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YOU MAY OBTAIN A LICENSE IN PERSON AT THE COOKE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.
Marriage licenses are available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm.
Cooke County Courthouse
101 South Dixon, Suite 108
Gainesville, Texas 76240
940-668-5421
General Information:
- Walk-ins are accepted, but those with appointments will be seen first. Appointments can be made by calling the number above.
- Both applicants must be 18 years of age or older. Minors who wish to marry would need a court order.
- The license MUST be obtained at least 72 hours prior to, but no more than 90 days before, the date of the ceremony.
- The license expires at the end of the 90-day period immediately following the date that the license was issued if the marriage ceremony has not been conducted within that period.
- The marriage license is valid in every county in the State of Texas.
- Both applicants MUST present a valid unexpired ID such as a driver's license, ID card issued by DPS, valid passport, resident, or alien card. All IDs must include photo and date of birth. Pursuant to the Texas Family Code, Chapter 2, Section 2.005, Proof of Identity and Age, birth certificates are acceptable but the applicant must also have a photo ID.
- If either of the two applicants has been involved in a divorce, it must be final at least 30 days prior to APPLYING for the marriage license.
- Applicants do not need to bring witnesses to obtain the marriage license.
- There is no blood test.
Info for Couples taking the State-Approved Marriage Class:
- Procedures for applying for a marriage license remain the same.
- 72-hour waiting period is automatically waived.
- Receive a $60 discount on the license fee by providing your certificate of completion to the clerk. Course certificate must be able to be verified through the State of Texas online by the Clerk’s office.
- For more information visit the Twogether in Texas website.
Info about Informal (common law) Marriage:
You may apply to receive a Certificate of Declaration and Registration of Informal Marriage instead of a marriage license. To establish a valid informal (common law) marriage in Texas, both persons must have the legal capacity to marry (be 18 or older, unrelated, and not married to anyone else). They must mutually agree to be married, live together in Texas as a married couple, and represent to others that they are married. Both applicants must be Texas residents and provide proof of residency.
Note: Applicants must agree on a date on which they first represented themselves as a married couple to be placed on the certificate. Same sex couples cannot submit a date prior to June 26, 2015 (as that was the date that same-sex marriage was ruled legal by the U.S. Supreme Court.)
Fees:
---No Personal Checks Accepted---
Marriage License fee: $81.00 CASH OR CREDIT CARD
Credit card use will add a 3% fee ($2.46)
Marriage License with a Twogether in Texas Certificate: $21.00 CASH OR CREDIT CARD
Credit card use will add a 3% fee ($0.66)
Informal Marriage Certificate fee: $46.00 CASH OR CREDIT CARD
Credit card use will add a 3% fee ($1.38)
Forms and Booklets:
Instructions for completing the Affidavit Of Absent Applicant
Affidavit Of Absent Applicant For Marriage License (form)
Affidavit for Correction of a Marriage License Requirements
Affidavit for Correction of a Marriage License (Form)
Premarital Education Handbook (English)
Premarital Education Handbook (Spanish)
AIDS-HIV Fact Sheet (English)
AIDS-HIV Fact Sheet (Spanish)
Obtaining a Certified Copy of a Marriage License:
ORDERING ONLINE:
Click here to order a Certified copy of a Marriage Certificate
BY MAIL/PHONE:
To request a Certified Copy of your Marriage License, click here. Please fill out the form, and send it in with your cashier's check or money order (made payable to Cooke County Clerk) for $11.00. Please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to return your license.
TO PAY BY DEBIT/CREDIT CARD: click here to complete the one-time debit/credit card authorization form and return with your original application and a self-addressed stamped envelope. If paying by Debit/Credit card, you may fax your application and signed card authorization form to 940-668-5522.
If you need further assistance, please contact the Vital Statistics Department at 940-668-5421 or 940-668-5438.
Copies of Licenses originally obtained in other counties are not available via the Cooke County Clerk. Please contact the county where the license was originally obtained. You may also visit the Texas Department of State Health Services website to view a free Marriage License Index for the whole state of Texas.