Marriage Licenses
Marriage Licenses are issued by appointment only
Monday – Friday
8:30am to 11:00am and 1:30pm to 2:00pm
The fee for the marriage license is $81.00 cash or credit card. (No checks accepted.)
The fee for a Declaration of Informal Marriage License is $46 (No checks accepted.)
Marriage License Requirements
- Applicants must posses a valid form of identification
- Applicants must be 18 years or older to obtain a Texas marriage license.
Unless each underage applicant shows that the applicant has been granted by this state or another state a court order removing the disabilities of minority of the applicant for general purposes. Texas Family Code § 2.00
- Applicants cannot have been previously divorced within 30 days of marriage license appointment. Texas Family Code § 2.009
- Applicants cannot be related by whole, half blood or by adoption (including ancestor or descendant).
Examples include but are not limited to, siblings, aunt/uncles, niece/ nephews, cousins, stepchild/stepparent (current or former). Texas Family Code § 2.004 and Texas Family Code § 2.402
If there is a language, hearing or sight barrier, please make sure there is a third party (family, friend or professional) interpreter or translator that can attend your marriage license appointment in person. Translator or interpreter must be over the age of 18 years old.
Marriage License Waiting Period
Marriages performed less than 72 hours after issuance of the license must have Wavier of 72-Hour Waiting Period for Marriage completed and signed by a Judge or must be filled out due to completion of a premarital course, active military, or be employed by the United States Department of Defense. If the waiting period is not waived, but the marriage was within the 72-hours after receiving the license, the license will be considered void and subject to annulment. Texas Family Code § 2.204
License Expiration
A marriage license expires if it has not been used before the 90th day after it was issued. If a couple wishes to marry after the expiration date, a new license must be purchased. Texas Family Code § 2.201
Returning a License
State Law requires that the license be returned to this office within 30 days of the date of the ceremony, preferably via hand deliver. It is permissible to have the couple return the license. Texas Family Code § 2.206
Once the office receives the license, it will be copied, then filed and the original will be returned to you. Certified copies may be ordered from that county at any time.
Twogether in Texas Program
Allows applicants to waive a portion of the marriage license fee if they complete a premarital education course and provide a certificate that the course was completed not more than one year before the date of the marriage license.
Absent Applicant
If an applicant is unable to appear personally before the county clerk to apply for a marriage license, the other applicant may apply on behalf of the absent applicant.
The clerk may not issue a marriage license for which both applicants are absent unless the person applying on behalf of each applicant provides to the clerk an affidavit of the applicant declaring that the applicant is:
- A member of the armed forces of the United States stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation. Texas Family Code § 2.007
Please see the Absent Applicant Instructions and Form below for more information.
Proxy Information
The only absent applicants that can list a proxy on their affidavit are those that are a member of the armed forces of the United States stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation. Texas Family Code § 2.007
If the absent applicant will be unable to attend the ceremony and he/she must appoint one adult, other than the other applicant, to act as proxy for the purpose of participating in the ceremony. There can only be one proxy listed and cannot be changed once the affidavit is notarized. The proxy is not required to appear at the time the marriage license is issued.
Effective September 1, 2013 the Walker County Clerk's Office will only accept Proxy Marriage for Active Members of our United States Military. This was passed with HB869 on April 11, 2013.
Persons Authorized to Conduct Marriage Ceremonies
In Texas, the following persons are authorized to conduct marriage ceremonies:
- A licensed or ordained Christian minister or priest;
- A Jewish rabbi;
- A person who is an officer of a religious organization and who is authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony;
- A current, former or retired federal judge or state judge.
A person commits an offense if the person knowingly conducts a marriage ceremony without authorization under this section. An offense under this subsection is a Class A misdemeanor.
A person commits an offense if the person knowingly conducts a marriage ceremony of a minor whose marriage is prohibited by law or of a person who by marrying commits an offense under Section 25.01, Penal Code. An offense under this subsection is a felony of the third degree. Texas Family Code § 2.202
Pricing and Waivers
The fee for a marriage license is $81, payable by cash or credit card ONLY.
- If you are active military with a valid ID, your license fee is waived.
- If you have completed the Twogether in Texas course and have proof with the certificate, your total price is $21.
The fee for a Declaration of Informal Marriage is $46, payable by cash or credit card ONLY.
A member of the US Military on active duty or retired military & First Responders are able to get certified copies of their marriage license for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I noticed there is something wrong with the license before we are set to get married?
Prior to getting married, you can make an appointment to get a new marriage license. However, it will cost another $81. In addition to paying the fee, the 72-hour waiting period starts again from the time of the newly issued marriage license.
What if I noticed there is something wrong with the license after we have already got married and recorded the marriage license?
If one or both parties to a marriage license discover an error on the recorded marriage license, both parties to the marriage shall execute a notarized affidavit stating the error. The County Clerk shall file and record the affidavit as an amendment to the marriage license, and the affidavit is considered part of the marriage license. The clerk shall include a copy of the affidavit with any future certified copy of the marriage license issued by the clerk. Texas Family Code § 2.209(c)
What if we lost or damaged our original license?
Unfortunately, you cannot get another original license. You can, however still get certified copies of your marriage license.
How do we request certified copies of our marriage license?
You can either come in person to the Walker County Clerk’s Office or you can call and do everything through the mail.
How do I get my last name changed?
If a party wishes to change their name due to marriage, they may do so by going through the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Social Security Administration.
After getting your ID/DL changed and your Social Security name changed, you may then proceed with getting other documents changed like vehicle registration, loans, debit/credit cards and your passport.
You can also create a custom name change kit by using referral code 133148
The name on the marriage license will not change.
How do I get a certified copy of our marriage license if we didn’t get it in Walker County, but we live in Walker County now?
Marriage license are county specific, meaning you can only get certified copies from the county you received your original marriage license from. If you received your marriage license in the state of Texas but aren’t sure what county it was, you can try using the Texas Marriage Index provided by the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.
Forms & Additional Resources
Absent Applicant Form
Application for Marriage License
Heirloom Wedding Anniversary Certificate
Marriage/Divorce Indexes
Name Change Kit - Referral Code #33148
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