How to Get a Marriage License in Dallas County, TX: Courthouse Guide

Who issues the license

In Texas, marriage licenses are issued by the county clerk, not by a city. Dallas is the county seat of Dallas County, and the county also includes cities such as Irving, Garland and Mesquite. Where you live in the county does not change who you deal with. The county clerk handles your application either way.

If you are planning a wedding date, work backward from the license. It is the one document you cannot skip, and it has a waiting period and an expiration date that both affect your schedule.

Where you can apply

You do not have to apply in Dallas County. Any county clerk in Texas can issue your license, and the license is valid statewide. There is no residency requirement. If another county is more convenient for the two of you, you can apply there and still marry anywhere in Texas.

Both of you normally need to appear in person, and each of you should bring valid photo ID. Plan your schedules so you can go together, rather than assuming one of you can handle it alone.

What it costs and how to lower it

Each county sets its own fee, and it is typically about $70 to $85. We cannot tell you the exact Dallas County amount, so confirm it with the clerk before you go.

There is one way to bring the cost down. A Twogether in Texas premarital education certificate removes up to $60 of the fee. It also waives the 72-hour wait, which is covered below. If you are willing to take the course, finish it before you apply and ask the clerk how they want to receive your certificate.

The 72-hour waiting period

Texas requires 72 hours between the moment your license is issued and your ceremony. That means you cannot get the license and marry the same afternoon. Count the days carefully if your date is close.

The wait is waived in three situations:

•Either of you is on active-duty military.

•You have a judge's written waiver.

•You have a Twogether in Texas premarital course certificate.

If one of these applies to you, bring the paperwork that proves it, and ask the clerk what form they need it in.

How long the license lasts

Your license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued. Put both dates on your calendar the day you receive it: the end of the 72-hour wait (unless it was waived) and the day the 90 days run out.

The practical takeaway is not to apply too early. If your ceremony is four months away, wait to get the license so it does not expire before the wedding. Do not apply so late that the waiting period cuts into your plans.

Confirm these details with the county clerk before you go

We do not have verified information on several things that matter for the visit, so do not rely on a guess from a website or a friend. Contact the county clerk and ask about:

•The office's street address and which location handles marriage licenses

•Opening hours, including any days it is closed

•Whether you need an appointment or can walk in

•Which payment methods are accepted

•The exact fee for a marriage license

•Whether you need any documents beyond valid photo ID

Write down the answers and bring them with you. A few minutes of checking beforehand can save you a second trip, especially since both of you need to be there.

A simple order of steps

1.Decide on your ceremony date.

2.Decide whether to take the Twogether in Texas course to lower the fee and skip the wait.

3.Confirm the fee, hours, appointments and payment methods with the county clerk.

4.Go together with valid photo ID and apply.

5.Note your 72-hour and 90-day dates, and hold the ceremony inside that window.

Dallas County marriage licenses, by the numbers

1,067 marriage licenses were filed in Dallas County in the last 30 days and 8,966 in the last 12 months; the newest filing we hold is dated 2026-09-29. Month-by-month counts and the public record are on the Dallas County marriage license page.

State rules checked against [Texas Family Code, Chapter 2](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/FA/htm/FA.2.htm). Fees and procedures change — the county clerk has the final word. General information, not legal advice.