How to get a marriage license in Houston and the rest of Harris County — where to apply, the fee, the waiting period and how long it stays valid — plus the public record. 3,374 licenses were filed here in the last 30 days; the newest filing we hold is dated Nov 6, 2026.
Houston is the county seat of Harris County, and the county also includes Pasadena and Baytown. There is no separate city license. In Texas, marriage licenses are issued by the county clerk. These are the state rules that apply in Harris County; the office itself sets its hours, accepted ID and payment methods, so check with it before you go.
Checked September 2026 against Texas Family Code, Chapter 2. Rules and fees change — the issuing office has the final word. This is general information, not legal advice.
Counted from the filings we hold, by application date. The busiest full month in the past year was October 2026, with 3,411 filings.
| Month | Licenses filed |
|---|---|
| November 2026 · so far | 685 |
| October 2026 | 3,411 |
| September 2026 | 3,162 |
| August 2026 | 3,289 |
| July 2026 | 2,589 |
| June 2026 | 2,364 |
| May 2026 | 1,696 |
| April 2026 | 2,025 |
| March 2026 | 2,848 |
| February 2026 | 2,690 |
| January 2026 | 2,376 |
| December 2025 | 2,670 |
| November 2025 | 2,339 |
A marriage license application filed with the county clerk becomes part of the public record. The records we hold for Harris County run from January 2019 to November 2026.
A filing means a wedding is happening now, not being planned: in our own data most couples marry within days of applying. Wedding professionals — photographers, florists, officiants, venues, DJs and planners — use the filings to see how many couples marry in Harris County each month and when the busy season starts.
Houston is the county seat of Harris County, and the county also includes Pasadena and Baytown. In Texas a marriage license is issued at the county level by the county clerk, not by the city. Any county clerk in Texas — the license is valid statewide, and there is no residency requirement. Both applicants normally appear in person with valid photo ID.
Set by each county — typically about $70 to $85. A Twogether in Texas premarital education certificate removes up to $60 of the fee and waives the 72-hour wait. Confirm the current amount and accepted payment methods with the county clerk before you go.
72 hours between issuance and the ceremony. Waived for active-duty military, with a judge’s written waiver, or with a Twogether in Texas premarital course certificate.
90 days from the date it is issued.
Any county clerk in Texas — the license is valid statewide, and there is no residency requirement. Both applicants normally appear in person with valid photo ID.
Yes. Marriage license filings are public records kept by the county clerk. MarriageSignals holds 232,252 filings for Harris County, including 3,374 from the last 30 days; the newest is dated Nov 6, 2026.
Getting married in Houston (Harris County)? These tools help couples plan.
The all-in-one wedding registry. Register for gifts, experiences, and cash funds. Free website, guest list manager, and checklist included.
Start Your Zola Registry — FreeRegister for anything on Amazon with free shipping and easy returns. Add items from any store with the universal registry button. Completion discount included.
Create Your Amazon RegistrySearch every filing, filter to your service area, and get new ones as they arrive. Seven days free.
Get access — first quarter 50% offCouples land here while they are getting their marriage license. A featured slot puts one business per category on Houston (Harris County)'s pages — venue, photographer, officiant, planner, florist, DJ. Tell us who you are and we will reach out with pricing and what the slot includes. No commitment.