-in option exists and no one can apply for you. Bring the right documents and you will be done in under 30 minutes in most cases.
Each person needs to bring:
- Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID)
- Social Security number (know it by heart; bring the card if you have it)
- Certified divorce decree if either applicant was divorced within the last 30 days
- A court order if either applicant is under 18 (Texas has required this since September 1, 2017)
No residency is required. You do not have to be from Lubbock or Texas to get a Lubbock County license. The license is valid all over the state. There is no blood test. The clerk will have both of you complete and sign the state application form, which asks for full legal names, birth dates, places of birth, Social Security numbers, and prior marriage history if any. Pay the fee, sign the form, and you get the license before you leave the office.
Put the license somewhere safe after you receive it. Do not leave it in a car or somewhere it could be damaged. Your officiant signs it at the ceremony and must return it to the Lubbock County Clerk within 30 days. That signed document is the legal record of your marriage in Texas.
Visit the Lubbock County Clerk's website for current contact information, office hours, and any updates to the marriage license process in Lubbock.
The Lubbock County Clerk's office at 904 Broadway Avenue handles all marriage license applications for Lubbock and the surrounding county from Room 207 of the courthouse.
72-Hour Waiting Period and Fees
After the clerk issues your license, you must wait 72 hours before the ceremony can take place. This requirement is in Texas Family Code Chapter 2. The clock starts at the exact time of issue. That is not midnight and not the next morning. It is 72 hours from the specific moment the clerk processes your license. If the license is stamped at 2 PM on a Wednesday, the ceremony cannot happen until 2 PM on Saturday at the earliest.
Two exceptions let you skip the wait. Active duty military can waive the 72-hour hold. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas program can also bypass it. That same program drops the fee from about $82 to around $21 to $22. It is free, state-funded, and available online. The course runs about eight hours and covers topics most couples need to think through before marriage. The certificate you get is what unlocks both the reduced fee and the wait waiver at the clerk's office.
The license is good for 90 days. After that, it is no longer valid. There is no grace period and no way to extend it. If you need to reschedule your wedding past the 90-day mark, you start the whole application process over. Most people apply about one to two weeks before the ceremony. That window covers the 72-hour wait and leaves plenty of time before the 90-day expiration.
Marriage Records in Lubbock County
The Lubbock County Clerk keeps the official record of all marriages filed in the county. After the ceremony, your officiant returns the signed license within 30 days and the clerk records it. The marriage becomes part of the permanent public record. You can then request certified copies for name changes and legal filings.
Certified copies cost about $21 each from the Lubbock County Clerk. Request them in person or by mail. Having a few copies ready right after the wedding is easier than requesting them months later when you need them urgently. You will likely need at least one for your Social Security card update and one for a driver's license name change. Passport and bank updates may need one as well.
For statewide records, the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics maintains a marriage index from 1966 to the present. They offer verification letters for $20. A DSHS letter confirms a record exists but is not the same as a certified copy from the county. For most legal tasks, the Lubbock County certified copy is what you need.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying Texas cities near Lubbock with marriage license services:
Lubbock County Marriage License
Lubbock is the county seat of Lubbock County. All marriage licenses for Lubbock residents are issued by the Lubbock County Clerk right here in the city. Visit the Lubbock County page for complete details on the application process and requirements.