How to Get a Marriage License in Austin (Travis County, TX)

Who issues the license in Austin

In Texas, marriage licenses come from the county clerk, not from a city. If you searched for an Austin marriage license, the office you need is the Travis County clerk. Austin is the county seat of Travis County. Pflugerville is another city in the county, so couples in either place go through the same county-level process.

You are not tied to Travis County, though. You may apply with any county clerk in Texas. The license is valid statewide, and there is no residency requirement. If you live in one county and plan to marry in another, you can choose whichever clerk's office is easiest for the two of you to reach.

Who has to show up, and what to bring

Both applicants normally appear in person with valid photo ID. Plan to go together, and check before you leave home that each of you has a photo ID that is valid.

We can't tell you what else the office may ask for. Ask the clerk when you confirm your visit, so you don't make a second trip over a missing document.

What the license costs

Each county sets its own fee. It is typically about $70 to $85. The exact Travis County amount and the payment methods it accepts are things to confirm with the clerk before you go, so you aren't surprised at the counter.

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 want to use it, finish the course and have the certificate in hand before you apply.

The 72-hour wait and the 90-day window

Texas requires 72 hours between the day the license is issued and your ceremony. If the license is issued on a Monday, for example, the ceremony has to wait until 72 hours later. Build that gap into your plans so you aren't applying the day before you want to marry.

The waiting period is waived in three situations:

•One of you is on active-duty military status.

•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 date it is issued. That gives you a real window, but it is also a deadline. Put the issue date and the 90-day mark on your calendar the day you pick up the license. If the ceremony doesn't happen inside that window, the license is no longer valid.

Confirm these details with the county clerk first

We don't have reliable information on how the Travis County clerk's office runs day to day, and we won't guess. Before you go, contact the office and ask:

•Where the office you will use is located, and what its hours are.

•Whether you need an appointment or can walk in.

•What the exact fee is, and which payment methods are accepted.

•Whether you need to bring anything besides photo ID.

Because any Texas county clerk can issue your license, you can also compare a nearby county's office if it fits your schedule better.

A simple order of operations

1.Decide whether you will take a Twogether in Texas course. If you will, do it first, because it lowers the fee and removes the 72-hour wait.

2.Confirm the office details listed above.

3.Go together with valid photo ID.

4.Note the issue date, count 72 hours forward unless a waiver applies, and mark the 90-day deadline.

5.Hold your ceremony inside the window.

Travis County marriage licenses, by the numbers

1,013 marriage licenses were filed in Travis County in the last 30 days and 6,207 in the last 12 months; the newest filing we hold is dated 2026-09-28. Month-by-month counts and the public record are on the Travis 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.