Coleman County Texas

GETTING MARRIED??

Getting Married FAQ

To get married in Texas, couples need to obtain a marriage license from any County Clerk's office in the state, regardless of their residency. Both applicants must be present to apply, or an exception applies (like military personnel). There's a 72-hour waiting period before the ceremony, which can be waived under certain circumstances. The ceremony must take place within 90 days of the license's issuance. 

Request for Waiver of 72-Hour Waiting Period

The cost for a formal marriage license is $81.00. If proof of state approved pre-marital counseling is provided, $60.00 will be deducted from the costs. 

Premarital Education Course

Texas now encourages free marriage education classes around the state for premarital couples. The classes are at least 8 hours long and after completing the class, you will get a certificate that you can take to your County Clerk when applying for your marriage license. To find a class visit the Twogether in Texas Website.

Common Law Marriage:

Texas also recognizes common law marriage, which requires the following:
Both individuals must agree to be married.
They must live together in Texas as husband and wife. They must represent to others that they are married.  If you choose common law marriage, you must file a Declaration of Informal Marriage with the county clerk. See County Clerk's Office to complete the process. 

Absent Applicant:

In Texas, if one applicant is unable to appear to apply for a marriage license, another adult can apply on their behalf, provided a notarized affidavit of the absent applicant and proof of their identity and age are provided to the county clerk. This allows for a marriage license to be obtained even if one party cannot be physically present. 

Please note that subsection (c) of Section 2.006 states that a clerk may not issue a marriage license when both applicants are absent unless the clerk is presented with affidavits stating that the applicants are active duty military members currently stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation.

Application/Affidavit for Absent Applicant

Instructions for Application/Affidavit of Absent Applicant

HIV Information Fact Sheet:  English / Spanish

ALREADY MARRIED??

After the Wedding

The license will need to be mailed or brought back to the County Clerk's office. The license will be recorded in public records and will be returned to you the following business day. 

Request for Certified Copy of Marriage License

Affidavit for Correction of Marriage License

After getting married, you'll want to focus on practical tasks like obtaining your marriage certificate and updating your legal documents. You'll also need to consider financial matters, including updating your insurance policies and reviewing your estate planning documents. Additionally, it's a good idea to take time to appreciate the milestone and plan for the future. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown of things to do after getting married:
Obtain Your Marriage Certificate and Certified Copies: 
Consider obtaining certified copies of your marriage certificate, which are needed for updating documents and notifying various entities. 
Update Legal Documents and Information:
Change Your Last Name:
Decide whether you want to change your last name and if so, update your Social Security card, driver's license, and passport. 
Notify Relevant Parties:
Inform your employer, bank, credit card companies, and other relevant institutions about your name change. 
Update Voter Registration:
Make sure your voter registration is updated with your new address and name. 
Update Your W-4 Form:
If you are both employed, consider updating your W-4 forms with your employer to ensure accurate tax withholding.

Change name with Social Security | SSA

How to Change Information on Your Driver License or ID Card