The following may answer your questions concerning marriage licenses and how to obtain one.
Effective March 1, 2011, Dallas County Clerk's Office along with the JP-Courts Office will only waive the $60 state portion of the marriage license fee for couples who complete an approved premarital training course and present the Twogether in Texas Certificate of Completion to the county clerk. Local County fee of $11 will be charged for the purchase of the marriage license with the Twogether in Texas Certificate of Completion. (Local County fees will not be waived).
For more information please click on the following link to search for marriage Education services in your area. www.twogetherintexas.com
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 within 30 days of submission of application, certified copy of Divorce Decree is required.
- 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 driver's 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
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
Valid form of Identification
A valid form of identification includes: driver’s license, government issued ID card, military ID card, or passport issued by the United States or a foreign government.
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. ALL Affidavit's must be Notarized.
In the last legislative session the law makers of Texas amended the FC §2.006 (b)(1) to read:
The person applying on behalf of an absent applicant shall provide to the clerk: notwithstanding §132.001, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, the notarized affidavit of the absent applicant as provided by this subchapter;
“Notwithstanding” means “in spite of the fact that” or “regardless of.”
With the new law in place, persons who are incarcerated can no longer make the un-sworn declaration in lieu of a sworn statement on an absent applicant application.
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This application is not available for an informal license (Common Law).
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The affidavit will be denied if any of the questions are not answered or if affidavit is not notarized.
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Question number two applies to female applicants only; write NA if you are male.
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Documents with white out or mark outs will not be accepted.
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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 participating in the ceremony, their name must be noted on line #15 and "I will not be able to attend" must be marked.
- The person to be married 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 identification.
- An absent applicant who is incarcerated or attending Federal Prison must sign the application in front of a notary.
- 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. If either party is active, military the 72-hour waiting period is waived. Military identification is required at the time of application for this waiver. As of September 1, 2005, the 72-hour waiting period is being strictly enforced.
If a marriage ceremony has not been conducted before the 31st 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.
Premarital Education Handbook
The premarital handbook "When You Get Married" is provided by the Office of Attorney General under the Texas Family Code Section 2.014, in hopes of create a relationship that is satisfying and acceptable for you and your partner.
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You can apply for a marriage license at the following locations:
- Downtown Dallas at the Records Building,
509 Main Street, Suite 200
(8:00am-4:00pm, Monday through Friday)
214-653-7099
- 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, South Dallas Office,
7201 S. Polk, Dallas,
(972) 228-0280 (Call for office hours)
- Justice of the Peace, Richardson Office,
1411 W. Beltline Road, Richardson,
(972) 231-1439 (Call for office hours)
- Justice of the Peace, Irving Office,
841 W. Irving Blvd., Irving,
(214) 589-7000 (Call for office hours)
- Justice of the Peace, Beckley Office,
410 S. Beckley Ave Dallas
(214) 943-5981 (Call for office hours)
- Justice of the Peace, Lancaster Office
107 Texas Street
Lancaster, Texas 75146
972-228-2272
Obtaining Copies
The cost per copy is $10.00. 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. A NON-REFUNDABLE SEARCH FEE OF $10 WILL APPLY FOR ALL SEARCHES AND OR COPIES.
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) 653-7099
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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