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How to Get Your Marriage License in Dallas

Marriage license in hand, fresh-faced Dallas couples often pose for a selfie officially announcing wedding day is “almost here.” You’ve seen the selfie, right? Obtaining your marriage license is one of the few wedding planning events both members must attend, which makes it a memorable step. The process, unfortunately, may not be as cheeky as the photos gracing Instagram. To save you some time, we put together a fool-proof marriage license guide to ensure you are legally wed on wedding day.

Where do I get a marriage license?

To obtain a marriage license, you need to visit the local county clerk’s office. It is important to note: you do not have to apply for a marriage license in the same county you will wed, but you have to return the completed license to the same county where you applied after your ceremony.

Dallas County Clerk’s Office- Downtown

Renaissance Tower

1201 Elm St., Suite 2100A

Dallas, Texas 75270

Hours: 8 am-3:30 pm, Monday through Friday

Please see a full list of county clerk’s offices here.

What do I need to obtain a marriage license?

  1. Both parties must appear before the county clerk.
  2. Provide proof of identity and age.
  3. Complete the application in full.
  4. Take the oath and sign the completed application before the county clerk.
  5. Pay the fee of $81.00. At the county clerk at Renaissance Tower, cash, money order, and credit/debit card are accepted methods of payment. See more on payment here.

Provide at least one of the following forms of official identification:

  • Driver’s license or identification card issued by this state or another state;
  • United States passport;
  • A current passport issued by a foreign country;
  • An original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a Bureau of Vital Statistic for a state or a foreign government (printed within the last 10 years). Must present a valid form of government issued ID; or
  • Military ID card
  • Forms of identification cannot be mutilated in any way (torn, taped together, laminated, etc.).

When should I get a marriage license?

After receiving a marriage license from the county clerk, you must wait 72-hrs before an officiant can perform a wedding ceremony. You must hold your wedding ceremony within 90 days of obtaining the marriage license otherwise the license will expire.

During wedding day, you, your spouse, your officiant, and a witness sign and validate the marriage license. The marriage license will then be mailed, usually by your wedding officiant, back to the Dallas County Clerk. Once the clerk’s office receives the validated marriage license, they issue you and your spouse a marriage certificate recognizing your legal marriage.

Already married? Visit here for all the details on changing your name after you’re married in Dallas.

The post How to Get Your Marriage License in Dallas appeared first on D Weddings.

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