Hood County Marriage License

To apply for a marriage license in Hood County, Texas, both applicants must appear in person at the County Clerk's office in Granbury. The clerk issues all formal and informal marriage licenses under Texas Family Code Chapter 2. You do not need to be a Texas resident to apply. Both applicants need valid photo ID and their Social Security numbers. After the license is issued, a 72-hour waiting period applies before the ceremony can take place. Hood County has a lower-than-average license fee compared to many Texas counties. The license stays valid for 90 days.

Hood County Clerk - Marriage License Office

The Hood County Clerk in Granbury handles all marriage license applications for the county. This is the only place in Hood County where you can get a formal or informal marriage license. The staff can answer questions about what to bring, what the fees are, and what steps come after you get your license. They maintain the official marriage record once the signed license is returned after the ceremony.

The clerk's office is located at the Hood County Courthouse in downtown Granbury, which sits on the historic town square. There are no satellite office locations for marriage licenses in Hood County. Office hours are standard weekday hours, and the office is closed on state holidays.

Hood County's standard marriage license fee is approximately $77, which is lower than many Texas counties. With a Twogether in Texas premarital course completion certificate, that drops to around $17. The office accepts cash and check. Call ahead to confirm card payment options before your visit.

Note: If either applicant was divorced within the last 30 days, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. Under Texas Family Code Section 2.009, Texas requires a 30-day waiting period after a divorce before a new marriage license can be issued.

Marriage License Requirements in Hood County

Getting your Hood County marriage license is a straightforward process. Both applicants must appear together at the clerk's office in Granbury. Bring your documents and the application typically takes about 15 to 30 minutes to complete.

What to bring to your appointment:

• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID)
• Your Social Security number (know it from memory or bring your card)
• Certified divorce decree if divorced in the last 30 days
• Court order if either applicant is under 18 years old

No residency is required in Hood County or Texas. The license works anywhere in the state. No blood test is needed. Both people simply appear together, show IDs, fill out the form, and pay. The standard application form is defined in Texas Family Code Section 2.004. It asks for full legal names, birth dates, places of birth, Social Security numbers, and information about any prior marriages.

Both applicants must be at least 18 years old unless a court has issued an order removing disabilities of minority. That order must be presented at the time of application. No exceptions are made to this requirement since Texas tightened its minor marriage laws in 2017.

Hood County License Fees and Waiting Period

Hood County charges approximately $77 for a standard marriage license, which is less than the $82 charged by many other Texas counties. This is worth noting if you are comparing locations. With a completed Twogether in Texas certificate, the fee drops to about $17. The Twogether program is an 8-hour premarital education course available at locations across Texas.

The 72-hour waiting period runs from the moment the license is issued. This is set by Texas Family Code Section 2.204. The three ways to skip the wait are: active duty military status, a judicial waiver for good cause, or a valid Twogether in Texas completion certificate. With the Twogether route, you save on the fee and skip the wait at the same time.

The license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. Plan your application date so the wait period clears well before your ceremony and you stay within the 90-day window. Most couples apply one to two weeks before the wedding. An expired license means starting the application over and paying again.

Hood County Marriage Records

After your ceremony in Hood County, the person who performed the ceremony must sign and return the completed license to the Hood County Clerk within 30 days. This is required by Texas Family Code Section 2.206. Once the clerk records it, your marriage is official and part of the public record. You can then order certified copies for name changes, insurance, and legal matters.

Certified copies of Hood County marriage licenses cost around $21 each and can be obtained in person or by mail from the clerk's office. For statewide marriage verification from 1966 to the present, the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics unit provides verification letters for $20. Those letters confirm a record exists but are not certified copies. For certified copies, always contact the Hood County Clerk directly.

Hood County marriage records are part of the permanent public record and go back many years. The clerk's office can assist with research requests for older records. Some historical records may also be available at genealogy libraries or through online databases.

Nearby Counties

Hood County is in North Central Texas near the DFW area. Bordering counties all issue marriage licenses under the same Texas law.