Both parties should appear together at any Texas county registrar, regardless of where you live and show government issued photo ID. There are no residency requirements, however if both parties live out of state there is a $100 surcharge. The license itself costs between $60 and $80. 

Most couples are required to wait 72 hours from when the license is issued before they can get married. Time waivers are issued for active military, couples who have had pre-marriage counseling and when you have a court waiver. The marriage license is valid for 90 days.

You are not required to state your preferred married names on the marriage license when you apply. Once the wedding ceremony has been conducted and the officiant has filed the license with the same county where it was ordered, the clerk will record the wedding details, then return the final wedding license back to the couple. In most states they would refer to this as the official marriage certificate, however in Texas it is not reissued as a new document, once complete the final marriage license can be used as proof of marriage and married name. 

Once the wedding has been conducted, the officiant or minister has 30 days to return the final license back to the county. Licenses must be returned to the same county that issued them. The county clerk records the details of the wedding, then sends the final license to the couple.

This final license is proof of marriage. Texas counties do not issue a separate marriage certificate, but when applying for a name change your final marriage license may be referred to as an official marriage certificate, which is common in most states.

If you need a replacement license, contact any county clerk’s office in the county where the certificate was first issued.

Most agencies will only allow you to change your name to what is currently recorded with the SSA. Ensure you follow the SSA name change process first, allowing at least 3 working days for the change to be visible to other agencies. We recommend starting your name change with the SSA online at https://www.ssa.gov/personal-record/change-name. If you can prove your identity online you may not need to visit a SSA location. If not, you will be directed what steps and identification are necessary. There is no fee to update your name with the SSA.

Attend any Texas DPS office to change names. You will need to take the following:

• Current Texas driver’s license
• Complete TX marriage license (other jurisdictions usually call this a marriage certificate)
• $11 fee for duplicate license
• US birth certificate or equivalent, if moving your pre-married surname to become a middle name

If applying for a Real ID, be ready with additional proof, including proof of new name with the SSA (updated card or mailed correspondence), proof of US citizenship and proof of address.

Applicants need to file for an updated title with TxDMV. This can be done at any DMV location. While fees vary between counties, it is typically around $50 or less. If you are on the electronic title system you will not need to pay for a new title. When you change your name on your vehicle title, your vehicle registration is changed automatically.

Free US passport replacements are only available to applicants who have both been married and changed names within 12 months of application. Start with form DS-5504.

All other US passport holders should instead complete DS-82. We recommend always using the Travel.State.Gov website as you’ll be sure to get the latest form, and the site aids completion. Full passport renewal fees apply: Passport books $130. Passport cards $30. No credit is given for unused time remaining in your passport.

Regardless of where you were married, Texas residents have the following married name change options available to them:

• Drop your surname, take your spouse’s surname
• Add your spouse’s surname to your own. The 2 surnames can be arranged in either order and separated by either a space or a hyphen.  
• Use your spouse’s surname and move your surname to become a middle name. (Texas  DPS requires a US birth certificate  or equivalent in addition to the usual proof documents)

Either spouse can take any of these options and as a couple you may have different surnames