How to Get a Marriage License in Dallas: 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 Dallas, from applying to collecting the license, in plain steps.

At a glance

Where

Dallas County Clerk, Vital Records, Records Building, 500 Elm Street, Suite 2100, Dallas, TX 75202

Booking

Schedule an appointment online; both parties must attend the appointment. Hours listed: Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., excluding court-approved holidays; the site also says that effective 'October 5th' (year not stated) Mondays and Fridays open at 7:30 a.m.

Fee

$81 The FAQ page lists $81.00. An older fees page (filing fees effective Jan 1, 2014) lists $80.00, $21.00 with a certificate, and $46.00 for an informal licence. A reduced rate applies with a Twogether in Texas certificate, but the FAQ does not state the amount.

Payment

Cash, credit/debit cards (Visa, MC, AmEx, Discover), money order, cashier's check, business check (payable to the Dallas County Clerk). Personal checks are not accepted.

Who attends

Both parties must appear before the county clerk. An absent applicant affidavit is allowed only for a member of the U.S. armed forces stationed abroad in support of combat or military operations; it must be notarized and a proxy must be present at purchase.

Valid for

Expires 90 days after issue; if no ceremony occurs within that period the licence is void and a new one is needed. A Texas licence can be used for ceremonies in other states but is recorded only in the county and state where issued.

Same day?

Texas law requires 72 hours between purchase and the ceremony unless a district judge grants a waiver. Same-day issuance is not stated on the page.

Step by step

1. Apply. Complete the marriage licence application online (Dallas County eForms), then attend your appointment at the County Clerk's office with a photocopy of your ID.
2. Book or plan your visit. Schedule an appointment online; both parties must attend the appointment. Hours listed: Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., excluding court-approved holidays; the site also says that effective 'October 5th' (year not stated) Mondays and Fridays open at 7:30 a.m.
3. Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
4. Attend and pay. Both parties must appear before the county clerk. An absent applicant affidavit is allowed only for a member of the U.S. armed forces stationed abroad in support of combat or military operations; it must be notarized and a proxy must be present at purchase. Cash, credit/debit cards (Visa, MC, AmEx, Discover), money order, cashier's check, business check (payable to the Dallas County Clerk). Personal checks are not accepted.
5. Give the license to your officiant. Your imam needs it at the ceremony, and must be authorized to solemnize marriages in Texas. Expires 90 days after issue; if no ceremony occurs within that period the licence is void and a new one is needed. A Texas licence can be used for ceremonies in other states but is recorded only in the county and state where issued.

What to bring

• Photocopy of acceptable ID: state driver's licence or ID card, U.S. or foreign passport, military ID, or a birth certificate printed within the last 10 years plus a valid government-issued photo ID
• ID cannot be damaged
• Proof of identity and age is required; minimum age, divorce rules, SSN rules and residency rules are not stated on the FAQ page

Good to know

• Officiants named: licensed or ordained Christian ministers or priests, Jewish rabbis, authorized officers of religious organizations, and certain judges and justices of the peace (including retired judges). No registration or listing requirement is stated.
• The officiant records the ceremony date, county and their name on the licence, signs it, and returns it to the issuing County Clerk no later than the 30th day after the ceremony.
• Certified copies of a marriage licence: $10 each, downtown office only, in person or by mail; online and email requests not accepted; mail takes 6-8 weeks and requires a money order; non-refundable $10 search fee if no record is found.

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 Dallas and our Texas nikah guide for who may officiate and how the marriage is recorded.

A few common questions

Details come from the Dallas County Clerk, Vital Records website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Dallas County Clerk, Vital Records: marriage license page. Contact: Phone (214) 653-7099; fax (214) 653-7176. This guide is general information, not legal advice.