Marriage License Fees Double, September 2008

Well, even as we watch the economy crash, the price of weddings just went up again. And unfortunately, it’s not a part of the wedding that is optional. As of September 1, 2008, marriage license fees increased within the State of Texas.

We’ve had many questions here at Austin Weddings Unlimited and thought that we’d postpone our next blog entry and talk about this fee increase.

The Texas Legislature meets every other year, and during the past session (2007), they passed House Bill 2683 and House Bill 2685. HB 2683 provided federal funding for a Healthy Marriage Initiative, while HB 2685 actually fleshes out the Healthy Marriage Initiative for the State of Texas.

In a nutshell, the legislation allows couples to attend an eight hour premarital education class in lieu of paying a state license fee of $60.00. Additionally, the completion of the course allows you to waive the 72 hour waiting period on your license. So, yes, you can get your marriage license for free or close-to-free. And yes, you could locate a course, take the course, run down to the County Courthouse, get your license, and call us to get married all in a matter of a day – if you planned correctly! So, not quite Vegas, but as close to Vegas as the State of Texas will allow.

The flipside of this explanation is that if you opt out of taking a Twogether In Texas course you will now pay $60.00 plus local fees (remember, the completion of the course only waives the state fee, and not your county fees which vary from county to county) instead of $30.00 plus local fees. And while waiving the 72 hour waiting period is a nice perk, in reality, it does not offer much to most couples who spend nine to twelve months planning their weddings.

The course itself is free. It must be selected from a prequalified group of providers that have been trained in the Healthy Marriage Initiative/Twogether In Texas. So, no, this is not premarital counseling. And no, the premarital counseling you might be required to take by your religious institution will not qualify. However, for couples that are non-spiritual and non-religious, the Twogether in Texas premarital course offers an excellent way to explore the dynamics of marriage, add or hone some skills that will be beneficial to your marriage, and focus a nice block of time on relationship vision building.

Logistically, the program is administered through regional intermediaries within Texas. To locate a qualified class near you, simply log on to www.twogetherintexas.org and type in your zip code in the box listed at the top of the home page. Once you select and complete a class, you will be issued a certificate. This certificate will be presented to the County Clerk who will, in turn, waive the state fee and waiting period.

What is the goal? Marriage is, from the words of a favorite ceremony, an adventure in the most intimate of human relationships. It is an ancient institution, and one that can offer emotional, financial, and even physical benefits. We won’t bore you with the studies, but you can look them up. Marriage promises to be full of twists, turns, ups and downs. It has never been promised to be a constant state of bliss and happiness, but it is a worthy venture.

Divorce, on the other hand, is costly. Sam and I always say that even when divorce is the right answer (and the two of us believe that it can be the right answer), it is never an easy answer. The choice to divorce involves the unraveling of lives, the dismantling of homes, and the severing of intimate bonds. The State of Texas, acting on the federal initiative, seeks to better equip couples for marriage through the skills of effective communication and conflict resolution.

We hope this article educates you on the new fees, and how to waive the fees by using the Twogether in Texas program, or at least know why you are paying more should you wish not to participate in the program.

It’s a controversial piece of legislation, to be sure. Sam and I certainly have our opinions (on more than just Twogether in Texas).

We would like to hear your opinions: contact us