Plano Marriage License

Plano residents who want to get married need a Texas marriage license from the Collin County Clerk before the ceremony. Plano is in Collin County, and the county clerk has a satellite office right in Plano, making it easy for local couples to apply without driving all the way to McKinney. Both applicants must appear together in person, bring valid photo ID and their Social Security numbers, and pay the fee. Collin County offers an online pre-application option. The 72-hour waiting period begins when the clerk issues the license, and the license is valid for 90 days.

Collin County Clerk - Plano and McKinney Offices

Collin County has two clerk locations that handle marriage license applications. The Plano satellite office is in east Plano and is convenient for most Plano residents. The main office is in McKinney. Both locations accept applications, process payments, and issue licenses. You can start the application online before visiting either office.

Both offices follow the rules in Texas Family Code Chapter 2. The application form collects full legal names including maiden names, dates of birth, birthplaces, Social Security numbers, and prior marriage history. Both applicants sign under oath before the clerk. The license is valid anywhere in Texas for 90 days.

Collin County allows couples to start the application online at the county website before their visit. Both people still must appear in person within 10 days of starting the online form to complete and finalize the application. Starting online can speed things up at the counter.

Couples who complete the free Twogether in Texas premarital course pay about $22 instead of the standard ~$82 fee, and can waive the 72-hour waiting period. Bring the certificate when you apply. No refund is given if you bring it after the application is done.

How to Get Your Marriage License in Plano

Both applicants must appear in person together at a Collin County Clerk office. The Plano satellite on Park Boulevard is the closest option for most Plano residents. You can also go to the main McKinney office. Consider starting the online application first to save time at the counter.

What to bring for each applicant:

• Valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport
• Social Security number (know it or bring the card)
• Certified copy of 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 waiting period waiver

There is no Texas residency requirement. Anyone can apply in Collin County regardless of where they live. After the ceremony, the officiant must sign the license and return it to the Collin County Clerk within 30 days. The clerk records the marriage. Certified copies are available once recorded. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit also receives notice and adds the marriage to the statewide record.

The Collin County Clerk's website has information on the Plano satellite location, online pre-application, fees, and marriage license requirements for Plano residents.

Plano couples can start their marriage license application online through Collin County before visiting the Plano satellite office or the main McKinney office in person.

72-Hour Waiting Period and Fees

Under Texas Family Code Section 2.204, Texas requires a 72-hour waiting period between when the county clerk issues the license and when the ceremony can take place. If you get the license on a Monday morning, the earliest the ceremony can happen is Thursday morning. This applies to nearly all couples in Plano.

Exceptions exist. Active-duty military are exempt. A judge can grant a written waiver for good cause. Couples with a Twogether in Texas certificate skip the wait entirely. That same certificate also reduces the fee from about $82 to about $22, a savings of $60. The course is free, runs about eight hours, and is available online and at sites across the state. Visit twogetherintexas.com to sign up.

The license is valid for 90 days. If the ceremony doesn't happen within that window, the license expires and you have to apply again. Most Plano couples apply one to two weeks before the wedding to give comfortable margin on both the waiting period and the expiration date.

Informal marriage (common law) declarations are also available at Collin County clerk offices for about $42. Both people must appear in person. This option documents an existing common law marriage rather than initiating a new formal marriage.

Marriage License Records in Plano

The Collin County Clerk holds all marriage records for the county, including those for Plano residents. After the signed license is returned and recorded, it becomes part of the permanent public record. Certified copies cost about $21 each and are available in person at either clerk location or by written request.

Collin County has a records search portal on its website. You can search property records, marriage licenses, and other clerk records by name or date range. The county also maintains a Genealogy Corner with marriage records going back to 1884. For a statewide verification letter, contact the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit. These letters cost $20 and confirm a record exists but are not certified copies.

Order a certified copy right after the wedding. You'll use it for name changes on your driver's license, Social Security card, and bank accounts. Getting it early while everything is fresh makes the process much simpler than waiting until you need it urgently later.

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying Texas cities near Plano where you can also get a marriage license:

Collin County Marriage License

Plano is in Collin County. All marriage licenses for Plano are issued by the Collin County Clerk. Visit the Collin County page for more details on both office locations, the online pre-application, and local resources.

View Collin County Marriage License