Marriage License
A Bexar County TX marriage license is issued and recorded through the Bexar County Clerk’s Office. Couples need to meet identity and age requirements, provide required information, complete the appropriate application, appear at an authorized County Clerk location, pay the applicable fee, observe the required waiting period unless an exception applies, and make sure the completed license is returned for recording after the ceremony. This article explains the application process, acceptable identification, fees, online forms, absent-applicant procedures, informal marriage licenses, waiting-period rules, license expiration, recording, certified copies, and the county offices involved.
County Clerk Marriage License Services
The Bexar County Clerk is the county office responsible for marriage licenses. The county’s official Marriage Licenses page covers applications, requirements, fees, waiting periods, absent applicants, recording, copies, and related marriage records.
For a regular marriage license, both applicants generally appear in person before the County Clerk. Applications can be completed at the Marriage Office in the Paul Elizondo Tower, at the Southside Annex, or through qualifying Records on the Run locations. The county also provides an absent-applicant process for certain situations in which one applicant cannot appear.
A marriage license issued by the Bexar County Clerk is valid throughout Texas. The ceremony does not have to take place in Bexar County. However, only marriage licenses purchased in Bexar County are recorded by the Bexar County Clerk, regardless of where in the state the ceremony takes place.
Marriage License Requirements
Applicants should review the county’s official marriage license application requirements before going to the Clerk’s office. The requirements document identifies the proof of age and identity that applicants may use and explains several eligibility restrictions.
Proof of Age and Identity
Both applicants must provide proof of age and identity. The county identifies several acceptable forms of documentation. Depending on the document used, acceptable proof may include:
A state driver’s license that is current or has been expired for no more than two years.
A state identification card that is current or has been expired for no more than two years.
An original or certified copy of a birth certificate.
A passport.
A document issued by the United States or a foreign government that meets the requirements referenced by the Texas Family Code.
The County Clerk’s marriage license FAQ also identifies a visa or military identification card among commonly used forms of identification. Applicants should bring the original qualifying identification or other required documentation when appearing before the Clerk.
Social Security Numbers
Each applicant is required to present a Social Security number if applicable. The online marriage application also requests Social Security number information for each applicant along with identifying and contact information.
Applicants Under Age 18
An applicant under age 18 may not obtain a marriage license solely on the basis of parental permission. The county requires a minor applicant to have a court order removing the disabilities of minority for general purposes. The order may be granted by Texas or another state.
The minor must appear and provide the County Clerk with a certified copy of the court order. The county FAQ also states that the certified order must be submitted with the minor’s original birth certificate.
Recent Divorce Restrictions
The County Clerk generally may not issue a marriage license when either applicant has been divorced within the previous 30 days. The county materials identify exceptions when the applicants were divorced from each other or when the applicable restriction against remarriage has been waived by the court.
The County Clerk’s FAQ explains the timing another way: an applicant ordinarily may apply after the 31st day following finalization of the divorce. If the divorce was finalized during the preceding 30 days, the applicant must provide a certified copy of the divorce decree showing that the 30-day waiting period was waived. Former spouses who are remarrying each other may marry each other without that restriction.
No Blood Test Required
Texas does not require applicants to obtain a blood test as a condition of receiving the marriage license.
Marriage License Fees
The regular marriage license fee is $80. The fee for an informal marriage license is $45.
The County Clerk’s general marriage license information states that cash or credit card is accepted, except American Express, and that temporary checks are not accepted. The County Clerk FAQ similarly describes payment as cash or card only and says Apple Pay or tap payment is not accepted. The application instructions also specifically tell applicants appearing after an online submission to bring the fee in cash. Applicants who want to avoid a payment problem can prepare for the in-person visit using the payment methods expressly identified by the County Clerk.
Premarital Course Discount
Applicants who present a qualifying Twogether in Texas premarital education certificate are eligible for a $60 discount from the marriage license fee. The certificate is valid for one year from the date the course was taken.
The certificate also affects the timing of the ceremony because presenting it waives the normal 72-hour waiting period after issuance of the marriage license.
Online Marriage Application
Bexar County provides an electronic application that applicants can complete before appearing at a County Clerk location. The official online marriage license application requests information for both applicants.
The form includes fields for names, maiden names when applicable, email addresses, phone numbers, addresses, Social Security numbers, dates and places of birth, and other identifying details. Each applicant is also asked to answer statements concerning recent divorce, current marital status, delinquent court-ordered child support, and prohibited family relationships.
The form also asks where the executed marriage license should be mailed after processing. Applicants can select an applicant’s address or provide another return mailing address.
Four-Day Application Availability
Submitting the electronic application does not complete the licensing process by itself. The submitted electronic copy is available to the County Clerk for up to four days after submission. The applicants must still appear at an authorized County Clerk location with the relevant documentation and required fee.
Because the electronic application has this limited availability period, applicants should coordinate the online submission with the date they plan to appear in person rather than submitting it far in advance.
In-Person Application Process
For the standard process, both applicants present themselves to the County Clerk with the required identification, Social Security number information when applicable, and the marriage license fee. The Clerk reviews the application and supporting documentation before issuing the license.
The marriage office is located in the Paul Elizondo Tower, and marriage license services are also available at the Southside Annex. The County Clerk additionally operates Records on the Run, a mobile satellite office that provides selected services at locations throughout Bexar County.
The county’s Records on the Run schedule identifies upcoming mobile-unit locations. Marriage license purchases are among the services offered by the mobile unit. Because Records on the Run changes locations, applicants using that option should review the current county schedule rather than assuming the mobile office will be at a previous event site.
Absent Applicant Procedures
When an applicant who is at least 18 cannot personally appear before the County Clerk, the other applicant or another adult may apply on that person’s behalf. The absent applicant must provide the required documentation through the county’s absent-applicant process.
The county provides an official Affidavit of Absent Applicant for Marriage License. The affidavit must contain the required information, have original signatures, and be notarized before the marriage license application is submitted.
Information on the Affidavit
The absent-applicant affidavit requests substantial information about the person who cannot appear. This includes the absent applicant’s name, maiden surname if applicable, address, date and place of birth, Social Security number, citizenship, information about recent divorce and current marital status, child-support status, and information about the other applicant.
The form also asks for the reason the applicant cannot personally appear before the County Clerk. Applicants should complete all applicable sections rather than assuming that the basic identifying information alone is sufficient.
When Both Applicants Are Absent
The rules are more restrictive when neither applicant can appear. The County Clerk may not issue a marriage license for which both applicants are absent unless the adult applying on behalf of each absent applicant provides an affidavit declaring that the applicant is a member of the United States armed forces stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation.
Military identification is also required for each applicant who is absent under this provision.
Informal Marriage Licenses
Bexar County also issues informal marriage licenses. The county describes an informal marriage as involving a couple who agreed to be married and, after that agreement, lived together in Texas and represented themselves to others as married.
Applicants using this process should complete the county’s informal marriage license application. The form requests identifying information from both applicants and asks when the couple agreed to be married. It also contains declarations concerning prohibited family relationships.
An affidavit for an absent applicant cannot be used to obtain an informal marriage license. Couples seeking an informal marriage license therefore should not assume that the absent-applicant procedure available for a regular marriage license applies to the informal process.
The 72-Hour Waiting Period
A marriage ceremony normally may not occur during the 72 hours immediately following issuance of the marriage license. Couples planning a ceremony shortly after obtaining the license should account for this waiting period before setting the ceremony time.
Bexar County identifies several situations in which the waiting period does not apply. These include qualifying active-duty military applicants, applicants who present an eligible premarital education course certificate, applicants who obtain an appropriate written judicial waiver, and applicants remarrying each other. The county’s separate 72-hour waiver information provides more detail about the waiver process.
Judicial Waiver Process
Applicants seeking a judicial waiver first appear before the County Clerk and obtain the marriage license. The County Clerk provides a 72 Hour Waiver form at the time the license is issued.
After receiving the license and waiver form, the applicants contact a judge or other judicial officer authorized under the cited Texas Family Code provisions. If the authorized judicial officer finds good cause and signs the waiver, the applicants present the completed original signed waiver and the marriage license to a person authorized to conduct the ceremony.
Military and Defense Exceptions
The county’s waiver information states that the 72-hour waiting period does not apply to an applicant who is a member of the United States armed forces on active duty. The county’s waiver document also includes an exception for a person who is not a member of the armed forces but performs work for the United States Department of Defense as a department employee or under a contract with the department.
Premarital Education Exception
The waiting period does not apply when applicants complete the qualifying premarital education course and provide the County Clerk with the required completion certificate. The certificate must show completion no more than one year before the date the marriage license application is filed.
License Validity and Ceremony
Once issued, a Bexar County marriage license is valid for 90 days from the issue date. If the ceremony has not been conducted before the 90th day after issuance, the marriage license expires.
Applicants are responsible for making arrangements with the person who will conduct their marriage ceremony. The County Clerk issues the license but does not automatically arrange the officiant or ceremony appointment.
Where the Ceremony May Occur
A license issued in Bexar County may be used for a marriage ceremony in any county in Texas. This distinction matters for recordkeeping: the county that issued the license is the county that records it. A couple that purchases the license from Bexar County but holds the ceremony elsewhere in Texas still has a Bexar County marriage license.
Presence During the Ceremony
Both parties normally must be present for the marriage ceremony. The county identifies a limited military exception for a party who is a member of the United States armed forces, is stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation, and cannot attend the ceremony. In that situation, an adult other than the other applicant may be appointed to participate in the ceremony as a proxy.
Recording the Completed License
After the ceremony, the marriage license must be returned for recording. The county’s waiver information states that the person conducting the ceremony must return the license to the County Clerk that issued it no later than the 30th day after the ceremony.
The license may be recorded in person through the Bexar County Clerk’s Vital Statistics Department, the Southside Annex, or qualifying Records on the Run locations. The original license may also be mailed to the County Clerk’s Vital Statistics Department.
After the license is recorded, the County Clerk mails it back to the address written on the back of the marriage license. Couples should therefore make sure the return address supplied with the license is accurate.
Marriage License Copies
The Bexar County Clerk can provide copies of marriage licenses issued in Bexar County from 1837 to the present. Marriage licenses are public records, so anyone may request a copy of a recorded marriage license.
For a license issued by another county, the copy request must be directed to that county’s County Clerk. The location of the ceremony does not change which county keeps the license record.
The official marriage license copy request form allows a requester to provide the names of both marriage applicants, the date of marriage, the number and type of copies requested, and contact information.
Plain and Certified Copies
A plain marriage license copy costs $2 per copy. A certified marriage license costs $8 per copy.
For requests submitted by mail, the County Clerk accepts check or money order. For requests made in person, the copy-request form states that cash, check, money order, or debit or credit card is accepted.
The County Clerk’s marriage information suggests that a person planning to change a name after marriage may want to purchase two certified copies at $8 each.
Informal Marriage Certificate Copies
A Declaration and Registration of Informal Marriage certificate is treated differently from a regular marriage license. The county states that a Declaration and Registration of Informal Marriage certificate is not a public record. Only the two applicants named on that certificate may receive a copy.
Copies of informal marriage certificates issued in Bexar County may be obtained through the County Clerk’s Vital Statistics Department, the Southside Annex, or qualifying Records on the Run locations.
Name Changes After Marriage
A person who chooses to change a name because of marriage may do so through the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Social Security Administration. The County Clerk makes clear that changing a name after the marriage does not change the name printed on the marriage license itself.
This means the recorded marriage license remains the historical record under the names appearing on the original license. Applicants should therefore review their application information before the license is issued and make sure the names and identifying details are entered as intended.
Common Application Mistakes
Several avoidable issues can interfere with the marriage license process. Applicants can reduce problems by matching their plans to the County Clerk’s stated procedures.
Submitting the online form too early: The electronic application is available to the Clerk for only four days after submission.
Assuming the online form completes the process: Applicants still must appear at an authorized location with the required documentation and fee unless an applicable absent-applicant procedure is used.
Arriving without acceptable identification: Both applicants must provide qualifying proof of age and identity.
Ignoring a recent divorce: A divorce finalized within the preceding 30 days may require a qualifying exception and supporting court documentation.
Planning the ceremony too soon: The normal 72-hour waiting period begins after the license is issued unless an exception or waiver applies.
Waiting beyond the license period: The marriage license expires if the ceremony is not conducted before the 90th day after issuance.
Using the absent-applicant form for an informal marriage: The absent affidavit cannot be used for an informal marriage license.
Requesting a record from the wrong county: Bexar County supplies copies of licenses purchased in Bexar County, even when the ceremony occurred elsewhere.
Confusing a regular license with an informal marriage certificate: Regular marriage licenses are public records, while Declaration and Registration of Informal Marriage certificates have restricted access.
Relevant County Offices
Marriage Licenses & Assumed Names
Paul Elizondo Tower
101 W. Nueva, Suite 120
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-335-2223
Southside Annex
Bexar County Precinct 1
3505 Pleasanton Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78221
210-335-3522
Vital Statistics
Paul Elizondo Tower
101 W. Nueva, Suite B110
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-335-3009
Bexar County Clerk’s Office
100 Dolorosa, Suite 104
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-335-2216
Marriage License FAQs
What are the Marriage Office hours in Bexar County?
The Marriage License Department at the Paul Elizondo Tower is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding county holidays. On Wednesdays, the office has extended hours until 5:45 p.m. Applicants planning an in-person visit should check the county schedule before going, especially around holidays. The current hours are also listed in the county's official marriage license application requirements.
Is the extra $5 contribution on the online application required?
No. The Bexar County online application asks each applicant whether they wish to make a voluntary $5 contribution supporting the Texas Home Visitation Program administered through the Office of Early Childhood Coordination of Health and Human Services. The question appears separately for each applicant, and the contribution is optional. Applicants can review the question while completing the official Bexar County marriage license application.
Can information on an informal marriage application be kept confidential?
The county's online informal marriage application includes an option for each applicant to request that identifying information on the form be kept confidential. Applicants should make their selection carefully while completing the informal marriage application. This is separate from the county's rules governing who may obtain copies of a recorded Declaration and Registration of Informal Marriage.
Can Records on the Run provide marriage license copies?
Yes. Bexar County lists marriage license copies among the services offered through its Records on the Run mobile satellite office. Because the mobile unit visits different locations on scheduled dates, residents should check the official Records on the Run schedule before traveling to a particular location.