Missouri City Marriage License
To get married in Missouri City, you need a Texas marriage license from the Fort Bend County Clerk before the ceremony. Missouri City sits in Fort Bend County, so the main clerk's office in Richmond handles all marriage license applications for residents here. Both applicants must appear together in person, bring valid photo ID, and pay the fee. Fort Bend County also offers an online application option to get started before your visit. Once the clerk issues the license, a 72-hour waiting period begins. Plan your application date so you have at least three full days before the wedding.
Missouri City Overview
Fort Bend County Clerk - Marriage License Office
The Fort Bend County Clerk in Richmond issues marriage licenses for all of Fort Bend County, which includes Missouri City, Sugar Land, Pearland (partially), Stafford, and other communities. The main clerk's office is at the Fort Bend County Justice Center in Richmond. Both applicants must show up together to complete the application and receive the license.
Fort Bend County offers an online application system. You can fill in basic information online before your visit, which speeds up the in-person process. Both people still must appear together at the clerk's office within 10 days of starting the online form. The clerk follows Texas Family Code Chapter 2 and issues licenses to any couple who meets the requirements, regardless of where they live.
| Office | Fort Bend County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 301 Jackson St Richmond, TX 77469 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Fee | $72 |
| Online Application | Available at fortbendcountytx.gov |
Fort Bend County offers four license design choices when you apply. You can pick the design that works best for you at the time of your visit. This is a nice option that not every county provides. The fee of $72 is slightly lower than many neighboring counties.
Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education course and bring the certificate to the clerk at the time of application pay a reduced fee and may waive the 72-hour waiting period. Bring the certificate when you apply. No refund is given if you bring it after the application is complete.
How to Get Your Marriage License in Missouri City
Missouri City residents apply at the Fort Bend County Clerk in Richmond. The process is straightforward. Both people appear together, fill out or confirm the application, show their documents, and pay the fee. Most applications are completed the same day.
You can start the process online before your visit. Go to the Fort Bend County Clerk's website and look for the online marriage license application. Fill in the basic form information, then go to the clerk's office within 10 days to finish. Both applicants must be present at the office to complete the process.
What to bring for each applicant:
- Valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, passport, or state ID
- Social Security number (bring the card or know the number by memory)
- Certified divorce decree if either person was divorced within the last 30 days
- Court order if either applicant is under 18 (required since September 1, 2017)
- Twogether in Texas certificate if seeking the reduced fee and wait waiver
No Texas residency is required. You can apply in Fort Bend County even if you live somewhere else. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and must return it to the Fort Bend County Clerk within 30 days. The clerk records the marriage and files the original. Certified copies are available for request once recorded.
The Fort Bend County Clerk's website includes the online marriage license application portal and information on fees, requirements, and the four license design options available to couples in Missouri City.
Texas DSHS Vital Statistics maintains a statewide index of all recorded marriages, including those issued through the Fort Bend County Clerk for Missouri City residents.
72-Hour Waiting Period and Fees
Texas requires a 72-hour waiting period after the license is issued before the ceremony can take place. This comes from Texas Family Code Section 2.204. It applies to nearly all couples in Fort Bend County. If you pick up the license on a Wednesday at noon, the earliest the ceremony can happen is Saturday at noon.
Active-duty military are exempt. A judge can issue a written waiver for good cause. Couples with a Twogether in Texas certificate skip the waiting period. That certificate also drops the fee from $72 to about $12. The course is free, available online, and takes about eight hours. Visit twogetherintexas.com to get started.
The license is valid for 90 days. If you don't use it in time, it expires and you must apply again. Most couples in Missouri City apply about a week to two weeks before the wedding. That gives enough buffer for the waiting period and leaves time in case anything needs to be corrected.
Fort Bend County's fee of $72 is among the more affordable in the Houston metro area. Payment methods accepted at the Fort Bend clerk's office may vary, so check the website or call ahead before your visit.
Marriage License Records in Missouri City
The Fort Bend County Clerk holds all marriage records for the county. After the ceremony and the officiant's return of the signed license, the clerk records it and keeps the original on file. The record is public. Certified copies are available from the clerk for about $21 each. You can request them in person at the Richmond office or by written request.
Texas DSHS Vital Statistics can provide a $20 verification letter confirming a marriage record exists in their statewide database. Visit dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics for details. This is helpful when you need quick proof of marriage but cannot access the county file directly.
Keep a certified copy of your marriage license in a safe place. You'll use it for name changes, updating Social Security records, changing bank accounts, and other legal tasks. It's much easier to request a copy right after the wedding than to track one down months or years later.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying Texas cities near Missouri City where you can also get a marriage license:
Fort Bend County Marriage License
Missouri City is in Fort Bend County. All marriage licenses for Missouri City residents are issued by the Fort Bend County Clerk in Richmond. Visit the Fort Bend County page for more details on the process, offices, and local resources.