How to Get a Marriage License in Austin: Step by Step

If you want your nikah to be a legal marriage in Texas as well, you need a marriage license first. Here is how it works in Austin, from applying to collecting the license, in plain steps.

At a glance

Where

Travis County Clerk, Recording Division (Civil Family Courthouse), Civil Family Courthouse, 1700 Guadalupe St., 4th Floor, Ste 4.300, Austin, TX 78701

Booking

The Recording page states no appointment is required for marriage licence issuance at the Civil Family Courthouse. Hours on the licence page: Mon-Fri 8:00 am-5:00 pm; the Recording page lists the Civil Family Courthouse as 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, and the main office (5501 Airport Blvd., Ste. 100B) as 8:00 AM-5:00 PM. Confirm hours by phone.

Fee

$80 $20 with a completed premarital education course (Texas Twogether program); certificate must be presented at issuance. Active-duty armed forces/National Guard members preparing for deployment to a hostile fire zone are exempt. Effective April 1, 2026, a $100 non-resident fee is added if neither applicant provides proof of Texas residency. Informal marriage licence: $45.

Who attends

Both parties must appear together. An absent applicant affidavit is available for certain exceptions; both applicants may use it only if both are deployed active military. Informal licences do not allow absent affidavits.

Valid for

Valid 89 days from issuance; expires if unused before the 90th day.

Same day?

A 3-day wait is required between obtaining the licence and the ceremony. Exceptions: active-duty military, certain DoD employees or contractors, a written judge's waiver, or a premarital education course completed within one year of filing. Same-day issuance is not stated.

Step by step

1. Apply. Complete the marriage licence application online at tccsearch.org, then both parties appear in person with ID.
2. Book or plan your visit. The Recording page states no appointment is required for marriage licence issuance at the Civil Family Courthouse. Hours on the licence page: Mon-Fri 8:00 am-5:00 pm; the Recording page lists the Civil Family Courthouse as 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, and the main office (5501 Airport Blvd., Ste. 100B) as 8:00 AM-5:00 PM. Confirm hours by phone.
3. Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
4. Attend and pay. Both parties must appear together. An absent applicant affidavit is available for certain exceptions; both applicants may use it only if both are deployed active military. Informal licences do not allow absent affidavits.
5. Give the license to your officiant. Your imam needs it at the ceremony, and must be authorized to solemnize marriages in Texas. Valid 89 days from issuance; expires if unused before the 90th day.

What to bring

• Proof of identity using documents approved by Texas law; common ones are driver's licence, state ID, passport, or certified birth certificate; original ID; ID may be expired by up to 2 years
• Applicants must be 18 or older; under 18 requires a court order removing disabilities of minority
• Divorce finalized within the last 30 days: certified decree stating the 30-day wait was waived
• SSN and residency rules (other than the non-resident fee) are not stated

Good to know

• Completed licence must be returned within 30 days of the ceremony, by mail (P.O. Box 149325, Austin, TX 78714) or in person; the Clerk records it and then returns it.
• Officiants: officers of religious organizations authorized by their organization, and listed judges and other specified officials. The ceremony is not held at the Clerk's office. Whether clergy must register is not stated.
• Name change: notify Texas DPS and the Social Security Administration; a certified copy of the marriage licence is often accepted as proof. The Clerk sells certified copies (amount not read).

Your nikah and the license

The license is what makes your marriage legal. Your nikah is the religious ceremony. If your imam is authorized to solemnize marriages in Texas, one ceremony can be both. See imams serving Austin and our Texas nikah guide for who may officiate and how the marriage is recorded.

A few common questions

Details come from the Travis County Clerk, Recording Division (Civil Family Courthouse) website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Travis County Clerk, Recording Division (Civil Family Courthouse): marriage license page. Contact: Phone (512) 854-9188. This guide is general information, not legal advice.