How to Get a Marriage License in San Marcos (Hays County, TX)

If you are planning to marry and searched for a San Marcos marriage license, the first thing to know is that the city does not issue it. In Texas, marriage licenses come from the county clerk. San Marcos is the county seat of Hays County, so that is the county your search points to. The county also includes Kyle and Buda, and the same process applies whichever of these towns you live in.

Who issues the license and where you can apply

The county clerk handles licenses, not a city office. You do not have to use the Hays County clerk. A license from any county clerk in Texas is valid statewide, and there is no residency requirement. You can apply in the county where you live, the county where you work, or the county closest to your ceremony. You can also use the license anywhere in Texas, not only in the county that issued it.

What to bring and who has to be there

Both of you should plan to go in person. Each of you needs valid photo ID. Before you go, ask the clerk's office whether you need anything else, and confirm in advance how they accept payment, so you do not get turned away at the counter.

What it costs

Each county sets its own fee, and it typically runs about $70 to $85. We do not know the exact Hays County amount, so confirm it with the clerk before you go.

There is a way to lower the cost. A Twogether in Texas premarital education certificate removes up to $60 of the fee. If you are willing to complete the course first, it is worth checking whether it fits your timeline.

The 72-hour waiting period and your 90-day window

Texas requires a 72-hour wait between the moment the license is issued and the ceremony. That affects how you plan the days around your wedding. If you want to marry on a Saturday, the license needs to be in your hands at least three days earlier.

The wait can be skipped in three situations:

•Either of you is active-duty military.

•You have a judge's written waiver.

•You have a Twogether in Texas premarital course certificate.

The license is valid for 90 days from the day it is issued. The ceremony has to happen inside that window, so do not pick it up too early. If your date is months away, wait to apply until you are within the 90 days, and leave a few days of margin in case plans shift.

What to confirm with the county clerk before you go

We cannot give you the office's street address, phone number, opening hours, appointment rules, accepted payment methods or exact fee. Those details change, and a wrong guess could cost you a wasted trip. Contact the Hays County clerk directly and ask:

•Where is the office that issues marriage licenses, and what are its hours?

•Do you need an appointment, or can you walk in?

•What is the exact fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?

•Is anything required besides valid photo ID for each of you?

•If you have a Twogether in Texas certificate, how do you want us to present it?

A short call or a check of the county's official website before you leave will settle all of this.

A simple order of steps

1.Pick your ceremony date and count back at least 72 hours, unless you qualify for a waiver.

2.Make sure your apply date falls within 90 days of the ceremony.

3.Decide whether you want to take the Twogether in Texas course to reduce the fee and skip the wait.

4.Confirm the office details with the county clerk.

5.Go together, with your photo IDs.

If you do those five things in order, the license itself is usually the easy part of planning a wedding.

Hays County marriage licenses, by the numbers

134 marriage licenses were filed in Hays County in the last 30 days and 1,839 in the last 12 months; the newest filing we hold is dated 2026-10-16. Month-by-month counts and the public record are on the Hays 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.