Getting a Marriage License in Tarrant County

Marriage licenses run through the County Clerk's Vital Records office, and both people generally have to show up (in person, or together over video for a formal license) each with a valid government-issued photo ID. The name on the license is copied straight off the ID, letter for letter, so check the spelling before anyone signs; fixing it afterward is a hassle.

Then there's the clock. A formal license carries a 72-hour waiting period after it's issued, and the ceremony has to happen within 90 days, a limit that has no exceptions. The 72-hour wait, though, can be waived three ways: active-duty military with a military ID, a signed waiver from a district judge, or a valid premarital counseling certificate. Filling out the application online ahead of time saves a few minutes at the counter, but you still have to come in to sign and pay, so plan the visit around that 72-hour window rather than the wedding date.