How To Obtain Your Marriage License in Texas
- Oct . 22 . 2011 | Pastor in category: Texas Wedding Pastor |
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Before you can get married, you must obtain a marriage license in the state you plan to be married.
Some couples wrongly assume that the minister or wedding officiate will supply or bring the marriage license with him to the wedding. That is a wrong assumption that could result in arriving at the wedding only to discover that you cannot be legally married on that day and it will most likely result in having to delay your marriage several more days. The law in Texas states that a couple must obtain their marriage license at least 72 hours in advance of the wedding.
The place to obtain your marriage license is the local county clerk’s office. In Greenville or Commerce you would go to the Hunt County Clerk’s Office and in Rockwall or Royse City you would go to the Rockwall County Clerk’s Office. The cost of a wedding license in Texas is $72. At the time of this article a couple can get a $60 discount on the cost of the marriage license if they participate in pre-marital counseling. For more information on this program go to http://www.twogetherintexas.com
Basic information is that the bride and groom will both have to be present in order to get the license. You will have to pay the fee when you apply for the marriage license. You will have to present your social security card and your driver’s license. You may be able to pay with a credit card or debit card, however, since they may not be able to take all kinds of credit or debit cards, it is best to bring a check or cash to save yourself another trip.
And remember, you must bring your marriage license with you to the wedding so the minister can sign it and get it to back to the county clerk for filing. This is what makes it legal and also assists you in taking care of official documents such as insurance and drivers license and official name change. If you forget to bring the marriage license with you to the wedding, you or someone in your group will have to go and get it before the ceremony is over. It is a good idea to bring it ahead of time and leave it with the wedding planner.
Click here to see the Hunt County Clerk’s Office on obtaining a Marriage License.
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Click here to see the Rockwall County Clerk’s Office on obtaining a Marriage License.
So, plan a day or a time when you both have several common errands to run in preparation for your wedding such as visiting with your wedding minister about the wedding ceremony, consulting with the photographer, or wedding planner, or just having lunch together. Be sure to allow some time for waiting in line.
