Your marriage license is the most important piece of paper related to your wedding day and can be a hassle to get if you don’t have all the information. Here is everything you need to know on how to make your marriage official:
When to apply: About 2 weeks before your wedding date
Where to go: Your local County Clerk’s office (you and your fiance must be present)
What to bring: Identification (driver’s license, passport, birth certificate, or military card) and $71 cash (Dallas County)
Note: Couples who go through the State of Texas approved Marriage Education Class will not have to pay the $60 State portion of their marriage license fee. They still pay the smaller county portion, which varies by county. For approved Marriage Education Classes, please visit twogetherintexas.com
Once you have obtained your marriage license, hand it over to your wedding planner or officiant, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope and a stamped envelope addressed to your County Clerk’s office (there will be instructions on the license), for safe keeping before the ceremony. On your wedding day, the officiant is typically responsible for filling the license out and mailing it in for filing. Your County Clerk’s Office will then mail you the stamped official copy for your records. In Texas, copies are $8, so keep it in a safe deposit box or another safe location. Brides, you will need copies for changing your last name, if you chose to do so, so it’s a good idea to scan it and save as a PDF as well as have multiple copies on file.
For more details on obtaining a marriage license in Dallas, visit Dallas County Clerk
For marriage license requirements by state, visit usmarriagelaws.com
Thanks for the reminder! I’ll be making some phone calls today. My brother is the officiant so hopefully there isnt too many details to get that going.