MarriageLicenseCheck

Travis County marriage license

Issued by the Travis County Clerk's Office, Recording Division

To marry in Travis County, you apply to the Travis County Clerk's Office, Recording Division. There, both applicants must appear together.

Fee
$80Reduced to $20 with a completed premarital education course certificate from the Texas Twogether Program — a $60 reduction
Waiting period
3 days72 hours · Waiver available
License valid
89 daysFrom issuance
Both must appear
YesTogether, at the same time

Reviewed July 26, 20268 official sourcesSee sources

Where to apply

Travis County Clerk's Office, Recording Division

Apply online
Yes

The Clerk links an online marriage license application, run on the Clerk's own records portal. It starts the application only — the same requirements list that names it also requires both parties to appear together at the counter, and the license is issued in person.

Official requirement

Complete a marriage license application ; Both parties must appear together at the county clerk's office located at Civil Family Courthouse 1700 Guadalupe St. 4th Floor, Ste 4.300

Apply in person
Yes

Marriage licenses are issued at the Civil Family Courthouse, 1700 Guadalupe St., 4th Floor, Suite 4.300, Austin. The Clerk's marriage FAQ publishes counter hours of 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.

Official requirement

Both parties must appear together at the county clerk's office located at Civil Family Courthouse 1700 Guadalupe St. 4th Floor, Ste 4.300

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, each with an original form of identification. If one cannot attend, that applicant may complete the Clerk's notarised Affidavit of Absent Applicant. The Clerk publishes that an absent affidavit may be used for both applicants only when both are deployed active military.

Applies in some cases

Yes, both applicants must be present with an original form of ID for each applicant.

Residency

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

The Clerk publishes no residency requirement for eligibility — anyone may apply. Residency affects only the price: from 1 April 2026 an additional $100 is charged when neither applicant can prove Texas residency. That is recorded under the fee, not as an eligibility rule. The Clerk's FAQ does answer "Do you have to be Travis County residents?" with "No", but that question sits inside the Domestic Partnership section of the FAQ, not the Marriage section, so it is not recorded here as a marriage rule.

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
  • Driver's license
  • State ID
  • Passport
  • Certified copy of a birth certificate
  • Other documents approved by state law under the Texas Family Code — confirm any unusual document with the Clerk before you travel

Each applicant must bring an original form of identification. The Clerk publishes that a form of identification cannot be expired by more than two years. The marriage-license page lists no documents of its own; it links to the Texas Family Code for the full statutory list.

Official requirement

Most common forms of ID used are driver's license, state ID, passport, and or certified copy of birth certificate.

Social Security number

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

The Clerk publishes no Social Security number requirement for a marriage license.

Not published by this office
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

Be 18 years or older to obtain a marriage license.

Applicants under 18
An applicant under 18 may marry only if a Texas court or another state's court has granted an order removing the disabilities of minority for general purposes. Parental consent, notarised or in person, is not a route to a license.
Applies in some cases

Effective September 1, 2017 Texas Family Code 2.003 states, 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.

Prior-marriage documents

If a marriage ended
An applicant divorced within the last 30 days cannot be issued a license unless a waiver is provided. If the divorce was finalised within the previous 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 Clerk separately notes that an applicant who wishes to use a former name will need identification showing that name, such as a certified copy of a birth certificate or a divorce decree that states the name is to be changed.

Applies in some cases

If divorced, and the divorce was finalized within the previous 30 days, an applicant must provide a certified copy of the divorce decree which states that the 30-day waiting period has been waived.

Fee and payment

Fee
$80Reduced to $20 with a completed premarital education course certificate from the Texas Twogether Program — a $60 reduction. The certificate must be presented when the license is issued. A member of the National Guard on federal active duty, or a member of the U.S. armed forces on active duty, who is preparing to deploy to a hostile fire zone designated by the U.S. Secretary of Defense is exempt from the license fee.

From 1 April 2026 an additional $100 non-resident fee is charged if neither applicant can show the Clerk acceptable proof of Texas residency, taking the license to $180. The Clerk lists acceptable proof, including a Texas driver's license or state ID, Texas handgun license, vehicle registration, property tax or homestead documentation, voter registration card, military orders showing Texas as home of record, income tax documents, a recent paycheck stub or letter of employment, receipt of benefits from a Texas state agency, and utility bills showing a 12-month history; PO Box addresses are not accepted. A Declaration of Informal (common-law) Marriage is a separate filing at $45, and a certified copy of a marriage license is $6.

Official requirement

$80.00 license fee

Payment methods
  • Cash
  • Checks
  • Money orders
  • Cashier's checks
  • Visa
  • MasterCard
  • Discover
  • American Express

The Clerk publishes these as the Recording Division's payment options on the same page as the marriage license fee table, rather than singling out the license fee. A card transaction fee applies: $3 for transactions under $100, or 3% for transactions of $100 or more.

Official requirement

The County Clerk's Office accepts cash, checks, money orders, cashier's checks, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express credit cards.

Waiting period and expiration

Waiting period
3 days (72 hours)

The Clerk calls this a 3-day waiting period, and the statute it cites expresses the same rule as the 72 hours immediately following issuance. The license is issued the same day; the ceremony may not be held during that period. Several waivers exist — see the waiver entry.

Official requirement

There is a required 3-day waiting period between the time a marriage license is obtained and the ceremony ( Texas Family Code, Chapter 2, Section 2.204 ).

Waiver
The wait does not apply to an applicant who is a member of the U.S. armed forces and on active duty; who performs work for the U.S. Department of Defense as an employee or contract worker; who obtains a written waiver from 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, or a judge of a court of appeals; or who completes a premarital education course described by Texas Family Code Section 2.013 and gives the County Clerk a course completion certificate showing completion within one year of the date the application is filed. The Clerk publishes its own forms for two of these routes: a Military Waiver statement declaration signed by the service member, and an Order Waiving 72 Hour Waiting Period for a judge to sign on a finding of good cause.

Only the premarital-education route also reduces the fee — the Texas Twogether Program takes the license from $80 to $20. The Clerk's waiver order adds that an associate judge appointed under Family Code Chapter 201, an associate judge appointed under Chapter 54A of the Government Code, or a justice of the peace may also sign it. Both the military waiver and the judge's order must be kept with the marriage license and returned with it after the ceremony.

Applies in some cases

Unless an applicant: Is a member of the armed forces of the United States and on active duty; Performs work for the United States Department of Defense as an employee or contract worker; Obtains a written waiver from 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, or a judge of a court of appeals; Completes a premarital education course described by Texas Family Code Section 2.013 and provides the County Clerk with a course completion certificate indicating completion of the course within one year of the date the marriage license application is filed with the Clerk.

License expires
89 days

The Clerk states both that the license is valid for 89 days from the date it is issued and that it expires if it has not been used before the 90th day after it was issued. Those are the same deadline stated two ways: the day of issuance is day zero, so the last day a ceremony may be held is the 89th day after. If the couple wishes to marry after the expiration date, a new license must be purchased.

Official requirement

A marriage license is valid for 89 days from the date it is issued

Where it is valid

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

The Clerk does not publish where a Travis County license may be used. Its FAQ raises the question directly — "Can I purchase a marriage license with Travis County and have my ceremony in another state?" — and answers it only by asking applicants to phone the office on (512) 854-9188. No statement about use elsewhere in Texas, or outside Texas, appears on the Clerk's pages.

Not published by this office

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
Ceremonies are not performed at the Clerk's office. The Clerk can provide a list of judges who perform marriage ceremonies in Travis County; applicants contact the judge of their choice directly about availability and fees. An officiant does not need permission from, or registration with, the County Clerk. 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.

The Clerk's own FAQ list of authorised officiants is out of date and incomplete — see the source conflict notes. Texas requires no blood test.

Official requirement

A person meeting the above requirements does not need to apply for permission to marry couples and does not need to register with the County Clerk.

Returning and recording the license

After the ceremony
The completed marriage license must be returned to the Travis County Clerk's Office within 30 days of the ceremony date. It may be mailed to Travis County Clerk - Recording Division, P.O. Box 149325, Austin, TX 78714, or returned in person to the Civil Family Courthouse, 1700 Guadalupe St., 4th Floor, Ste 4.300. Once received it is recorded in the public records and then returned to the couple.

A signed military waiver or judge's 72-hour waiver order must be returned with the license.

Official requirement

The completed marriage license must be returned to the Travis County Clerk's Office within 30 days from the date of ceremony. Once received, it will be recorded in the public records and then returned to you.

Processing
The license is issued the same day — applicants leave the office with it.

The Clerk does not publish how long recording takes after the completed license is returned, only that it is recorded and then sent back to the couple.

Official requirement

You will leave with the license the same day

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

Access and language

Published notes
  • Travis County states it is committed to meeting or exceeding WCAG 2.1 Level A/AA
  • Accessibility questions go to the county's ADA Officer, Joseph Gain
  • The Clerk's site carries an on-page Accessibility Tools toolbar offering larger or smaller text, grayscale, high contrast, negative contrast, a light background, underlined links and a readable font
  • The Clerk's Military Waiver form is published in English and Spanish on the same sheet

Travis County notes it does not control the accessibility of third-party services embedded in its site.

Official requirement

Travis County is committed to making its website usable by all people, including those with disabilities, by meeting or exceeding the requirements of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level A/AA (WCAG 2.1 A/AA).

Common questions

How much does a marriage license cost in Travis County?
The fee is $80, set by the Travis County Clerk's Office, Recording Division. Reduced to $20 with a completed premarital education course certificate from the Texas Twogether Program — a $60 reduction.
Is there a waiting period for a marriage license in Travis County?
Yes. A waiting period of 3 days (72 hours) applies between issuance and the ceremony. A waiver is available in some circumstances.
How long is a Travis County marriage license valid?
The license is valid for 89 days from issuance. A ceremony after that date requires a new license.
Do both partners have to appear in person in Travis 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 License - Travis County ClerkTravis County Clerk's Office · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  2. Recording FAQ - Travis County ClerkTravis County Clerk's Office · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  3. Recording Fee Information - Travis County ClerkTravis County Clerk's Office · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  4. Non-Texas Residents - Travis County ClerkTravis County Clerk's Office · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  5. Order Waiving 72 Hour Waiting Period (Travis County Clerk form)Travis County Clerk's Office · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  6. Military Waiver — Statement Declaration (Travis County Clerk form)Travis County Clerk's Office · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  7. Accessibility Statement — Travis CountyTravis County · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  8. 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

  • Expiration: the Clerk publishes two formulations one line apart — "A marriage license is valid for 89 days from the date it is issued" and "A marriage license expires if it has not been used before the 90th day after it was issued". They describe the same deadline: counting the issue date as day zero, the last day a ceremony may lawfully be held is the 89th day after issuance. The 89-day figure is recorded because it is the one the Clerk states as a plain duration and because it is the safer of the two readings.
  • Fee: the marriage-license page and the Recording fee table both publish $80 with no mention of the $100 non-resident charge that the Clerk's own Non-Texas Residents page says has applied since 1 April 2026. The three pages have not been reconciled with each other. The $80 base is recorded with the non-resident charge noted, because the Non-Texas Residents page is the only one that addresses the question at all.
  • Officiants: the Clerk's FAQ list is out of date and incomplete. It reproduces the pre-2023 version of Texas Family Code Sec. 2.202 — the long list of justices, judges, retired judges, justices of the peace, municipal court judges and federal magistrates — and it also omits the statutory categories of Christian minister or priest and Jewish rabbi entirely. H.B. 907 (88th Legislature, effective 1 September 2023) replaced the judicial list with the single category "a current, former, or retired federal judge or state judge". The current statutory wording is recorded.
  • Residency: the Clerk's Recording FAQ contains the question "Do you have to be Travis County residents?" answered "No, you do not need to be Travis County residents." That question is the last item in the Domestic Partnership section of the FAQ, not in the Marriage section, so it is not recorded as a marriage-license rule. The Clerk publishes no residency rule for a marriage license.
  • Identification: the FAQ tells applicants to "review the Family Code Marriage Relation Section 2.205 for other options", and the marriage-license page links its "See list" of approved identity documents to Texas Family Code Chapter 2 as a whole. The Family Code section that sets out proof of identity and age is Section 2.005, not 2.205. Only the documents the Clerk names in its own words are recorded as the identification list.
  • Office location and hours: the marriage-license page and the marriage FAQ both put the marriage counter at the Civil Family Courthouse, 1700 Guadalupe St., 4th Floor, Suite 4.300, with FAQ hours of 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. The Clerk's Contact Us page lists the Recording Department at 5501 Airport Blvd, the Clerk's forms carry that Airport Blvd address, and the site header advertises 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The marriage-specific pages are recorded.
  • Application host: the Clerk's online marriage license application runs on tccsearch.org, the Clerk's own records-search portal, which is branded "Travis County, Texas — County Clerk Web Search — ONLINE MARRIAGE APPLICATION" but sits on a vendor domain rather than a traviscountytx.gov address. It is recorded as application_url for navigation only; no fact in this record is sourced from it. The Clerk also runs an online appointment booking system, but it serves only the Airport Blvd office and the Clerk publishes no marriage-license appointment, so appointment_url is left null.
  • Site metadata: the Clerk's website still carries a former County Clerk's name in its site description, while the Clerk's own current marriage forms are issued in the name of Dyana Limon-Mercado. This affects only the site's metadata, not any rule recorded here.

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