Harris County, Texas
County clerk guides for Harris County.
Harris County marriage license at a glance
The essentials for getting a marriage license in Harris County, taken from our verified county guide. Confirm details with the official office before you go.
| License fee | $81 with valid Texas ID showing proof of residency. $181 without proof of Texas residency. Up to $60 off with a completed Twogether in Texas premarital course certificate. |
|---|---|
| Waiting period | 72 hours after issuance (Texas statewide rule), waived if you complete the Twogether in Texas premarital course. |
| License validity | 90 days from the date of issuance (Texas statewide rule). |
| Documents / ID required | Valid government-issued photo ID for both applicants; know both Social Security numbers. If one applicant can't attend, a notarized Affidavit of Absent Applicant is required. |
| Where & how to apply | Apply in person at any of the Harris County Clerk's 11 office locations — no appointment needed. Both applicants must appear together unless using the Affidavit of Absent Applicant. |
Full Harris County marriage license guide →
Texas rules that apply in Harris County
These come from Texas state law, so they are the same in every county:
- Minimum age to marry: 18 without restriction. Under 18 requires a court order removing the disabilities of minority (Texas Family Code Ch. 31).
- Waiting period: 72 hours after the license is issued, waivable for active-duty military, by court order, or by completing a state-approved premarital education course.
- License validity: 90 days from the date of issuance (the 72-hour wait counts against this window).
- Blood test required: No
How the fee compares
The standard fee we have verified for Harris County is $81. Across the 81 counties and cities ClerkGuide has researched so far, standard fees run from $20 to $172, with a median of $76 — so this one is higher than about 53% of them. A reduced fee is available here if you complete a premarital preparation course or meet another discount condition, so check the full guide before you pay the standard amount. See fees state by state →
Harris County vs. other Texas counties
Fees are set locally, so they can differ noticeably even inside one state. Here is how the Texas counties we cover line up, cheapest first:
| Fort Bend County | $72 standard · reduced fee available |
|---|---|
| Tarrant County | $76 standard · reduced fee available |
| Bexar County | $80 standard · reduced fee available |
| Travis County | $81 standard · reduced fee available |
| Collin County | $81 standard · reduced fee available |
| Denton County | $81 standard · reduced fee available |
| Harris County | $81 standard · reduced fee available |
| Dallas County | $81 standard · reduced fee available |
| El Paso County | $82 standard · reduced fee available |
| Hidalgo County, Texas | $82 standard · reduced fee available |
More: all Texas marriage license requirements · getting married in a different county.