Fort Bend County Marriage License

Fort Bend County requires couples to complete an online application before visiting the County Clerk's office in Richmond in person. Both applicants must appear together at the courthouse after submitting the online form. The clerk issues all marriage licenses under Texas Family Code Chapter 2. No Texas residency is required. Each applicant must bring a valid photo ID and know their Social Security number. A 72-hour waiting period applies after the license is issued. The license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue.

Fort Bend County Clerk - Marriage License Office

The Fort Bend County Clerk in Richmond handles all marriage license applications for the county. Fort Bend County has a streamlined process that starts online. Couples must submit an online marriage license application before arriving at the courthouse. After submitting, bring your confirmation along with all required documents to the clerk's office. Staff there verify your documents, collect the fee, and issue the license. The clerk also maintains the official record once the signed license is returned after the ceremony.

Fort Bend County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas, located southwest of Houston. The clerk's office at the Richmond courthouse handles a high volume of marriage license applications. The online pre-application system helps reduce wait times. Plan to arrive during business hours with your online confirmation ready. The office is closed on state and federal holidays.

Fort Bend County offers four different marriage license design options for couples to choose from when picking up their license. This is a local feature unique to Fort Bend County.

The marriage license fee in Fort Bend County is $72. This is slightly lower than the state standard in many other counties. Payment options include cash, check, and other standard methods. Confirm current payment methods with the office. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital program pay a reduced fee and skip the 72-hour waiting period.

Note: Applicants divorced within the last 30 days must bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. Texas Family Code Section 2.009 requires a 30-day gap between a divorce and a new marriage license being issued.

The Fort Bend County official website provides access to the online marriage license application, office contact details, and the county's marriage record search portal for the Richmond courthouse location.

Start your Fort Bend County marriage license application online at the county website before visiting the clerk's office in Richmond to complete the process in person.

How to Get a Marriage License in Fort Bend County

Fort Bend County uses a two-step process. Step one is the online application at the county website. Step two is the in-person visit to the clerk's office in Richmond. Both applicants must appear together at the courthouse. Bring your online confirmation number, documents, and fee payment.

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 available)
• Online application confirmation number or printout
• Certified divorce decree if divorced within the last 30 days
• Court order removing disabilities of minority if either applicant is under 18

No residency in Fort Bend County or Texas is required. The license is valid anywhere in Texas. No blood test is needed. The application form under Texas Family Code Section 2.004 asks for full legal names, birth dates, birthplaces, Social Security numbers, and prior marriage history. Completing the online form in advance speeds up the in-person visit considerably.

Fort Bend County also provides an online marriage record search. The county clerk's office maintains an official index where you can search by names and date of marriage and view license numbers and application dates. Historical records from before the digital indexing period are available through the clerk's office or through genealogy resources such as the George Memorial Library Genealogy and Local History collection in Richmond.

Fees, the 72-Hour Wait, and Waivers

Texas law requires a 72-hour waiting period after the license is issued before the ceremony can take place. This is from Texas Family Code Section 2.204. The wait starts at the exact time the license is issued. Apply on a Monday morning and you cannot marry until Thursday morning at the earliest.

Active-duty military are exempt from the 72-hour wait. A judge can grant a written waiver for documented good cause. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education program waive the wait and pay a reduced fee. The Twogether program is an 8-hour course available through licensed providers across Texas. After completing it, bring the certificate to the Fort Bend County Clerk. The fee goes from $72 down to approximately $22 with the Twogether certificate. Find a provider near Richmond or the Houston area at twogetherintexas.com.

The license is valid for 90 days. If you do not use it in time, you start over. Plan your application date so the wait period passes well before the ceremony while keeping the license inside its 90-day window. Most couples in Fort Bend County apply one to two weeks before the wedding.

Fort Bend County Marriage Records

The officiant who performs the ceremony must sign and return the completed license to the Fort Bend County Clerk within 30 days, as required by Texas Family Code Section 2.206. Once recorded, it enters the official public record. Certified copies and keepsake certificates are available from the clerk's office.

The Fort Bend County Clerk issues certified copies of marriage licenses for approximately $21 each. Keepsake Fort Bend County marriage certificates cost approximately $25. You can request these in person or send a completed application with fees to the Richmond office. Requests by mail should go to: Fort Bend County Clerk, 301 Jackson Suite 101, Richmond, Texas 77469-3108.

Fort Bend County maintains an online marriage record search index. You can search by names or date of marriage and view license numbers and application dates. Historical records from 1857 forward are held by the county. Fort Bend County birth records date from 1865 and death records from 1901. For statewide verification, the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics unit holds records from 1966 to the present. DSHS verification letters cost $20. Authorized online vital records ordering for Fort Bend County is also available through VitalChek at the county clerk's office phone number (877) 817-7362.

Cities in Fort Bend County

Fort Bend County includes several large cities. Missouri City and Sugar Land both have dedicated pages with more details about getting a marriage license in each city.

Nearby Counties

Fort Bend County is southwest of Houston. Neighboring county clerks also issue marriage licenses under the same Texas state rules.