Marriage License in Franklin County

To get a marriage license in Franklin County, Texas, both applicants must appear in person at the County Clerk's office in Mount Vernon. The clerk issues all marriage licenses under Texas Family Code Chapter 2. No Texas residency is required. Both people need a valid photo ID and must know their Social Security numbers. Texas law requires a 72-hour waiting period after the license is issued before the ceremony can take place. The license is valid for 90 days from the issue date.

Franklin County Clerk - Marriage License Office

The Franklin County Clerk in Mount Vernon is the single office in the county where you can apply for a marriage license. The office is located at the Franklin County Courthouse. Staff handle applications, collect fees, issue licenses, and maintain the official record after the ceremony. Certified copies for legal use can also be obtained from this office.

Franklin County is a small county in northeast Texas. The courthouse in Mount Vernon is the only place to get a marriage license in the county. The office keeps regular weekday business hours and is closed on state and federal holidays. Call ahead to confirm hours and requirements before making the trip.

The fee for a Franklin County marriage license is approximately $82. Cash, check, or money order are typically accepted. Call the office to ask about card payments. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital course pay a reduced fee of about $22 and skip the 72-hour waiting period.

Note: Anyone divorced in the last 30 days must bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. Texas Family Code Section 2.009 requires a 30-day wait after a divorce before a new marriage license can be issued.

The Franklin County official website provides contact information for the County Clerk in Mount Vernon and other county services available in the area.

Review the county website before your visit to confirm current hours and any requirements for your Franklin County marriage license application.

How to Get a Franklin County Marriage License

Both applicants must go to the clerk's office in Mount Vernon together. Bring all required documents and the clerk can usually issue the license the same day. The process typically takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

Each person must bring the following:

• Valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID
• Social Security number (know it; bring your card if you have one)
• 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 Franklin 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 collects full legal names, birth dates, birthplaces, Social Security numbers, and information about prior marriages. The clerk checks your IDs and guides you through the form.

Waiting Period and Fees in Franklin County

Texas law requires a 72-hour waiting period after the license is issued before the ceremony can happen. This is in Texas Family Code Section 2.204. The wait starts from the exact time the clerk issues the license. Get the license Tuesday at noon and you cannot marry before Friday at noon.

Active-duty military are exempt from the 72-hour wait. A judge can issue a written waiver for documented good cause. Couples who finish the Twogether in Texas premarital course waive the wait and pay a reduced fee. This is an 8-hour course available through providers around Texas. After completing it, bring the certificate to the Franklin County Clerk. The fee drops from about $82 to approximately $22. Find a provider near Mount Vernon at twogetherintexas.com.

The license is valid for 90 days. If you miss that window, you start over and pay again. Most couples apply one to two weeks before the wedding to allow for the wait while staying inside the 90-day limit.

An informal marriage declaration can also be filed through the Franklin County Clerk. Both parties must appear together. The fee is typically around $42.

Franklin County Marriage Records

After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and must return it to the Franklin County Clerk within 30 days, as required by Texas Family Code Section 2.206. Once recorded, the license is part of the permanent public record. Certified copies can be requested for name changes, insurance updates, or legal filings.

Certified copies from Franklin County cost approximately $21 each. Requests can be made in person or by mail. For statewide verification of Texas marriages from 1966 to the present, the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics unit holds a statewide index. DSHS verification letters cost $20 and confirm that a record is on file without replacing a certified county copy.

Franklin County marriage records go back many decades. Genealogists can contact the clerk's office in Mount Vernon to ask about older records. Regional archives covering northeast Texas may also hold historical documents for this county.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County is in northeast Texas east of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Neighboring county clerks also issue marriage licenses under the same state rules.