Austin is the gateway to the Texas Hill Country and home to the largest concentration of Hill Country wedding couples in the state. Getting your marriage license in Austin means working with the Travis County Clerk's office — and this guide covers everything you need to know, including the one timing detail that trips up more couples than any other.
Requirements and office locations change — always verify current information directly with the Travis County Clerk before your visit.
Travis County Clerk — The Basics
Travis County issues marriage licenses for the Austin area. Both applicants must appear together in person — the county has multiple service center locations across Austin, which helps with wait times compared to a single courthouse location. You can apply in Travis County even if your wedding is taking place in Dripping Springs, Wimberley, or anywhere else in the Hill Country — the license is valid statewide for 90 days.
Getting married in Austin? Wendi plans weddings across Austin and the Texas Hill Country. Share your date and she will build the license step into your timeline.
Talk to Wendi →What to Bring
- Valid government-issued photo ID — driver's license, state ID, or passport
- Your Social Security number (card not required — just know the number)
- If either applicant was previously married — the date and method the marriage ended
- Application fee — $80, or $20 with a premarital education course certificate (per the Travis County Clerk); confirm before your visit
- Both applicants present together in person — no exceptions
The 72-Hour Rule — The Most Important Detail
Texas requires a mandatory 72-hour waiting period between the issuance of your license and your ceremony. This is not a business day rule — it is a straight 72-hour clock from the time of issuance. Apply Monday morning, earliest ceremony is Thursday morning. Apply Tuesday morning, earliest ceremony is Friday morning.
For a Saturday Hill Country wedding, I always tell couples to apply by Tuesday at the latest — Monday is better. This gives you a full buffer and takes the stress completely off your wedding week.
Travis County Service Centers
The Travis County Clerk issues marriage licenses at three offices, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. No appointment is needed; both applicants walk in together, and you can start the application online at tccsearch.org first. Confirm hours and holiday closures with the clerk before you go.
- 5501 Airport Blvd, Ste 196, Austin, TX 78751
- Civil Family Courthouse, 1700 Guadalupe St., 4th Floor, Ste 4.300, Austin, TX 78701
- Raul Martinez Office Building (Precinct 4), 4011 McKinney Falls Pkwy #1200, Austin, TX 78744
Planning an Austin wedding? Wendi knows the venues and vendors, and she keeps the paperwork on schedule so you can focus on the day.
Contact Wendi →Should You Apply in Travis County or Your Venue's County?
This comes up often for couples getting married in Dripping Springs (Hays County) or New Braunfels (Comal County) but living in Austin. My honest advice: apply wherever is most convenient for both of you to get there together during business hours. The license is valid everywhere in Texas. If your venue requires the license to be issued in the venue's county, that's unusual and worth confirming — most don't.
Validity and What Happens After the Ceremony
Your Texas marriage license is valid for 90 days from issuance. After your ceremony, your officiant signs the license and returns it to the issuing county for recording. Certified copies for name changes and legal records can typically be ordered online after recording is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apply in person with your fiancé(e) at the Travis County Clerk's office — the downtown courthouse or one of the county's satellite service centers. Bring valid photo ID and know your Social Security number. After a 72-hour waiting period, your license is valid for 90 days.
Travis County — not a separate "Austin County." Marriage licenses for the Austin area are issued by the Travis County Clerk, with the main office at 5501 Airport Blvd and additional satellite locations across the city.
Have questions about your timeline? Schedule a consultation →
Travis County lists the license fee at $80, or $20 if you present a completed premarital education course certificate (Twogether in Texas). Confirm the current fee with the Travis County Clerk before your visit.
Texas requires 72 hours between issuance and your ceremony. Apply Monday morning and the earliest ceremony is Thursday morning. For a Saturday wedding, apply no later than Tuesday of that week.
Need help with your wedding timeline? Schedule a consultation →
Yes. A Travis County license is valid statewide for 90 days, so you can apply in Austin even if your ceremony is in Dripping Springs, Wimberley, or anywhere else in Texas.
No. The Travis County Clerk accepts walk-ins at its three offices, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. Both applicants must appear together, and you can start the application online at tccsearch.org. Confirm hours with the clerk before you go.
Looking for an Austin wedding planner? See what a Hill Country wedding costs and our top venue guide. Weddings by Wendi plans weddings in Austin and the Texas Hill Country, from venue and vendors to the full timeline. See full-service wedding planning or day-of coordination. Share your date and guest count and Wendi will follow up within one business day.
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