The following may answer your questions concerning marriage licenses and how to obtain one.
What are the requirements for getting a marriage license?
Who is eligible to apply for a license?
How can I obtain a marriage license?
OnLine 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?
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.
Eligibility
Applicants should be 18 years or older with valid identification. Applicants under the age of 18 must have a certified copy of their birth certificate.
The minimum age for marriage in Texas with parental consent is 16. Parents must be present and give written consent. Each under-age applicant will be required to provide a certified copy of their birth certificate. 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. Documents are required to establish that a prior marriage has been dissolved.
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.
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Online Applications
Marriage applications may also be completed online. Once the applications is completed, the applicant must come to the office to pay the required filing fee and then obtain their license.
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Acquiring a License
A marriage license can be obtained from a county clerk's office. The cost is $41.00 in cash.
If an applicant is unable to appear personally, any adult or the other applicant may apply on behalf of the absent applicant. The proper paper work must be completed prior to applying. Proper paper work including the absent applicant's identification and age is required. If one party is incarcerated, this office must send out and receive information directly from the incarcerated person.
A valid form of photo identification, such as a driver's license, U.S. passport, certified copy of a birth certificate (complete with raised seal and on blue certificate paper), or military identification is required.
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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.
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 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, the appointment of any adult over the age of 18 can act as the proxy for the purpose of participating in the ceremony must be noted on line #15. "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 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 drivers license or a valid passport or a military ID.
- For the incarcerated, the application must be returned to the County Clerk's office, not to your fiance.
- An absent applicant who is incarcerated does not need to sign the application in front of a notary, but must complete the statement of incarceration.
- 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 31st day after the license is issued, the marriage license expires.
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)
214-653-7559 or 214-653-7131.
- In East Dallas at the East Dallas Government Center,
3443 St. Francis Ave.
214-321-3182 (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, 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
Vital Statistics Number: (214) 653-7478
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 year)
- County in which license was purchased (we only have records of license purchased in Dallas County)
- Mailing address to return your copy
Contact Us.
Call (214) 653-7559 or (214) 653-7131
Location of Ceremony
No, Marriage Licenses issued in the State of Texas are only valid in the State of Texas. You must obtain a Marriage License in the state in which you plan to marry.
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