How to get married at the courthouse in texas
James Bradley
Published Feb 18, 2026
How much does it cost to get married at the courthouse in Texas?
To get a marriage license in Texas, you will need to pay a fee. The fee is generally $70-81 varying by county. If you go through the State of Texas approved marriage education class as a couple and have a completion certificate, you won’t have to pay the $60 state portion of the fee.Can you get your marriage license and get married the same day in Texas?
3. Can I get married on the same day I purchase my marriage license? Texas law requires that the marriage ceremony may not be performed during the 72 hours immediately after the marriage license was issued; however, there are certain exceptions to the 72-hour waiting period.Do you need witnesses for a courthouse wedding in Texas?
Texas: Witnesses are not required by Texas law. Utah: Two (2) witnesses over 18 must also be present at the wedding ceremony.How do you get married at a local courthouse?
Courthouse wedding checklist- Do your research. …
- Gather the required documents. …
- Apply for a marriage license. …
- Set a courthouse ceremony date. …
- Secure a court-approved officiant. …
- Get a witness (if necessary). …
- Invite your family and friends. …
- Think about post-ceremony celebrations.
How can I get married in Texas without a ceremony?
A valid common law marriage in Texas, also called informal marriage, is a legal marriage where individuals become spouses without getting a marriage license and having a marriage ceremony.Can you elope in Texas?
In Texas, you can apply for your marriage license at your local county and the license is valid for a wedding in any county in the state of Texas. … If you do not live in Texas and are eloping here, you will need to file for your marriage license in the state of Texas for your marriage to be legal in Texas.What do I need to get married in Texas?
To apply for a marriage license, a man and a woman must each have a valid form of identification, such as a driver’s license; a certified copy of a birth certificate; a passport or military identi- fication card; and their Social Security cards. Age requirements: You must be 18 years of age to marry on your own.How do you get married by a justice of the peace in Texas?
If you wish to be married by a Justice of the Peace you should first go to the County Clerk’s office to obtain a marriage license. In most cases, you must have that marriage license for at least 72 hours before you can get married.What is a quick wedding called?
Elopement refers to a marriage conducted in sudden and secretive fashion, usually involving a hurried flight away from one’s place of residence together with one’s beloved with the intention of getting married without parental approval.Why do you have to wait 72 hours to get married in Texas?
Texas has a mandatory 72 hour waiting period for after you file your application. This means that you must apply for the license more than three days before your wedding in order for your marriage to be legally valid. … After those 30 days, the license expires and can no longer be used to legalize your marriage.Can I get married in Texas right now?
A formal marriage license can be obtained from any county in Texas and the marriage can be performed anywhere. … 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.What is a shotgun baby?
In Arabic culture, shotgun weddings serve to obscure the fact that a baby was conceived prior to marriage. … This is because they are not recognised as a regular social phenomenon and because a successfully conducted Middle Eastern shotgun wedding is generally unknown to the guests.Why is it important to get married before having a baby?
Critically, what provided the stability was the fact that “no one’s romantic decisions affected my life.” That’s also the hope and commitment of couples who marry before having children: they’ve made their lifetime romantic decision, and so can now provide a stable home for their children.What is a shotgun bride?
Generally, a shotgun wedding takes place when the participants have engaged in premarital relationship and the woman has become preganant. … The father of the bride is usually the one insisting on the union. The idea is to preserve the bride’s honor and ensure that the unborn child will be provided for.What is it called when you get enceinte before marriage?
Women were classified as having had a premarital birth if their first child was born before their first marriage. Those whose first birth occurred within seven months after their first marriage were said to have had a premarital conception.Do Forced marriages still exist?
Forced and early marriage are most common in impoverished states in Africa, South Asia as well as the former Soviet republics. However, there are still cases of forced and early marriage in more affluent North American and European countries. Forced marriage can be coupled with other forms of slavery.How do you do a quick wedding?
8 Tips for Planning a Wedding at Short Notice- Know You Budget. Before you do anything, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to spend. …
- Make It Legal. …
- Go with the Flow. …
- Ask for Help. …
- Let’s Get Digital. …
- Lock Down Your Look. …
- Forget the Frills. …
- Curate Your Shortlist.
