MarriageLicenseCheck

Bexar County marriage license

Issued by the Bexar County Clerk's Office, Marriage License Department

To marry in Bexar County, you apply to the Bexar County Clerk's Office, Marriage License Department. There, both applicants must appear together.

Fee
$80Reduced by $60 to $20 when the couple presents a Twogether in Texas premarital education course certificate at the counter
Waiting period
72 hoursWaiver available
License valid
90 daysFrom issuance
Both must appear
YesTogether, at the same time

Reviewed July 26, 20267 official sourcesSee sources

Where to apply

Bexar County Clerk's Office, Marriage License Department

Apply online
Yes

The online form starts the application only. Both applicants must still present themselves in person at the Marriage office to be issued the license. The submitted electronic application is held for four days — a separate clock from the 90-day license.

Official requirement

Once all information has been gathered, the parties must fill out either the Marriage License online application or the Informal Marriage License online application as appropriate. The electronic copy will be submitted to the County Clerk's office and is available for up to four (4) days after submission.

Apply in person
Yes

Licenses are issued at the Marriage office in the Paul Elizondo Tower, 101 W. Nueva, Suite 120, San Antonio; at the Southside Annex, 3505 Pleasanton Rd.; and at the Clerk's mobile "Records on the Run" locations. Published counter hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, with extended hours on Wednesdays to 5:45 pm, excluding county holidays.

Official requirement

both applicants must meet certain requirements and must present themselves in person at the County Clerk Marriage office in the Paul Elizondo Tower (101 W. Nueva, Suite 120), or Southside Annex (3505 Pleasanton Rd.), or any Records on the Run locations

When to apply

We will work out when you can apply. We never ask for names, dates of birth or any other personal detail.

Who must appear

Both applicants
Yes

Both applicants normally appear together. If one cannot attend, the other applicant or an assigned adult representative may apply on their behalf with a completed, notarised Affidavit of Absent Applicant carrying original signatures, plus proof of the absent applicant's identity and age. The Clerk may not issue a license when both applicants are absent unless each absent applicant's affidavit declares that they are a member of the U.S. armed forces stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation, and military identification is supplied for each. An absent affidavit cannot be used for an informal (common-law) marriage license.

Applies in some cases

If one party is not available to be present, the other party or an adult representative may bring a completed and notarized Affidavit of Absent Applicant for Marriage License .

Residency

This office does not publish this. Confirm with them directly before relying on it.

The Clerk publishes no residency requirement for a marriage license, either way. The nearest published statement concerns the ceremony rather than eligibility: a Bexar County license may be used to marry in any county in Texas.

Not published by this office

Identification and personal information

We list what the office says it may ask for. We never collect any of it.

Identification
  • A state driver's license or identification card issued by Texas or another state, current or expired not more than two years
  • The applicant's original or certified copy of a birth certificate
  • A passport
  • A visa or military identification card
  • A document issued by the United States or a foreign government under Section 2.005 of the Texas Family Code

Both applicants must submit proof of age and identity. Each applicant is also required to present their Social Security number if they have one. The Clerk's requirements sheet names Section 2.005 of the Texas Family Code for the full statutory list of acceptable documents.

Official requirement

Both applicants must submit proof of age and identity by a state driver's license or identification card (ID) issued by this state or another state and is current or has expired not more than two years, OR the applicants original or certified copy of a birth certificate, OR passport, OR document issued by the United States, or a foreign government according to section 2.005 of Texas Family Code.

Social Security number
Each applicant must present their Social Security number, if they have one.

The Clerk publishes the requirement with the qualifier "if applicable", so an applicant without a Social Security number is not shut out.

Applies in some cases

Each applicant is required to present their social security number (if applicable).

Age
Both applicants must be 18 or older. A person under 18 may not marry unless a court has granted an order removing the disabilities of minority for general purposes.

Texas abolished marriage by parental consent in 2017. There is no age at which a parent's permission alone is enough.

Official requirement

A person under the age of 18 years of age may not marry unless the person has been granted by this state or another state, a court order removing the disabilities of minority of the person for general purposes. (Texas Family Code 2.003)

Applicants under 18
An applicant under 18, whether a Texas resident or from out of state, must petition a court for removal of the disabilities of minority before applying. All minors must appear in person and give the County Clerk a certified copy of the court order "Removal of Disabilities of Minority" granted by Texas or another state, together with the minor's original birth certificate.

The Clerk states this applies to all minor marriages filed after 1 September 2017.

Applies in some cases

ALL MINORS MUST APPEAR AND PROVIDE TO THE COUNTY CLERK A CERTIFIED COPY OF THE COURT ORDER "REMOVAL OF DISABILITIES OF MINORITY" GRANTED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS OR ANOTHER STATE, IN ORDER FOR THE MINOR TO APPLY FOR A MARRIAGE LICENSE.

Prior-marriage documents

If a marriage ended
Neither applicant may have been divorced within the last 30 days. An applicant may apply from the 31st day after the divorce is finalised. If the divorce was finalised within the last 30 days, the applicant must give the Clerk a certified copy of the divorce decree stating that the 30-day waiting period has been waived. The bar does not apply where the two applicants were divorced from each other — former spouses may marry each other at any time.
Applies in some cases

An applicant may apply for a marriage license after the 31st day the divorce is finalized (Family Code 6.801). If the divorce was finalized within the 30 days, the applicant must provide a certified copy of the divorce decree which states that the 30-day waiting period has been waived. Former spouses may marry each other at any time.

Fee and payment

Fee
$80Reduced by $60 to $20 when the couple presents a Twogether in Texas premarital education course certificate at the counter. The certificate is valid for one year from the date the course was taken.

The Clerk publishes a single $80 figure for a marriage license and does not publish any additional charge for applicants who cannot show Texas residency. A Declaration of Informal (common-law) Marriage is a separate filing at $45. Certified copies of a recorded license are $8 each; the Clerk suggests buying two if either party is changing their name.

Official requirement

THE FEE FOR A MARRIAGE LICENSE IS $80.00 CASH OR CREDIT CARD. THE BEXAR COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE WILL NOT ACCEPT CHECKS.

Payment methods
  • Cash
  • Credit or debit card, except American Express

The Clerk will not accept checks, and separately publishes that temporary checks and Apple Pay or tap-to-pay are not accepted. One passage on the marriage-license page still says the fee must be brought in cash and that no other form of payment is accepted; see the source conflict notes. Bringing cash avoids the ambiguity.

Official requirement

The fee in cash or credit card (except American Express) and No Temporary Checks:: Marriage License: $80.00

Waiting period and expiration

Waiting period
72 hours

The clock runs in hours from the moment the license is issued, not in calendar days. The license is issued the same day; the ceremony may not be performed during the 72 hours that follow. Several waivers exist — see the waiver entry.

Official requirement

Per Texas law, there is a 72-hour waiting period before the marriage ceremony may take place, except in the instances of the following exceptions:

Waiver
The Clerk publishes that the 72-hour wait does not apply if the applicants obtain a written waiver from a judge; if one applicant is an active-duty member of the U.S. armed forces and shows identification; if the applicants submit a Twogether in Texas premarital education course certificate; or, as the Clerk words it, if the applicants are remarrying each other. The Clerk's own Seventy-Two Hour Waiver Information sheet reproduces Texas Family Code Sec. 2.204 in full, which additionally exempts an applicant who is not in the armed forces but performs work for the U.S. Department of Defense as a department employee or under a contract with the department, and which requires a premarital education certificate dated not more than one year before the application is filed. For the judicial route the Clerk hands the couple a 72 Hour Waiver form when the license is issued; the couple takes it to a qualifying judge, who signs it on a finding of good cause, and then presents the signed original with the license to the officiant.

Only the Twogether in Texas route also reduces the fee, by $60. The Clerk's sheet lists who may sign the waiver: a judge of a court with jurisdiction in family law cases, a justice of the supreme court, a judge of the court of criminal appeals, a county judge, a judge of a court of appeals, an associate judge appointed under Family Code Chapter 201 or Chapter 54A of the Government Code, or a justice of the peace. The Clerk's three published lists of exceptions do not match each other — see the source conflict notes.

Applies in some cases

The 72-hour waiting period after issuance of a marriage license does not apply to an applicant who: (1) is a member of the armed forces of the United States and on active duty; (2) is not a member of the armed forces of the United States but performs work for the United States Department of Defense as a department employee or under a contract with the department; (3) obtains a written waiver under Subsection (c); or (4) completes a premarital education course described by Section 2.013, and who provides to the county clerk a premarital education course completion certificate indicating completion of the premarital education course not more than one year before the date the marriage license application is filed with the clerk.

License expires
90 days

The Clerk's requirements sheet states the same rule in the statutory form — the license expires if no ceremony has been conducted before the 90th day after the date it was issued — which makes the 90th day itself too late. Do not plan a ceremony for the final day without confirming the date with the Clerk. If the license expires unused, a new one must be purchased.

Official requirement

Once a marriage license has been issued by the County Clerk's office, it is valid for 90 days from the issue date and is valid in any other county in the state of Texas. (Texas family code 2.001)

Where it is valid
Valid for a ceremony in any county in the State of Texas. Only licenses purchased in Bexar County are recorded by the Bexar County Clerk, regardless of where in Texas the ceremony takes place; a license bought in another county is recorded by that county's clerk.

The Clerk does not publish whether a Texas license may be used outside Texas. Recognition of a Texas license by another state is governed by that state's law; if you are marrying outside Texas, confirm with the authority where the ceremony will take place.

Official requirement

Yes, you may obtain a marriage license from Bexar County and get married in any county in the state of Texas. (Texas Family Code 2.001)

Witness and ceremony notes

Witnesses

This office does not publish this. Confirm with them directly before relying on it.

The Clerk publishes no witness requirement or witness count, either to obtain the license or at the ceremony.

Not published by this office
Officiant
The Clerk states that the ceremony may be performed by the couple's officiant of choice, and that arranging the appointment with whoever conducts the ceremony is the applicants' responsibility. Bexar County Justices of the Peace perform ceremonies in all four precincts, by appointment only; contact the chosen Justice of the Peace directly. Texas Family Code Sec. 2.202, as amended by H.B. 907 and effective 1 September 2023, authorises a licensed or ordained Christian minister or priest; a Jewish rabbi; a person who is an officer of a religious organization and is authorized by the organization to conduct a marriage ceremony; and a current, former or retired federal judge or state judge. Both parties must be present for the ceremony, except where one is a member of the U.S. armed forces stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation and unable to attend, in which case an adult representative other than the other applicant may act as proxy.

Texas requires no blood test. The Clerk's own pages do not reproduce the statutory list of authorised officiants; the current wording is recorded from the enrolled text of H.B. 907.

Official requirement

The ceremony may be performed by the parties' officiant of choice.

Returning and recording the license

After the ceremony
The person who conducts the ceremony must return the license to the County Clerk who issued it not later than the 30th day after the ceremony. The completed license can be recorded in person at the Bexar County Clerk's Vital Statistics Department in the Paul Elizondo Tower, 101 W. Nueva, Ste. B110, at the Southside Annex, 3505 Pleasanton Rd., or at any Records on the Run location; or mailed to Bexar County Clerk's Office: Vital Statistics, 100 Dolorosa, Suite 104, San Antonio, Texas 78205. Once recorded, the license is mailed back to the address written on the back of it.

A judge's signed 72-hour waiver, where one was used, is presented to the officiant with the license and goes back with it.

Official requirement

In accordance with Texas Family Code, Section 2.206, Return of License; Penalty, (a) the person who conducts a marriage ceremony shall return the license to the County Clerk who issued it not later than the 30th day after the date the ceremony is conducted.

Processing

This office does not publish this. Confirm with them directly before relying on it.

The Clerk does not publish how long issuance takes once applicants reach the counter, nor how long a license takes to come back after it is returned for recording — only that it is recorded and then mailed to the address on the back of the license.

Not published by this office

Ordering the certified record afterwards is a separate request: official certified copy page

Access and language

Published notes
  • Bexar County states its website is designed to comply with Section 508 and with WCAG A and AA
  • A ReciteMe accessibility toolbar on every page changes text size, font, colours and language, and can magnify, highlight and read the page aloud
  • Users of assistive technology may ask for material in a preferred format, and can reach the county by phone through the Federal Information Relay Service on 1-800-877-8339 for TTY/Voice
  • The Clerk's marriage license requirements sheet is published in English and Spanish on the same document
  • A Technical Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities links residents with disabilities to the county and makes recommendations to Commissioners Court on access to services, facilities and programmes

The Clerk also publishes a recorded marriage information line on 210-335-2216 for callers who prefer not to use the website.

Official requirement

Our website has been designed to comply with Section 508 as well as WCAG A and AA referring to website accessibility standards.

Common questions

How much does a marriage license cost in Bexar County?
The fee is $80, set by the Bexar County Clerk's Office, Marriage License Department. Reduced by $60 to $20 when the couple presents a Twogether in Texas premarital education course certificate at the counter.
Is there a waiting period for a marriage license in Bexar County?
Yes. A waiting period of 72 hours applies between issuance and the ceremony. A waiver is available in some circumstances.
How long is a Bexar County marriage license valid?
The license is valid for 90 days from issuance. A ceremony after that date requires a new license.
Do both partners have to appear in person in Bexar County?
Yes. Both applicants must appear together to complete the application.

Each answer restates the verified rule above; the official wording and sources are in the numbered sections.

Sources and reviewed date

Every fact above is quoted from one of these pages. Reviewed July 26, 2026.

  1. Marriage Licenses | Bexar County, TX - Official WebsiteBexar County Clerk's Office · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  2. FAQs — County Clerk: Marriage License | Bexar County, TXBexar County Clerk's Office · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  3. Requirements for Marriage License Application in Bexar County (English and Spanish)Bexar County Clerk's Office · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  4. Seventy-Two Hour Waiver Information (Bexar County Clerk)Bexar County Clerk's Office · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  5. Marriages | Bexar County Justice of the Peace CourtsBexar County Justice of the Peace Courts · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  6. Accessibility Information | Bexar County, TX - Official WebsiteBexar County · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  7. H.B. No. 907 (88th Legislature, Regular Session) — enrolled text, relating to persons authorized to conduct a marriage ceremonyTexas Legislature Online — Texas Legislative Council · state-level source · retrieved 2026-07-26

Recorded conflicts

  • Payment: the Clerk's marriage-license page says twice that the fee is taken "in cash or credit card (except American Express) and No Temporary Checks", the Clerk's requirements sheet says "$80.00 CASH OR CREDIT CARD. THE BEXAR COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE WILL NOT ACCEPT CHECKS", and the Clerk's FAQ says "$80.00 Cash or Card Only (No Apple Pay/Tap payment)". A fourth passage in the "Applying for a License" section of the same marriage-license page tells applicants to bring "the fee in cash. No other form of payment is accepted." Card acceptance is recorded because three separate Clerk statements, including the Clerk's own printed requirements sheet, publish it; the cash-only sentence is flagged here and bringing cash removes the risk.
  • 72-hour exceptions: the Clerk publishes three lists that do not match. The marriage-license page and the FAQ give four exceptions — a written judicial waiver, an active-duty service member showing identification, a Twogether in Texas certificate, and applicants who are remarrying each other. The printed requirements sheet gives only three — active-duty military, Twogether in Texas, and a written waiver from a family-law judge. The Clerk's own Seventy-Two Hour Waiver Information sheet reproduces Texas Family Code Sec. 2.204 in full, which lists active duty, U.S. Department of Defense employees and contractors, a written judicial waiver, and premarital education, and which contains no exception for applicants remarrying each other. Every route the Clerk publishes is recorded, and the remarriage exception is attributed to the Clerk rather than to the statute.
  • Expiration: the marriage-license page and the FAQ both say the license is "valid for 90 days from the date it is issued", while the Clerk's requirements sheet states the statutory form — the license expires if no ceremony has been conducted before the 90th day after the date it was issued — which makes the 90th day itself too late. The 90-day figure the Clerk headlines is recorded, with the warning not to plan a ceremony for the final day without confirming the date with the Clerk.
  • Prior marriage: the Clerk's requirements sheet cites "Section 2.009 Texas Family Code" for the 30-day bar after a divorce, while the FAQ cites Family Code 6.801 for the same rule. The substance is identical in both and is what is recorded.
  • Identification: the FAQ's list and the requirements sheet's list differ. The FAQ adds "Visa or Military identification card"; the requirements sheet adds the limit that a driver's license or state ID may not be expired by more than two years, and the Section 2.005 catch-all for other United States or foreign government documents. Both lists are merged into the recorded value.
  • Host: bexar.org is Bexar County's own website and carries all of the Clerk's marriage content. The county also holds bexar.gov, but that domain returns a generic "Error. Page cannot be displayed" body for every path, including the marriage-license and FAQ paths, so it cannot be used as a source. The Clerk's online marriage application is hosted on a Kofile forms domain branded "Marriage License — Bexar County" and is recorded as application_url for navigation only; no fact in this record is sourced from it.
  • Officiants: the Clerk publishes only that the ceremony may be performed by "the parties' officiant of choice" and does not reproduce the statutory list of who may conduct one. The current Sec. 2.202 list is recorded from the enrolled text of H.B. 907 (88th Legislature, effective 1 September 2023).
  • Appointments: the Clerk publishes no appointment system for buying a marriage license — applicants walk in to the Marriage office, the Southside Annex or a Records on the Run location — while stating that booking the ceremony itself with the officiant is the applicants' responsibility. Bexar County Justices of the Peace perform ceremonies by appointment only. appointment_url is therefore left null.

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