Marriage Licenses

Marriage licenses are recorded with the Bexar County Clerk’s office. In order to apply for a license, 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). 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.

An informal marriage license can be obtained by a couple who has agreed to be married, and after the agreement, they live together in this state and represent themselves to others as married. An absent affidavit application cannot be used for the informal marriage license.

Getting Married

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)

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:

If the applicants obtain a written waiver from a judge.
If one of the applicants is an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States; the active-duty military person must show identification.
If the applicants submit the premarital education course certificate from Twogether in Texas.
If applicants are remarrying each other.

Both parties must be present for the marriage ceremony, except in the instance where one party is a member of the armed forces of the United States stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation and unable to attend the ceremony. Then an adult representative may be appointed to act as a proxy in the ceremony.

Officiants

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

Name Changes

If a party wishes to change their name due to marriage, they may do so through the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Social Security Administration. However, the name on the marriage license will not change.

License Requirements
Applying for a License
Recording & Copies

Marriage License Requirements

For full details on the requirements to receive a license, please review the requirements for a marriage license application in Bexar County document.

Requirements Summary

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.
Each applicant is required to present their social security number (if applicable).
The fee in cash or credit card:
- Marriage License: $81.00
- Informal Marriage License: $46.00
Applicants under 18 must present a certified copy of their court order "Removal of Disabilities of Minority" granted by the state of Texas or another state. (See Requirements for a Marriage License for full details.)
Neither applicant may have been divorced within the last 30 days unless they meet certain exceptions from this requirement. (See Requirements for a Marriage License for full details.)
Additional requirements are listed in Requirements for a Marriage License.