The following may answer your questions concerning marriage licenses and how to obtain one.
What are the requirements for getting a formal marriage license?
What are the requirements for getting a informal marriage license?
Who is eligible to apply for a license?
How can I obtain a marriage license?
On-Line Marriage Application
How long must I wait after acquiring my license?
How to obtain an absentee marriage license.
How do I obtain a copy of my marriage license?
What is the phone number of the Marriage License department?
Can I purchase a license in Texas and have the ceremony in another state or country?
Formal Requirements
A man and a woman desiring to enter into a ceremonial marriage must obtain a marriage license from the county clerk of any county of this state.
Informal Requirements
Texas Family Code Chapter 2 Section ~2.401
The man and woman agreed to be married and after the agreement they lived together in this state as husband and wife and there represented to others that they were married.
- A person under 18 years of age may not: (1) be a party to an informal marriage; or (2) execute a declaration of informal marriage, under section 2.402
- A person may not be a party to an informal marriage or execute a declaration of an informal marriage if the person is presently married to a person who is not the other party to the informal marriage or declaration of an informal marriage, as applicable.
- A declaration of informal marriage must be signed on a form prescribed by the Bureau of Vital Statistics and provided by the County Clerk.
- All necessary documents must be submitted to the clerk.
Needed Documents:
- Proof of Date: when you began living together as husband and wife.
- Proof of Address for both Parities.
- If divorced certified copy of Divorce Decree
- If born outside of the U.S. please bring Passport
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Eligibility
Applicants should be 18 years or older with valid identification. Applicants under the age of 18 must have a certified copy of their (long form) birth certificate issued in the last 10 years.
The minimum age for marriage in Texas with parental consent is 16. Parents listed on the long form birth certificate must be present and give written consent. The consenting parent must provide some form of government identification such as a valid drivers license. If the natural parents are divorced, the parent given custody must be present and give written consent and present a certified copy of their custody papers.
Judicial approval is required for anyone under the age of 16 to marry. Individuals who are 16 and 17 must have judicial approval or parental consent.
Blood test or health certificates are not required to obtain a license.
A license will be issued to persons who may be delinquent for payment of court-ordered child support.
There is a 30-day waiting period after a divorce is granted within this state. An applicant may apply for a license within the 30 days if the court issues a waiver in the divorce decree.
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Online Applications
Marriage applications may also be started online. Once the application is submitted, the applicants must come to the office to pay the required filing fee and then obtain their license.
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Acquiring a License
The marriage license fee $71.00 in cash.
•As of September 1, 2008, couples who go through the State of Texas approved Marriage Education Class (House Bill 2685) will not have to pay the $60 State portion of their marriage license fee. They still pay the smaller county portion, which varies by county. For approved Marriage Education Classes, please visit
www.twogetherintexas.com
NOTE: Marriage licenses applications associated with the approved Marriage Education Class MUST apply at Records Building, 509 Main Street 2nd Floor, Dallas, TX 75202.
A valid form of photo identification, such as a current driver's license, current passport, certified copy of a birth certificate (issued in the past 10 years), or current military identification is required.
FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION CANNOT BE MUTILATED(EX. torn, taped together, or laminated)
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Absent Applicant Affidavit
As of September 1, 2005, only military personnel or incarcerated persons are eligible for the absent applicant marriage form.
If one party is incarcerated, please contact your local marriage license office for proxy paperwork.
All information for an absent applicant affidavit can only be completed by the absent applicant.
This application is not available for an informal license (Common Law).
The affidavit will be denied if any the of questions are not answered. Question number two applies to female applicants only, write NA if you are male.
Documents with white out or mark outs will not be accepted.
Please print or type your responses to the questions on this application.
The absentee applicant must return the completed affidavit directly to the person they wish to marry. Both the bride and groom must be in full compliance with the following information or the application may be denied:
- The absent applicant must complete this form in the presence of a Notary Public. A title and name must be printed or typed below the authorized person's signature.
- The names of both parties must be printed exactly as they appear on the identification that will be used to obtain the marriage license.
- The Address must be current as to where he or she is presently located # 3.
- The Notary taking the acknowledgement must complete all the information requested on the form under line #15.
- If the absent applicant is unable to attend the ceremony, any adult over the age of 18 can act as the proxy for the purpose of participating in the ceremony, their name must be noted on line #15 and "I will not be able to attend" must also be marked.
- The person to be wed on line #11 and Line #15 cannot be the same person.
- This application must be used at least 72 hours prior to the wedding, but no more than 30 days before the ceremony.
- Required identification is limited to a valid United States Highway department issued identification drivers license, a valid passport or a military ID. Please contact your local office for any other forms of ID's.
- For the incarcerated, the proxy forms must be returned to the County Clerk's office, not to the fiance(e).
- An absent applicant who is incarcerated does not need to sign the application in front of a notary, unless attending Federal Prison.
- Absent Applicant Application is only valid for 30 day after the date of the signature.
- Incarcerated applicants are not eligible for an informal marriage license (Common Law).
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Time Limitations
There is a 72-hour waiting period following the issuing of the license prior to the ceremony. If either party is active military the 72-hour is waived. Military identification is required at the time of application. As of September 1, 2005, the 72-hour waiting period is being strictly enforced.
If a marriage ceremony has not been conducted before the 30th day after the license is issued, the marriage license expires. If the license expires before the marriage ceremony, a new license will have to be purchased.
You can apply for a marriage license at the following locations:
- Downtown Dallas at the Records Building,
509 Main Street, Suite 120
(8:00am-4:00pm, Monday through Friday)
214-653-6077 or 214-653-6078
- In East Dallas at the East Dallas Government Center,
3443 St. Francis Ave.
214-321-3182 or 214-321-3183
(Call for office hours) .
- North Dallas Government Center,
10056 Marsh Lane, Suite 137, Dallas,
214-904-3032 (Call for office hours) .
- Justice of the Peace,
7201 S. Polk, Dallas,
(972) 228-0280 (Call for office hours);
- Justice of the Peace,
1411 W. Beltline Road, Richardson,
(972) 231-1439 (Call for office hours)
- Justice of the Peace, Beckley Courthouse
410 S. Beckley Avenue, Dallas,
(214) 943-6980 (Call for office hours)
- Justice of the Peace,
841 W. Irving Blvd., Irving,
(214) 589-7000 (Call for office hours)
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Obtaining Copies
The cost per copy is $8.00. You can come by the office or send in a written request (see below). If requesting by mail, please use a MONEY ORDER and allow 10 to 15 business days to receive your copy.
Location / Mailing Address
John F. Warren, County Clerk
(make money order payable to John F. Warren)
Attn: Vital Statistics
Records Building, 2nd Floor
509 Main Street
Dallas, TX 75202
If sending in a request, please include the following:
- Bride's name at time of Marriage
- Groom's name
- Date of Marriage (or at least the estimated year)
- County in which license was purchased (we only have records of
licenses purchased in Dallas County)
- Mailing address to return your copy
Contact Us.
Call (214) 653-7478
Location of Ceremony
Marriage licenses issued in the state of texas can be used for ceremonies in other states.
Please contact your out-of-state officiate Before Applying for a marriage license.
Please keep in mind your license will only be recorded in the county and state in which you applied.
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