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1. I'm under 18, can I apply for a marriage license?

Texas Family Code Sec. 2.003. Application For License By Minor:

A person under 18 years of age may not marry unless the person has been fully emancipated by a Judge. Among documents proving identity, the minor must also provide to the county clerk either

               (1) a court order granted in Texas by a judge fully emancipating the minor or

               (2) if the minor is from another state, a certified copy of the court’s order emancipating the minor.

2. We lost our marriage license before we got married. Can we get another one?

Yes, you may receive a duplicate of your marriage license and the cost will be $10.00, but it must be purchased within the 90 days before it would expire.

3. How much does a marriage license cost?

The cost is $82.00. Payable in cash, cashier's check and money orders. You can use a credit or debit card, but a convenience fee of $2.16 is added to the total, making the total $84.16

4. How do I get a copy of a marriage license?

A written request with your fee is required for a copy of your marriage license. We need the groom and bride names and the date of marriage. Please send check or money order. The fee for a search and certified copy is $12 when requested by mail. The cost is reduced when the written request is made in person or when the requestor searches the records for the license. You may also download a marriage license copy request form online.

5. What if we both can’t come in together to get the marriage license?

If one or more of the applicants is unable to appear when obtaining the marriage license, you will need to obtain an Affidavit of Absent Applicant for Marriage License form. This form must be filled out by the applicant who cannot appear and his or her signature must be notarized. You must present both this form and the absent applicants original ID when obtaining the marriage license.

6. What if one of the applicants can’t attend the ceremony itself?

The applicant who can’t attend the ceremony can appoint a proxy if they are a member of the United States Military. There is a section in the Affidavit of Absent Applicant for Marriage License form where the applicant can appoint a proxy. The proxy must be 18 years-old or older and have an original ID at the time of the application.

7. Who can perform our ceremony?

A licensed or ordained minister or priest, Jewish rabbi or person authorized by a religious organization to conduct a marriage ceremony. Any judge or Justice of the Peace. See other county web pages for Judge and Justice of the Peace listings.

8. What if we want to get married, but 30 days haven't passed since my divorce was final?

If your divorce decree doesn't already waive the 30-day waiting period, you will need to get a judge to order the waiver. You do not have to wait 30 days if you are re-marrying the same person or if your divorce was obtained in a state other than Texas. If the waiting period was waived in your divorce decree, please provide a certified copy of your divorce decree for proof.

9. What if we don't want to wait 72 hours before we get married?

You can get the 72 hour waiting period waived by a judge's order. If you've obtained an order from a judge to waive the waiting period, please bring the order with you.

If you are active military or work for the U.S. Department of Defense, the waiting period is automatically waived. You must provide us proof of your active military status or employment with the U.S. Department of Defense when applying for your marriage license.

10. How do we obtain a Informal Marriage Certificate?

The application for an Informal Marriage Certificate is similar to the Marriage License. However, you cannot use an absent applicant form and both applicants must come in together when applying.  You may start the process by filling in the application online or in person.

You will need to bring a state or federal issued identification that shows your date of birth (drivers license, state ID, etc.) We will ask you for your social security number and place of birth. You must be 18 years old. The cost is $47 cash, money order, credit or debit card. You will also need to provide a date that you begin living together as a married couple.   Some entities may not acknowledge an Informal Marriage Certificate.

11. Why don't you have the marriage record I'm looking for? They were married in Taylor County.

A marriage license issued in Texas can be used in any other county in Texas, so if a person is married in Taylor County, this doesn't necessarily mean their marriage license will be on record in Taylor County. You will need to go to the county they purchased the license from.