Young County Marriage License

Marriage licenses in Young County, Texas are issued by the County Clerk in Graham. Both applicants must appear in person to apply. The process follows the Texas Family Code Chapter 2. No residency in Young County or Texas is required. Both applicants must bring valid photo ID and know their Social Security numbers. A 72-hour waiting period applies after the license is issued. The license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. Young County is in North Texas and Graham is the only location in the county where marriage licenses are issued.

Young County Clerk - Marriage License Office

The Young County Clerk's office in Graham is where all marriage licenses are issued for the county. The office is at the county courthouse. Staff can walk you through the application, confirm current fees, and answer questions about requirements. They also maintain the official marriage record after the ceremony is complete and the signed license is returned.

Graham sits in the heart of North Texas. The county courthouse is the central location for all county services including marriage licenses. There are no satellite locations. Plan to go during business hours and bring everything you need to avoid a return trip. The clerk's office is closed on state and federal holidays.

The standard fee is approximately $82. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital course pay about $22 and also skip the waiting period. Find a course near Young County at twogetherintexas.com. Bring your completion certificate when you apply. Cash and money orders are generally accepted. Call ahead about card payments.

Note: Bring a certified copy of your final divorce decree if either applicant was divorced within the past 30 days. Texas Family Code Section 2.009 requires a 30-day gap between a final divorce and a new marriage license.

The Twogether in Texas program reduces the marriage license fee and waives the 72-hour waiting period for Texas couples including those in Young County who complete the premarital education course.

Completing the Twogether in Texas course before visiting the Young County Clerk can save about $60 on your license fee and let you hold the ceremony sooner.

How to Get a Marriage License in Young County

Both applicants must go together to the Graham courthouse. Mail and online applications are not accepted. Come ready with your documents and the process takes less than an hour in most cases.

What each applicant must bring:

• Valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID
• Social Security number for each applicant
• Certified divorce decree if either applicant divorced within the past 30 days
• Court order if either applicant is under 18

No residency in Texas is required. The license is valid anywhere in the state. No blood test is needed. Both people just need to show up together, present IDs, fill out the form, and pay. The state application form described in Texas Family Code Section 2.004 asks for full legal names, birth information, and prior marriage history. If you have been married before, note when and how it ended. False statements on this form are a criminal offense in Texas.

Fees and the 72-Hour Wait

Under Texas Family Code Section 2.204, the ceremony cannot happen for 72 hours after the license is issued. Get your license on a Tuesday afternoon, and the earliest legal ceremony time is Friday afternoon. Work this into your wedding timeline. Most couples in Young County apply about a week before the ceremony.

The wait can be waived three ways. Active duty military can request a waiver. A judge can grant one in writing for good cause. Completing the Twogether in Texas premarital course waives the wait and lowers the fee from about $82 to roughly $22. The course runs about 8 hours. Visit twogetherintexas.com to find a provider in or near Young County.

The 90-day validity period starts on the issue date. No renewal or extension exists. If it expires, apply again and pay again. Plan your application date so it falls close to the ceremony but not so far in advance that the license expires before the wedding.

Informal marriage declarations are also available through the Young County Clerk. Both parties must appear in person. Ask the office about the current fee for informal marriage filings when you call ahead.

Young County Marriage License Records

After the ceremony, the officiant must sign and return the license to the Young County Clerk within 30 days. This is required by Texas Family Code Section 2.206. Once the clerk records it, the marriage is part of the permanent public record. Certified copies are available for approximately $21 each, either in person or by mail at the Graham courthouse.

For statewide records going back to 1966, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit maintains an index. Verification letters cost $20. These confirm a record is on file but are not certified copies. For certified copies, contact the Young County Clerk directly in Graham.

Older records in Young County are available through the clerk's office. Some historical marriage records may also be found in regional archives or genealogy databases. The county has kept marriage records since the late 1800s. Contact the clerk for information about older record availability and any fees.

Nearby Counties

Young County is in North Texas. Neighboring county clerks follow the same state rules for marriage licenses.