Lee County Marriage License

Lee County marriage licenses are available at the County Clerk's office in Giddings, Texas. Both people who plan to marry must appear in person, show valid ID, and pay the fee. The license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. There is a 72-hour waiting period that begins when the clerk signs the license. This page covers the full process, including what documents to bring, how much it costs, and where to get certified copies of a Lee County marriage record.

Lee County Clerk in Giddings

The Lee County Clerk's office is located at the courthouse in Giddings, which is the county seat for Lee County. The county maintains two websites where you can find current contact information. Visit leecounty.com or the official government site at co.lee.tx.us for the address, phone number, and hours. Both sites were found to be active resources during research.

Lee County is in Central Texas between Austin and the Louisiana border. The county is primarily rural, and Giddings is the main service center. When you go to apply for a marriage license, both of you need to be there. The clerk will process your application on the spot. No appointments are typically required for marriage license applications in Texas county clerk offices, but it's always smart to call ahead if you're coming from far away.

What to Bring to the Clerk's Office

Texas Family Code Chapter 2 outlines what each applicant must provide when applying for a marriage license. In Lee County, here's what both parties need:

• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, Texas state ID, passport, or military ID)
• Your Social Security number (the card itself isn't required, just the number)
• If your most recent marriage ended in the last 30 days, bring a certified copy of your divorce decree or a death certificate
• Payment for the license fee

No blood test is required in Texas. No residency requirement applies. You can apply in Lee County even if you live in another state. The license will be valid for any ceremony held anywhere in Texas. Both applicants must be 18 or older, or 16 to 17 with parental consent and a court order. Texas does not allow anyone under 16 to get a marriage license.

Lee County Marriage License Fee

The standard marriage license fee in Lee County is approximately $82.00. That fee is set by the state and may be adjusted locally. If you've completed the Twogether in Texas premarital education course, the fee drops to around $22.00 when you show your completion certificate at the clerk's office. The Twogether program also waives the 72-hour waiting period for certificate holders.

The 72-hour wait applies to all other couples. It runs from the time the clerk signs the license. There are no shortcuts around it unless you fall into one of the waiver categories: military status, Twogether certificate, or a court order. Plan your wedding date at least three days after your appointment at the courthouse.

An informal marriage declaration (common law marriage) can also be filed at the Lee County Clerk's office. That fee is typically around $41.00 to $46.00. Both parties must appear in person to sign the declaration form in front of the clerk.

Lee County Marriage Records

All marriage licenses issued in Lee County are part of the public record. After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed license to the County Clerk within 30 days. The clerk records it, and it becomes a permanent official record. You can request access to marriage records during business hours at the courthouse in Giddings.

The leecounty.com website provides information on County Clerk services in Lee County.

The image above was captured from the Lee County website and reflects the county clerk's public information on marriage license services.

You can also check co.lee.tx.us, the official county government site, for direct access to records and clerk contact details.

The above shows the official co.lee.tx.us county page, which includes access to the County Clerk's marriage license services in Giddings.

Certified copies of a Lee County marriage license cost around $6.00 each. You'll need certified copies to update a name on a Social Security card, driver's license, passport, or financial accounts. Contact the County Clerk's office to request copies after your marriage is recorded.

The Texas DSHS maintains a statewide marriage index through Vital Statistics. A verification letter costs $20.00 and confirms whether a record is in the statewide index. It is not a certified copy, but it can be used for some administrative purposes.

Nearby Counties

Lee County neighbors several other Central Texas counties. All can issue marriage licenses for Texas residents or non-residents:

• Bastrop County - County seat: Bastrop
• Fayette County - County seat: La Grange
• Burleson County - County seat: Caldwell
• Milam County - County seat: Cameron
• Washington County - County seat: Brenham