Search Ellis County Marriage License Records

Marriage licenses in Ellis County, Texas are issued by the County Clerk's office in Waxahachie. The process starts with an online application before you visit in person. Both applicants must then appear at the courthouse together with their confirmation number and required documents. The clerk issues licenses under Texas Family Code Chapter 2. No Texas residency is required. After the license is issued, a 72-hour waiting period applies before the ceremony can take place. The license is valid for 90 days.

Ellis County Clerk - Marriage License Office

The Ellis County Clerk's office in Waxahachie handles all marriage license applications for the county. Unlike many Texas counties, Ellis County requires couples to start with an online application before visiting in person. You will get a confirmation number from the online form. Bring that number along with all required documents when you come to the courthouse. Staff there will verify your documents, collect the fee, and issue the license.

Ellis County offers two different marriage license styles for couples to choose from when picking up their license. This is a local option specific to Ellis County. The clerk's office is in the Ellis County Courthouse in Waxahachie. Hours are regular weekday business hours. The office closes on state and federal holidays.

The marriage license fee in Ellis County is $82. Payment is typically accepted by cash, check, or money order. Confirm current payment methods with the office. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital course and bring their certificate pay a reduced fee of approximately $22 and waive the 72-hour waiting period.

Note: Applicants divorced within the last 30 days must bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. Texas law requires a 30-day period after a divorce before a new license can be issued, per Texas Family Code Section 2.009.

The Ellis County official website includes the online marriage license application portal, office hours, and contact details for the County Clerk in Waxahachie.

Start your Ellis County marriage license process by visiting the county website and completing the online form before you go to the courthouse.

How to Get a Marriage License in Ellis County

Ellis County uses a two-step process. First, complete the online application and get your confirmation number. Second, both applicants go to the clerk's office in Waxahachie together. Bring your confirmation number, your documents, and your payment. The clerk will issue the license the same day.

Each applicant must bring the following:

• Valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID
• Social Security number (you must know it; bring your card if you have one)
• Online application confirmation number
• Certified divorce decree if either applicant was divorced within the last 30 days
• Court order removing disabilities of minority if either applicant is under 18

You do not need to live in Ellis County or Texas to apply here. The license is valid anywhere in Texas. No blood test is required. The application collects full legal names, birth dates, birthplaces, and Social Security numbers as required by Texas Family Code Section 2.004. Having the online form done ahead of time speeds up the in-person process considerably.

Ellis County is a growing county south of Dallas. The Waxahachie courthouse sees steady traffic. Using the online application helps reduce wait times. Bring all your documents ready and you should be able to complete the process in a single visit without much delay.

72-Hour Wait, Fees, and the Twogether Program

Once the license is issued, Texas law requires a 72-hour wait before the ceremony. This comes from Texas Family Code Section 2.204. The wait begins at the exact time of issuance. Apply Monday at 9 AM and the earliest you can marry is Thursday at 9 AM.

Several options exist to waive the wait. Active-duty military are automatically exempt. A judge can grant a written waiver for good cause. And couples who complete Twogether in Texas waive the wait entirely. The Twogether in Texas program is an 8-hour premarital education course. After finishing, bring your certificate to the Ellis County Clerk. The fee drops from $82 to about $22, and there is no waiting period. Course providers are listed at twogetherintexas.com.

The 90-day validity window is important. Plan your application date so it falls close enough to your ceremony to keep the license valid. Most couples apply one to two weeks before their wedding. If a license expires unused, you apply and pay again with no exceptions.

Ellis County Marriage License Records

After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the Ellis County Clerk within 30 days. This is required under Texas Family Code Section 2.206. Once recorded, it becomes part of the public record for Ellis County. Certified copies can be requested for name changes, legal filings, or other official uses.

Certified copies cost approximately $21 each from the Ellis County Clerk. You can request them in person or by mail. For statewide verification, the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics maintains records from 1966 to the present. DSHS offers verification letters for $20. These confirm a record is on file but are not the same as a certified county copy.

Ellis County marriage records go back many years and are held as part of the permanent public record at the clerk's office. Genealogists researching family history in the Waxahachie area can request older records through the clerk's office or explore regional genealogy archives.

Nearby Counties

Ellis County is in north-central Texas south of Dallas. Several neighboring county clerks also issue marriage licenses under the same state requirements.