How to Get a Marriage License in Houston (Harris County, TX)

In Texas, a marriage license comes from the county clerk, not from a city. Houston is the county seat of Harris County, and cities such as Pasadena and Baytown are in the county too, but none of them issues the license itself. Whichever of those places you live in, the office you are looking for is the Harris County Clerk.

You are not limited to Harris County, though. You can apply at any county clerk in Texas, the license is valid statewide, and there is no residency requirement. If you are getting married in the Houston area, applying in Harris County is the natural choice. If another county is easier for the two of you, that works too.

Who has to show up and what to bring

Both applicants normally appear in person with valid photo ID. Plan on going together rather than sending one person ahead, and check that both IDs are valid before you leave the house. Beyond photo ID, ask the clerk whether there is anything else you should bring. We can't list requirements we haven't verified.

What the license costs

Each county sets its own fee, and license fees in Texas typically run about $70 to $85. We do not know the exact Harris County fee, so confirm it with the clerk before you go, along with which payment methods are accepted.

There is one way to bring the cost down. A Twogether in Texas premarital education certificate removes up to $60 of the fee. If you plan to use one, finish the course first and ask the clerk how they want to see the certificate.

The 72-hour wait and the 90-day window

Two clocks start once the license is issued.

•72 hours: You must wait 72 hours between issuance and the ceremony. If you pick up the license on a Monday morning, the earliest you can marry is Thursday morning.

•90 days: The license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued. After that, it is no longer valid.

The 72-hour wait is waived in three cases: if you are active-duty military, if you have a judge's written waiver, or if you have a Twogether in Texas premarital course certificate. If none of those apply, count back from your ceremony date. Apply at least three days ahead, but no more than 90 days ahead.

Confirm these details with the clerk before you go

We do not have the office's street address, phone number, hours, appointment policy, accepted payment methods, or exact fee, and we are not going to guess at them. Offices change how they operate, so get these from the Harris County Clerk directly:

•Where to go and what hours that office is open

•Whether you need an appointment or can walk in

•The exact fee and which payment methods are accepted

•Which forms of photo ID are accepted

•How to submit a Twogether in Texas certificate or a judge's written waiver, if you have one

Once you have those answers, go together with your IDs and leave yourselves enough time that the visit isn't rushed. When you have the license, keep it somewhere safe. Its 90 days begin on the day it is issued, not the day you decide to use it.

Harris County marriage licenses, by the numbers

3,217 marriage licenses were filed in Harris County in the last 30 days and 31,335 in the last 12 months; the newest filing we hold is dated 2026-09-25. Month-by-month counts and the public record are on the Harris 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.