To get a Bell County marriage license, both applicants must appear together in person at the County Clerk’s office in Belton, Killeen, or Temple with government-issued photo ID, pay the $66 fee, and wait 72 hours before the ceremony. Couples who complete a Twogether in Texas premarital course pay just $6 and skip the waiting period.1Bell County, Texas. Marriage Licenses
Who Can Apply
Texas Family Code Chapter 2 governs eligibility statewide. You must be 18 or older to apply on your own; applicants under 18 need a Texas court order removing the disabilities of minority, and parental consent alone will not do it.2State of Texas. Texas Family Code Chapter 2 – The Marriage Relationship
Neither applicant can already be married to someone else. The clerk will not issue a license while an earlier marriage remains undissolved.2State of Texas. Texas Family Code Chapter 2 – The Marriage Relationship
Texas also voids marriages between close relatives, including parent and child or any direct ancestor and descendant, siblings and half-siblings, and aunt or uncle with niece or nephew. The same rule applies to those relationships created by adoption.3State of Texas. Texas Family Code FAM 6.201 – Void Marriage Based on Relationship
If either of you divorced recently, the clerk cannot issue a license until the 31st day after the divorce decree was signed. The 30-day wait does not apply if you are remarrying your former spouse.4State of Texas. Texas Family Code FAM 6.801 – Remarriage
What to Bring
Each applicant needs an unexpired, government-issued photo ID. Bell County accepts a driver’s license, state ID, military ID, or passport. A foreign passport must contain a valid visa. The clerk does not accept the Matricula Consular card. A foreign birth certificate must come with a certified English translation.1Bell County, Texas. Marriage Licenses
You also need your Social Security number. Texas law requires it on the application if you have one, though it is kept confidential and does not appear on the license.2State of Texas. Texas Family Code Chapter 2 – The Marriage Relationship You do not need the physical card; knowing the number is enough. Applicants without a Social Security number can note that on the application.
How to Apply
Start online. Bell County uses a portal where you enter names, dates of birth, birthplaces, and parent information before your visit. Submitting generates a transaction number you will present at the counter.1Bell County, Texas. Marriage Licenses Check your entries carefully. A misspelled name or wrong date flows straight onto the license, and fixing it later requires a formal amendment.
Then both of you visit one of the three Clerk locations in Belton, Killeen, or Temple together. You will verify identities, show photo IDs, sign the application under oath, and pay. The clerk prints the license on the spot. That printed license is what you hand to your officiant; the Clerk’s office does not perform ceremonies.1Bell County, Texas. Marriage Licenses
Fees and the Twogether in Texas Discount
The standard fee is $66. Personal checks are not accepted. Bring cash, a money order, or a debit or credit card.1Bell County, Texas. Marriage Licenses
Couples who complete a Twogether in Texas premarital course before applying pay $6 and have the 72-hour waiting period waived.1Bell County, Texas. Marriage Licenses The course must be completed within one year of the application date, and you must present the official Twogether in Texas certificate. Certificates from other premarital courses do not qualify. Approved providers offer in-person and online options, searchable by ZIP code on the program’s website.5Twogether In Texas. Welcome to Twogether In Texas
The 72-Hour Wait and 90-Day Expiration
Texas imposes a 72-hour waiting period after the license is issued. The ceremony cannot happen during those three days.6State of Texas. Texas Family Code Section 2-204 – 72-Hour Waiting Period Three groups can skip it:
- Active-duty military, by presenting a military ID at application.
- Department of Defense civilian employees and contractors.
- Couples with a Twogether in Texas certificate.
A judge may also grant a written waiver for good cause. County judges, family court judges, appellate judges, and justices of the Texas Supreme Court or Court of Criminal Appeals can issue one.6State of Texas. Texas Family Code Section 2-204 – 72-Hour Waiting Period
Once issued, the license expires on the 90th day. If you do not use it in time, you start over and pay again.2State of Texas. Texas Family Code Chapter 2 – The Marriage Relationship
Who Can Perform the Ceremony
Texas limits officiants to four categories:7State of Texas. Texas Family Code FAM 2.202 – Persons Authorized to Conduct Ceremony
- Licensed or ordained Christian ministers and priests.
- Jewish rabbis.
- Officers of a religious organization authorized by that organization to conduct marriages.
- Current, former, or retired federal or state judges.
Bell County Justice of the Peace offices perform civil ceremonies as well.8Bell County, Texas. Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Place 2 – Wedding Information If you plan to use an officiant from outside the county, confirm they fall into one of the authorized categories before the wedding.
After the Ceremony
Your officiant has a legal duty that outlasts the ceremony. They must record the date and county on the license, sign it, and return it to the Bell County Clerk who issued it within 30 days.2State of Texas. Texas Family Code Chapter 2 – The Marriage Relationship This is the step that records the marriage. If your officiant does not return the license on time, follow up. The county cannot record what it never receives, and you will likely need a certified copy for a name change, insurance enrollment, or other post-wedding tasks.