To get married in Houston, both people apply in person for a marriage license at any Harris County Clerk branch, wait 72 hours after the license is issued, hold a ceremony performed by an officiant Texas recognizes, and make sure the signed license is returned to the clerk within 30 days. Done efficiently, the whole process fits inside a week, and a premarital education course can compress it further.
Who Can Marry
Both applicants must be at least 18. Anyone under 18 can only marry if a Texas court has removed the disabilities of minority through a formal order; parental consent alone has not been enough since 2017.1State of Texas. Texas Family Code – The Marriage Relationship
Neither person can be married to anyone else. Texas also voids marriages between close relatives, including parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, siblings of whole or half blood, aunt or uncle with niece or nephew, and the same relationships created by adoption.2State of Texas. Texas Family Code Section 6.201 – Consanguinity
Texas has no residency requirement. Visitors from other states or countries can marry in Houston, though applicants without a Texas ID pay a higher fee.
What to Bring to the Clerk’s Office
Each applicant needs proof of identity and age. The Texas Family Code accepts a current or recently expired Texas or out-of-state driver’s license, a U.S. or foreign passport, a military ID, a permanent resident card, or a certified birth certificate. A handgun license, pilot’s license, or temporary driving permit also works.1State of Texas. Texas Family Code – The Marriage Relationship
You are not required to provide a Social Security number. Section 2.005(c) of the Family Code bars the clerk from requiring one, which matters for foreign nationals on tourist or work visas.1State of Texas. Texas Family Code – The Marriage Relationship Valid government ID is still required.
If either applicant was recently divorced through a Texas court, bring the date the decree was finalized. Texas blocks a new marriage license within 30 days of a Texas divorce unless the two applicants are remarrying each other or a court waives the restriction. Divorces granted in other states are not subject to the 30-day hold.1State of Texas. Texas Family Code – The Marriage Relationship
Where to Apply and What It Costs
Both applicants must appear together at one of the Harris County Clerk’s eleven branch offices. The downtown office is at 201 Caroline Street, with annexes in Baytown, Clear Lake, Cypress, Humble, Pasadena, and several other neighborhoods.3Harris County Clerk’s Office. Office Hours for All Locations You can use whichever branch is convenient; there is no rule tying you to the office nearest your address.
The standard fee is approximately $81 for applicants who can show Texas residency on a valid ID. Couples presenting a premarital education certificate pay a reduced rate, and applicants without a Texas ID should expect a surcharge of around $100. Fees change periodically, so confirm the current amount on the clerk’s website before your visit.4Harris County Clerk’s Office. Harris County Clerk’s Office Most offices accept cash, credit cards, and money orders.
The clerk’s website also offers an online start for the application. Entering basic information ahead of time speeds up the counter visit, but both applicants still need to appear in person to finalize the license.
The 72-Hour Waiting Period
Once the license is issued, you must wait 72 hours before the ceremony. Four exceptions exist:5State of Texas. Texas Family Code Section 2.204 – 72-Hour Waiting Period
- Active-duty members of the U.S. armed forces.
- Civilian Department of Defense employees and contractors.
- A written waiver from a family court judge, county judge, justice of the peace, or appellate judge for good cause.
- Completion of a state-recognized premarital education course, with the certificate presented at the time of application.
The premarital course is the most accessible path around the wait. It runs at least eight hours, must be completed within the year before applying, and can be taught by licensed mental health professionals, clergy, or community organizations. Presenting the certificate also lowers the license fee.1State of Texas. Texas Family Code – The Marriage Relationship
How Long the License Lasts
Once issued, a Texas marriage license is valid for 90 days. If no ceremony takes place inside that window, the license expires and you have to reapply and pay again.1State of Texas. Texas Family Code – The Marriage Relationship
Who Can Perform the Ceremony
Texas limits legal officiants to two groups:6State of Texas. Texas Family Code Section 2.202 – Persons Authorized to Conduct Ceremony
- Licensed or ordained Christian ministers and priests, Jewish rabbis, and officers of any religious organization who are authorized by that organization to conduct marriages.
- Any current, former, or retired federal or state judge, including justices of the peace, county judges, district court judges, and appellate judges.
Out-of-state officiants do not need to register separately in Texas. If a friend ordained online plans to officiate, confirm they qualify as an officer of a religious organization authorized to conduct marriages. Texas courts have generally accepted online ordinations that fit this description, but there is no blanket rule, so verifying beforehand is worth the effort. A person who performs a ceremony without legal authority commits a criminal offense.6State of Texas. Texas Family Code Section 2.202 – Persons Authorized to Conduct Ceremony
Filing the License After the Wedding
The officiant records the date and county of the ceremony on the license, signs it, and returns it to the Harris County Clerk within 30 days. An officiant who fails to return the license faces a misdemeanor charge and a fine of $200 to $500.7State of Texas. Texas Family Code Section 2.206 – Return of License; Penalty Remind your officiant, especially if they don’t do this often. A missing return creates real problems on your end.
The clerk enters the signed license into county records and mails the recorded document back to the address on the application, typically within one to three weeks. That recorded license is your legal proof of marriage. Order at least one or two certified copies from the clerk’s office for name changes, insurance updates, and other administrative work; the copies cost a modest fee.
If you spot an error before recording, a misspelled name or wrong date, tell the clerk immediately. Minor clerical mistakes caught early can often be corrected on the spot. After recording, a correction may require a court petition.
Marrying Without a Ceremony: Informal Marriage
Texas still recognizes informal marriage, often called common law marriage. Two routes exist. You can file a Declaration of Informal Marriage with the county clerk, a simple form both parties sign at the counter. Or you can meet the elements without paperwork: both agree to be married, live together in Texas, and hold yourselves out to others as married.1State of Texas. Texas Family Code – The Marriage Relationship
Both people must be at least 18 and neither can be married to anyone else. The filed declaration is the safer route because it creates a clear paper trail. Same-sex marriage is fully recognized in Texas through all of the routes described in this article.
Changing Your Name After the Wedding
Marriage does not automatically change your legal name. If you plan to take your spouse’s last name or hyphenate, update each agency individually, starting with the Social Security Administration. You can begin the SSA process online in some cases or make an appointment at a local office, and a new card typically arrives in 5 to 10 business days.8Social Security Administration. Change Name with Social Security
Update Social Security first because the IRS, Texas DPS, your bank, and your employer verify names against SSA records. A mismatch can delay tax processing. After SSA, work through your driver’s license, passport, and employer payroll, presenting a certified marriage certificate for each.
Taxes for the Year You Marry
The IRS looks at your status on December 31. If you marry any time during the year, you file that whole year as either married filing jointly or married filing separately, not single.9Internal Revenue Service. Filing Status Most couples pay less filing jointly, but it’s worth running the numbers both ways, particularly when one spouse has income-driven student loan payments or significant self-employment income.