Texas Marriage License Requirements
Texas is different. under-18 marriage only via court order/emancipation — no parental-consent-only path
In Texas, applicants seeking a marriage license must present a government-issued photo identification and provide a Social Security number or file a sworn statement in lieu of one. No state residency requirement applies. Applicants aged 18 and older may marry without additional consent or court involvement. Those under 18 may marry only by obtaining a court order that removes the disability of minority; Texas eliminated the parental-consent-only pathway to underage marriage in 2017. No blood test is required, and no witnesses are needed to obtain the license.
Texas imposes a standard 72-hour waiting period between license issuance and the solemnization of marriage, though this period may be waived in certain circumstances: completion of the Twogether-in-Texas premarital education course, active military duty, judicial approval, or remarriage. The course completion also waives the license fee. Individual county clerks set all applicable fees. Persons seeking a marriage license should confirm current eligibility requirements and procedures with their county clerk's office or consult the state's official statutes and the Texas Department of State Health Services for authoritative guidance.
| Requirement | Texas |
|---|---|
| License fee | varies by county (~$70-$85; free/$0 license fee with a Twogether-in-Texas premarital course) |
| Fee set by | County (varies by county) |
| Waiting period | 72 hours (waived by: premarital course, military member, judge waiver, or remarrying same spouse) |
| License validity | 90 days (ceremony must be ≥72 hrs after issuance unless waived) |
| ID required | government photo ID; SSN (or sworn statement) |
| Residency required | no |
| Minimum age | 18 without consent; under 18 only via a court order removing the disability of minority (TX ended parental-consent-only marriage, 2017) |
| Blood test | no |
| Witnesses | no witnesses required |
| Online option | many counties offer online application; license issued/finalized in person |
| Where to apply | County Clerk (county-administered) |
| Governing law | Set by state statute — refer to your state’s official statutes and the issuing County Clerk for the governing rule |
Confirm locally. Requirements come from public-record state law and can change. Verify with the issuing county clerk or state .gov. Informational only — not legal advice.
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