How To Apply For A Harris County Marriage License
Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting times in any person’s life!
In this article, I will explain the process of obtaining your marriage license if you are a Harris County resident.
Continue reading to learn about the county office that manages marriage licenses in Harris County Texas.
The Harris County Clerk’s Office Issues Marriage Licenses
The Harris County Clerk’s office is responsible for issuing marriage licenses. You will need to contact the Harris County Clerk’s Office or call a location near you to start the process of obtaining a marriage license.
Harris County Clerk’s Office To Purchase Your Marriage License
There are 11 clerk’s offices in Harris County where you can purchase your marriage license. Below is a map of each county clerk’s office.
Download Application For Texas Marriage License
You can download your Texas marriage license application here. Below is an example of what a marriage license in Texas looks like.
How Much Does A Harris County Marriage License Cost?
The cost is $74 for a marriage license in Harris County Texas.
If you or your spouse are not Texas resident, then the application fee will be $174.
72 Hour Waiting Period Before Your Ceremony
You will have to apply for your marriage license more than 3 days (or 72 hours) before your wedding ceremony. This is a mandatory requirement in Texas for your marriage to be legally valid.
Editor’s Note: If your spouse is in the military, the 72 hour waiting period is waived. They will need to show active military ID when the Harris County marriage license is purchased.
How To Get A Harris County Marriage License
Here is the process of getting married in Harris County, Texas.
- Complete a Texas Marriage License
- Gather necessary documents
- You and your spouse visit a Harris County Clerk’s Office
- Pay the marriage license fee
- Get married at your wedding ceremony
- Bring back your marriage license
1.) Complete A Texas Marriage License
You will need to complete the Texas Marriage License application. If you do not have a printer, you can obtain an application at the Harris County Clerk’s office.
2.) Gather The Necessary Documents
You will need to show proof of identity for you and your spouse to get a marriage license in Texas. Acceptable forms of ID are Texas ID, driver’s license, passports, resident alien card, or some other U.S. government ID card.
3.) Visit The Harris County Clerk’s Office
You and your spouse will need to visit the county clerk’s office to complete paperwork and signatures for your marriage. If your spouse cannot attend, you will need to get an Affidavit of Absent Application signed and notarized.
4.) Pay For Your Texas Marriage License
You will pay for your marriage license at the county clerk’s office. The cost is $74 if you and your spouse are Texas residents. If one of you cannot show proof of Texas residency, the cost is $174.
5.) Get Married At Your Wedding Ceremony
Next, you will need to get married at your wedding ceremony and have the officiant sign your marriage license no more than 900 days after you were issued the marriage license.
Editor’s Note: Remember that you must apply for your marriage license at least 3 days before your ceremony. This is a requirement in Texas for your marriage to be legal.
6.) Bring Back Your Texas Marriage License
After your ceremony, you will need to bring back the marriage license that was signed by the pastor or officiant that married you and your spouse.
How To Get Married To Someone In Jail (Harris County Texas)
You can get married to someone who is currently incarcerated. To do this, the incarcerated individuals will need to complete a:
You can find step-by-step instructions on completing the Affidavit of Absent Applicant paperwork here.
In addition to completing both of the above, these forms will need to be signed, notarized, and the imprisoned individual will need to provide a copy of their ID.
To learn more about the process of getting married to someone in prison, contact the Harris County Clerk’s office at
Conclusion
If you are planning a wedding and wondering how to get a Harris County marriage license here is a quick summary:
- Complete the Texas Marriage License application
- Gather proof of ID
- Visit the Harris County Clerk’s Office near you (map above with locations)
- Pay the marriage license fee which is $74 or $174 depending on Texas residency
- Get married at least 3 days after you purchase your marriage license
- Have your pastor or wedding officiant sign your marriage license
- Return the marriage license to the clerk’s office in no more than 90 days
To make an appointment for a marriage license in Harris County, you can call the county clerk’s office at 713.274.8686 or visit their website for more information about the process of getting married in Harris County.
Marriage is a wonderful thing, I wish you and your future spouse the very best!
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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.
in order to get married,, we only need our id and thats it
Ok good, glad it was an easy process for you. Congrats to you and your spouse Adriana!