Texas Marriage License
Texas Marriage License Laws
Getting married in Texas is easier than many people think. As long as you can prove who you are, pay a small fee and offer a few bits of documentation, you and your spouse-to-be can be on the precipice of being legally married. It's quick and relatively painless. There are, of course, a few rules to follow. But, if you use this article as a guide, you'll have your Texas marriage license without problems. Below, we'll quickly describe the things you'll need to bring with you to the clerk's office.
Proving Your Identity
Bring your driver's license. If you don't have a driver's license, there are other ways you can identify yourself. You can use your military identification card, a United States passport, or your birth certificate. If you use your birth certificate, make sure to have it certified before arriving. You'll also need to give the clerk your social security number. So, if you don't know your number, either bring your social security card or write the number down.
Texas doesn't require you to be a resident in order for your marriage to be official. The Texas marriage records are going to show the people involved at the ceremony regardless of which state you call home.
The Price Of Matrimonial Bliss
Bring $36 with you. If you're a natural haggler, you should understand that the clerk won't negotiate the price. So, you'll just embarrass yourself and your new spouse if you try. And bring cash. Texans can be a wary sort. If you bring your checkbook, the clerk will send you packing. Getting a Texas marriage license is easy. But, you have to follow the rules. If you're a cheapskate and you don't want to pay the $36 for lifelong marital happiness, you're in luck. You and your partner can take an 8-hour class that teaches you how to communicate (i.e. argue) with each other.
Blood Tests and Other Considerations
You don't need to take a blood test before you and your partner get your Texas marriage licenses. So, if you're carrying an infection, nobody has to know. The clerk won't ask and your Texas marriage records won't have the details. Of course, you should probably tell your new spouse, but we'll leave that up to you.
Getting Married In Texas
Getting a marriage license in Texas is simple. It's almost as simple as a Texas common law marriage. As long as you and your partner bring your IDs and a little cash, you can make your marriage official. Again, Texas marriage law doesn't require a blood test or other documents. However, there's one notable exception. If you've been divorced during the past 30 days prior to getting married again (that's a little fast, don't you think?), you'll need to show a divorce decree. The decree effectively waives the 30-day waiting period.
Texas marriage license requirements are among the most lenient of any state. Frankly, the Texans make getting married easy. Of course, getting a divorce may be a little more difficult. But, you can burn that bridge when you cross it.