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Tarrant County exact answer

Can the marriage license waiting period be waived in Tarrant County?

This answer belongs to the issuing office and task named above. It does not substitute a statewide summary or infer a rule the office does not publish.

Direct answer

In Tarrant County, the Clerk publishes three ways around the 72-hour wait: an applicant who is a member of the U.S. armed forces on active duty, with military ID shown to the person performing the ceremony; a 72-hour waiver signed by a District Judge, which must be shown to and kept by the person performing the ceremony; or a valid Twogether in Texas certificate or a premarital counseling certificate from a known counselor, printed and shown both to the person issuing the license and to the person performing the ceremony. The Twogether in Texas route also cuts the license fee from $76 to $16. Tarrant's published list has exactly three criteria; see the source conflict notes on how it compares with the statute other counties restate.

Published rule and conditions

Waiting-period waiver
The Clerk publishes three ways around the 72-hour wait: an applicant who is a member of the U.S. armed forces on active duty, with military ID shown to the person performing the ceremony; a 72-hour waiver signed by a District Judge, which must be shown to and kept by the person performing the ceremony; or a valid Twogether in Texas certificate or a premarital counseling certificate from a known counselor, printed and shown both to the person issuing the license and to the person performing the ceremony. The Twogether in Texas route also cuts the license fee from $76 to $16.

Tarrant's published list has exactly three criteria; see the source conflict notes on how it compares with the statute other counties restate.

Applies in some cases

The 72-hour waiting period can be waived by meeting one of three criteria.

Issuing office

Tarrant County Clerk's Office, Vital Records Division

Open the issuing office

Official sources for this answer

  • Marriage LicensesTarrant County Clerk's Office, Vital Records Division - checked July 30, 2026

    Both parties must appear in person or together via video conference. Both parties must be at least 18 years of age. Must have a valid, government-issued picture identification. Must know Social Security number. There is a 72-hour waiting period after the license is issued before the marriage ceremony can take place. The 72-hour waiting period can be waived by meeting one of three criteria. The marriage must take place within 90 days from the date of issuance--no exceptions. The fee is $76 cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover. (Credit card use adds a 1.73% fee.) The fee is $16 for couples who attend the State of Texas approved Marriage Education Class and present a printed and valid Twogether in Texas Certificate or similar premarital counseling course certificate. Effective January 1, 2019, a $100 Out-of-State Applicant fee will be assessed if neither applicant is able to prove Texas residency. The person who performs a marriage ceremony is responsible for returning the marriage license to our office within 30 days from the date of marriage.

Answer boundary

MarriageLicenseCheck is an independent reference, not the issuing office or legal advice. Applicant facts, timing, prior marriages, and document type can change the result. The official office decides what it will accept.

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