How to Get a Marriage License in Dallas & North Texas
A practical guide to marriage licenses in Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton, and Rockwall counties — plus what to do once your license is in hand.
Getting married in North Texas starts with one important piece of paperwork: your Texas marriage license.
The good news is that the process is usually straightforward. The part that causes confusion is that each county clerk handles applications a little differently.
Dallas County may work differently from Tarrant County. Collin County may have different office availability than Denton County. Rockwall County has its own process too.
This guide breaks down the major North Texas counties so you can spend less time figuring out paperwork and more time planning the part that actually matters:
Getting married.
Already Have Your Marriage License?
You may already be at the easy part. View Dallas Wedding Officiants ceremony options, current pricing, and available appointment times online.
View Ceremonies & Book OnlineFirst: Texas Marriage License Rules You Should Know
Before comparing counties, there are a few Texas rules that generally apply regardless of where you obtain the license.
- A Texas marriage license can generally be used for a ceremony anywhere in Texas.
- Texas generally requires a 72-hour waiting period after the license is issued before the ceremony.
- Statutory exceptions to the 72-hour waiting period may apply.
- A marriage license generally expires if the ceremony does not occur before the 90th day after issuance.
- After the ceremony, the officiant completes the required portion of the license and returns it to the issuing county clerk.
Get your marriage license.
Wait if required.
Have your ceremony.
Get married.
Dallas County Marriage License
Best for: Couples in Dallas who want a central location or one of the available county offices.
Dallas County requires couples to complete the marriage-license application online before obtaining the license.
Dallas County Records Building
500 Elm Street, Suite 2100
Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: 214-653-7099
The office is generally open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
How the Dallas County Process Works
- Complete the marriage-license application online.
- Save the order number generated by the application.
- Both applicants generally appear to complete the process.
- Bring acceptable identification.
- Review and sign the application before the clerk.
- Pay the required marriage-license fee.
The downtown Dallas County Records Building accepts walk-ins after the online application has been completed. Some satellite locations may use appointments or have different availability.
Got Your Dallas County License?
You don't have to return to a courthouse to get married. Once your license is valid for use, an authorized wedding officiant can perform your ceremony.
Check Wedding AvailabilityTarrant County Marriage License
Best for: Couples who want a remote marriage-license option.
Tarrant County offers one of the most convenient marriage-license options in North Texas:
A formal marriage-license application by video conference.
Couples who cannot conveniently visit the clerk's office may be able to complete the process remotely from a computer if they meet the county's requirements.
For the Remote Option, You Will Need:
- A computer or laptop
- Reliable internet access
- Webcam
- Microphone and speakers
- Required identification and documentation
- An Affidavit of Age and Identity for the video-conference process
The video-conference option applies to formal marriage-license applicants, not Declaration of Informal Marriage applicants.
Prefer to Go in Person?
You can also complete the application and finish the process at the downtown office or an available Tarrant County subcourthouse location.
Phone: 817-884-1550
Typical hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
If your schedules make it difficult for both of you to get away during normal business hours, Tarrant County's remote option can eliminate an entire trip to the courthouse.
Collin County Marriage License
Best for: Couples in McKinney, Frisco, Plano, Allen, and surrounding communities.
Collin County allows couples to begin the marriage-license process online or through the County Clerk.
Because county office locations and availability can change, couples should check Collin County's current marriage-license page before traveling to a specific branch.
Why Collin County May Be Convenient
If you live in Collin County, you can obtain your marriage license there and still use it for a wedding elsewhere in Texas.
You do not need a Dallas County marriage license simply because your ceremony will take place elsewhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Denton County Marriage License
Best for: Couples who want several clerk locations throughout the northern DFW suburbs.
Denton County offers marriage-license services at multiple County Clerk locations.
Locations may serve areas including:
- Denton
- Carrollton
- Cross Roads
- Lewisville
- Frisco
- Flower Mound
Offices generally operate Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Both applicants generally must be present unless a specific statutory exception applies.
A Major Advantage
A Denton County marriage license can be used for a ceremony elsewhere in Texas.
That can make Denton County especially convenient for couples who live in the northern suburbs but plan to have their ceremony somewhere else in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Rockwall County Marriage License
Best for: Couples east of Dallas looking for a straightforward County Clerk process.
Rockwall County Clerk
1111 E. Yellowjacket Lane, Suite 100
Rockwall, TX 75087
Phone: 972-204-6300
Hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Couples can begin the marriage-license application process and then appear at the County Clerk's office to complete the required steps.
Rockwall County also has a distinctive connection to Texas marriage history and was designated the “Marriage Capital of Texas.”
Which North Texas County Should We Use?
You generally do not need to choose the county based on where your wedding ceremony will take place.
Instead, choose based on convenience.
- Dallas County: convenient for couples near central Dallas.
- Tarrant County: worth considering if the remote application option fits your situation.
- Collin County: convenient for McKinney, Plano, Allen, Frisco, and nearby communities.
- Denton County: useful for couples who want several northern-suburb locations.
- Rockwall County: convenient for couples east of Dallas.
The best county is often simply the one that makes it easiest for both of you to get the license.
Do We Have to Get Married in the County That Issued Our License?
Generally, no.
A Texas marriage license is generally not restricted to a ceremony inside the issuing county.
For example:
- You can obtain a marriage license in Denton County and have your ceremony in Dallas.
- You can obtain one in Tarrant County and have your ceremony in Irving.
- You can obtain one in Collin County and have an authorized officiant perform your ceremony elsewhere in Texas.
That flexibility is why it often makes more sense to choose the county clerk process that is most convenient for you.
We Got Our Marriage License. Now What?
This is where Dallas Wedding Officiants comes in.
A lot of couples leave the county clerk with their license and suddenly realize:
“Okay…who actually marries us now?”
You don't have to go back to the courthouse.
You don't have to spend days calling around trying to find a judge.
And you don't have to plan a large traditional wedding.
Our Process Is Simple
- Choose your ceremony online.
- Select an available appointment.
- Bring your Texas marriage license.
- Get married.
Our ceremony options, photographs, guest allowances, pricing, and appointment availability are provided online.
Ready for the Ceremony?
Choose the wedding experience that fits you and see available appointment times online.
View Pricing & Available TimesA Dallas Courthouse Wedding Alternative
Getting your marriage license may happen in a government office.
Your wedding doesn't have to.
Dallas Wedding Officiants provides an alternative for couples looking for:
- Courthouse wedding alternative in Dallas
- Justice of the Peace alternative
- Wedding officiant in Dallas-Fort Worth
- Marriage-license ceremony
- Couple-only wedding
- Small intimate wedding
- Simple wedding ceremony
- Religious or nonreligious ceremony
- Bilingual wedding ceremony
Some couples want an elaborate wedding.
Others want six guests.
Some want their children there.
Some want prayer and scripture.
Some want rings and traditional vows.
And some simply say:
“We already have the license. We just want to get married.”
We understand.
Simple doesn't mean unimportant.
Dallas Wedding Officiants exists because couples should be able to have a meaningful wedding ceremony without being pushed into a larger, more complicated, or more expensive event than they actually want.
That principle is part of our nonprofit mission.
We keep the process straightforward and make our ceremony options, pricing, guest limits, photographs, and available appointments accessible online.
That lets couples make a decision without a sales consultation or venue-shopping process.
Choose your ceremony.
Choose your time.
Bring your marriage license.
We'll take care of the wedding.
Ready to Get Married in Dallas-Fort Worth?
Once your marriage license is in hand and the applicable waiting period has been satisfied, you may be only one appointment away from getting married.
There's no need to turn a simple wedding into a major production.
Choose the ceremony that fits you. Select an available time. Bring your marriage license. Get married.
Schedule Your WeddingDallasWeddingOfficiants.com/bookonline
Cómo Obtener una Licencia de Matrimonio en Dallas y el Norte de Texas
Obtener su licencia de matrimonio es uno de los primeros pasos para casarse legalmente en Texas.
Aunque las reglas estatales son similares en todo Texas, cada condado administra el proceso de solicitud de manera un poco diferente.
En el área de Dallas-Fort Worth, las parejas pueden obtener su licencia en condados como Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton o Rockwall.
Reglas Generales de Texas
- Una licencia de matrimonio de Texas generalmente puede utilizarse para una ceremonia en cualquier parte del estado.
- Normalmente existe un período de espera de 72 horas después de que se emite la licencia.
- La ley establece ciertas excepciones al período de espera.
- La licencia generalmente debe utilizarse antes de que expire.
Condado de Dallas
La solicitud debe completarse en línea antes de finalizar el trámite.
Dallas County Records Building
500 Elm Street, Suite 2100
Dallas, TX 75202
Teléfono: 214-653-7099
Condado de Tarrant
Tarrant County ofrece una opción especialmente conveniente para ciertos solicitantes de una licencia formal: completar el proceso mediante videoconferencia cuando se cumplen los requisitos del condado.
Condado de Collin
Collin County permite iniciar el proceso de solicitud en línea. Antes de acudir, verifiquen la ubicación y el horario actual de las oficinas del condado.
Condado de Denton
Denton County ofrece servicios de licencias de matrimonio en varias ubicaciones del norte del área metropolitana, incluyendo comunidades como Denton, Lewisville, Frisco, Carrollton y Flower Mound.
Condado de Rockwall
La oficina del Rockwall County Clerk se encuentra en:
1111 E. Yellowjacket Lane, Suite 100
Rockwall, TX 75087
Teléfono: 972-204-6300
¿Ya Tienen Su Licencia de Matrimonio?
Entonces el próximo paso puede ser mucho más sencillo.
No necesitan regresar al tribunal para casarse.
Dallas Wedding Officiants ofrece ceremonias sencillas e íntimas para parejas que buscan una alternativa a una boda en la corte.
Seleccionen su cita.
Traigan su licencia.
Cásense.
¿Listos Para Casarse?
Consulten las opciones de ceremonia, precios y citas disponibles en línea.
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