Premarital Course Discounts on Your Marriage License
In five of the states we have researched, completing a short premarital course can cut your marriage license fee by $25 to $75 — and in two of them it also waives the waiting period. Here is how it works, state by state.
The short answer
A handful of states let couples trade a premarital education or counseling course for a lower license fee. In our county-by-county research, we found a discount in Texas, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Minnesota. The savings are largest in Minnesota ($75) and Texas and Tennessee (about $60 each); in Georgia and Florida they are smaller (about $40 and $25–$32).
Discount by state
| Texas | Standard fee: $72–$82 With the course: About $12–$22 (up to $60 off) Waiting period: Also waives the 72-hour waiting period What counts: State-approved “Twogether in Texas” course (or equivalent). |
|---|---|
| Georgia | Standard fee: $56–$68.50 With the course: $16–$28.50 Waiting period: — What counts: State-approved premarital education course, typically 6+ hours; bring the certificate. |
| Florida | Standard fee: $86–$93.50 (Palm Beach $136) With the course: About $61 (Palm Beach $111) Waiting period: Also waives the 3-day waiting period What counts: State-approved premarital preparation course. In most counties only Florida residents qualify; some counties extend it to non-residents. |
| Tennessee | Standard fee: $97.50 (Shelby County) With the course: $37.50 Waiting period: — What counts: State-approved 4-hour course completed within 1 year before applying; notarized certificate. Either applicant completing it is enough. |
| Minnesota | Standard fee: $115 (Hennepin County) With the course: $40 Waiting period: — What counts: 12 hours of premarital counseling from a qualified provider, documented in a notarized Statement of Premarital Education. |
Figures are the fees we verified in the counties we cover in each state; your county may differ, so check its guide. See marriage license cost by state for the full picture.
Is the course worth it?
The discount only pays off if the course costs less than the savings — and both figures depend on where you live and which provider you pick. Do the arithmetic before you sign up:
- Note the savings for your state and county from the table above (for example, Texas cuts an $81 fee to about $21, saving roughly $60).
- Compare that with the price and time cost of a state-approved course. Some are short and online; others are multi-session counseling.
- Add the second benefit where it applies: in Texas and Florida the course also removes the waiting period, which can be worth more than the money if your date is tight.
How to claim the discount without a second trip
- Finish the course before you apply. The certificate has to be in hand at the counter; you generally cannot claim the reduction afterward. In Tennessee the course must be completed within a year before you apply.
- Use a course that qualifies. Each state above sets its own rules for which course counts (state-approved in Texas, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee; a qualified provider in Minnesota). A generic class the county does not recognise will not qualify.
- Get the paperwork right. Tennessee and Minnesota require a notarized certificate or statement; Georgia and Texas want the completion certificate itself.
- Check who qualifies. In Florida most counties limit the discount to residents, while Tennessee accepts it if either applicant completes the course.
- Confirm the payment method. Accepted payment methods vary by county, so check the county guide before you go.
States where we did not find a discount
Across the other counties we researched — including Ohio, California, Washington, Arizona, Pennsylvania, New York — the license fee was a single amount with no course-based reduction. That is not a guarantee that no county offers one: rules change, and we have not verified every county in every state. If you are in one of these states, it is still worth asking the office whether any fee reduction applies to you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a premarital course reduce the marriage license fee?
In our research, by $25 to $75 depending on the state and county: about $60 in Texas and Tennessee, $75 in Minnesota (Hennepin County), $40 in Georgia, and about $25–$32.50 in Florida.
Does a premarital course waive the waiting period?
In Texas and Florida, yes. In the other states with a discount that we researched, the course changes the fee but not the waiting period (Georgia, Tennessee and Minnesota have no waiting period anyway).
Do both of us have to complete the course?
It depends. Tennessee accepts it if either applicant completes the course. In the Florida counties we researched that specify it (Polk and Lee) and in Hidalgo County, Texas, both applicants complete it. Check your county guide.
Can out-of-state couples use the discount?
Often not. In Florida, most counties limit the discount to Florida residents, though at least one county we researched extends it to non-residents. Ask the specific county.
Where do I find an approved course?
The state or county issuing the license publishes the approval rules. In Texas the state-approved course is called “Twogether in Texas.” Start with the county guide and the office’s own instructions rather than a search-engine ad.
Last verified: September 2026
Related guides
Marrying out of state · Waiting periods by state · How long a license is valid, by state · Minimum marriage age by state · Marriage license cost by state · Getting married in a different county