Common Law Marriage Harris County: How To Apply For An Informal Marriage License
If you are looking to get married, but don’t want the hassle of a formal wedding, there is an alternative option available to you.
Common law marriage in Harris County can be obtained through informal marriage licenses.
This post will give you all the information that you need to know about common law marriages in Harris County, so you can say I do to your boo!
What Is Common Law Marriage?
Common law is a rarer form of marriage in the United States that is separate from a religious or civil ceremony.
It requires that two people live together and hold themselves out as being married. Usually, this would include telling friends, coworkers, and others.
Requirements For Common Law Marriage
In addition to completing the necessary paperwork at the county clerk’s office, the following are requirements for common law marriage:
- You must live together.
- You must be 18 years old, be of sound mind, and not be married to anyone else.
- You must intend to be married to the other person.
- Lastly, present yourself as a married couple to family, friends, and society.
There are certain documents that show that you and your common law wife or husband has agreed to be married and treat each other as spouses. You can obtain these documents from the Harris County Clerk’s Office.
How Much Does A Harris County Common Law Marriage License Cost?
An Informal Marriage License in Harris County costs $39. Each additional certified copy of a Harris County Common Law Marriage License is $6.
What Documents Are Needed To Get Common
You must complete the common law marriage license application and also both you and your spouse will need to show some type of ID. Accepted forms of ID for a Harris County common law marriage are driver’s license, state ID, passport, etc.
How To Get Common Law Married In Harris County
Here are the steps for applying for an informal marriage license in Harris County.
- Complete a Texas Common Law Marriage License.
- Have proof of ID for both you and your spouse.
- Find a Harris County Clerk’s Office.
- Pay the Common Law Marriage License Fee
Complete a Texas Common Law Marriage License
You can download an informal marriage license here. If you do not have access to a printer, the Clerk’s Office that you visit can provide you with an application.
Download Texas Common Law Marriage Application
Below is an example of the Texas Informal Marriage application.
Show Proof Of ID
You and your spouse will need to show proof of identity. Again this can include a Texas ID, driver’s license, passport, etc.
Find A Harris County Clerk’s Office
The Harris County Clerks is the office that issues marriage licenses, so you will have to apply for your informal marriage through them.
Below is a list of Harris County Clerk’s offices.
Pay The Common Law Marriage License Fee
The cost is $39 to get a common law marriage license in Harris County. You will pay this to the county clerk’s office.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to get married without all the fanfare, common law marriage may be just the thing for you.
A common law marriage in Harris County can be obtained through informal marriage licenses. The requirements for an informal marriage license are fairly straightforward and easy to meet. All you have to do is show up with your spouse, bring some ID, and fill out the paperwork.
If you have more questions about Harris County common law marriage requirements you can visit the Harris County Clerk’s Office website or call them at 713.274.8686.
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Nick Bryant is the author of Understanding Healthcare Is Half The Battle and a Senior Counselor with 13+ years of experience working in community health and mental health. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching WWE on Friday nights, and working toward a Google Data Analytics certification. If you have additional questions about community resources or government assistance programs, simply leave a comment below and he will follow up as soon as possible.
I’m trying to find help for my son who has been faulty accused by an ex-girlfriend who says that got her pregnant and when he decided that she was not faithful to him, she used her little sister to file sexual charges against him…knowing that he had prior, and served his time…please help us! His name; Joseph Andrew Chapa…spin#: 0170271?
Hi Linda, you’ll defintely want to find a lawyer for this. Here area low cost legal aid offices in Houston who may be able to help.