To get a marriage license in Garland, TX, you apply through the Dallas County Clerk at the Garland Sub-Courthouse, 140 N. Garland Ave., because Garland sits inside Dallas County and the city itself does not issue licenses.1Dallas County. Vital Records Division – Marriage License You fill out the application online first, then both of you appear together with photo ID to swear and sign. The fee is $81, or $21 if you bring a Twogether in Texas completion certificate. Texas then requires a 72-hour wait between issuance and the ceremony, and the license stays valid for 90 days.
Who Can Apply
Both applicants must be at least 18 to apply on their own. A person under 18 can marry only if a Texas court, or another state’s court, has issued an order removing the disabilities of minority for general purposes, not just for the wedding.2State of Texas. Texas Family Code 2.003 – Application for License by Minor Parental consent alone will not work; Texas removed that option.
Both people must be currently unmarried. If either applicant’s prior marriage ended in divorce, the application asks for a sworn statement that the divorce became final at least 30 days ago.3State of Texas. Texas Family Code 2.004 – Application Form A judge can waive that 30-day period in unusual circumstances, but most couples plan around it.
Texas also prohibits marriage between close relatives. The list is broader than many people expect: ancestors and descendants, siblings of the whole or half blood, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, first cousins, and current or former stepparents or stepchildren.3State of Texas. Texas Family Code 2.004 – Application Form Adoption does not change the analysis; adopted siblings and adopted parent-child relationships fall under the same restrictions.
What to Bring
Each applicant needs a government-issued photo ID that proves identity and age. A valid driver’s license, state-issued ID card, passport, or certified birth certificate all qualify.1Dallas County. Vital Records Division – Marriage License Both applicants provide Social Security numbers as part of the application.
If either ID is in a language other than English, bring a certified English translation. Translation prices vary by document, so handle that step before your appointment rather than the morning of.
How to Apply in Garland
Dallas County requires you to complete the marriage license application online before your visit.1Dallas County. Vital Records Division – Marriage License The system gives you an order number. Write it down; the clerk uses it to pull up your application when you arrive at the Garland Sub-Courthouse at 140 N. Garland Ave.
Both applicants must appear together in person. The deputy clerk checks your IDs against what you entered online, has you swear that the information is accurate, and takes your signatures. The appointment moves quickly when the online form and the IDs match exactly. A small discrepancy between your typed name and the name on your ID can slow things down.
When One Applicant Cannot Appear
A person stationed overseas with the military or working abroad for the Department of Defense can submit a notarized Affidavit of Absent Applicant instead of appearing.4Texas Department of State Health Services. Affidavit of Absent Applicant for Marriage License The absent applicant fills out the affidavit, confirms eligibility, and has it notarized wherever stationed. The present applicant brings the original notarized affidavit to the clerk along with their own ID. Only military members stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation may also designate a proxy to stand in at the ceremony itself.
Fees and the Twogether in Texas Discount
The standard marriage license fee in Dallas County is $81.1Dallas County. Vital Records Division – Marriage License Couples who complete the state’s Twogether in Texas premarital education course get a $60 discount, bringing the fee to $21. The course also waives the 72-hour waiting period, which makes it useful for couples on a tight timeline.
Certified copies of the marriage record, which you’ll want after the ceremony, cost $10 each through Dallas County.5Dallas County. Certified Copy of Marriage Record Request Order a few extras. Banks, the Social Security Administration, and the passport office may each want an original certified copy rather than a photocopy.
Waiting Period and How Long the License Lasts
Texas imposes a 72-hour waiting period between the moment the clerk issues your license and the earliest moment you can hold the ceremony.6State of Texas. Texas Family Code 2.204 – 72-Hour Waiting Period; Exceptions Pick up your license on a Monday afternoon, and Thursday afternoon is the earliest you can marry.
The waiting period is waived for:
- Active-duty military members, or Department of Defense employees and contractors
- Twogether in Texas graduates who present a completion certificate issued within the past year
- Applicants who obtain a written judicial waiver from a judge with family law jurisdiction, a justice of the peace, or certain appellate judges, where good cause exists
The judicial waiver is the option most people don’t know about. If you have a genuine reason the ceremony needs to happen sooner, such as a military deployment, a family emergency, or fixed travel plans, a judge can sign a waiver.6State of Texas. Texas Family Code 2.204 – 72-Hour Waiting Period; Exceptions
Once issued, the license is valid for 90 days. If the ceremony does not happen within that window, the license expires and you start over: new application, new fee, new waiting period.7State of Texas. Texas Family Code 2.201 – Expiration of License
Who Can Legally Perform the Ceremony
Texas law limits who can officiate a marriage. The authorized list includes licensed or ordained Christian ministers and priests, Jewish rabbis, officers of a religious organization who are authorized by that organization to conduct marriages, and any current, former, or retired federal or state judge.8Texas Public Law. Texas Family Code 2.202 – Persons Authorized to Conduct Ceremony Justices of the peace also qualify as state judges for this purpose.
A friend ordained online through a universal life church or similar organization falls into a legal gray area in Texas. The statute’s reference to officers of a religious organization has been interpreted broadly in practice, but if you plan to go this route, confirm with the county clerk first. An invalid officiant does not automatically void the marriage, but it can create paperwork problems.
Returning the Signed License
This is the step couples forget most often, and it matters. After the wedding, the officiant must sign the license, record the date and county of the ceremony, and return it to the Dallas County Clerk within 30 days.9State of Texas. Texas Family Code 2.206 – Return of License; Penalty Until the clerk receives and records that signed license, no official marriage record exists on file, which means you cannot get certified copies and government agencies have no way to verify the marriage.
An officiant who misses the 30-day deadline commits a misdemeanor punishable by a fine between $200 and $500.9State of Texas. Texas Family Code 2.206 – Return of License; Penalty The penalty falls on the officiant, but the couple lives with the practical consequences. Follow up with your officiant within a week or two of the ceremony to confirm the paperwork was submitted.