T
tock
Guest
Here's the legal requirements for getting a marriage license in the City of
Dallas . . . down at the bottom, it says:
================================
There is a 72-hour waiting period following the issuing of the license prior to the ceremony. If
either party is active military the 72-hour is waived if the military identification is presented at
the time of application.
If a marriage ceremony has not been conducted before the 31st day after the license is issued, the
marriage license expires.
==============================
Why oh why oh why does the City of Dallas (or any governmental agency for that matter) require a
"marriage ceremony" beyond the official governmental-issued marriage license? It would be one thing
if they required everyone to appear before a civil Judge (or Justice of the Peace) to make things
official and final . . . BUT--here, the government says things are not final until a religious group
says it is. It seems to me that it is unconstitutional for the City of Dallas to involve religion in
validating a government document in this way . . .
What do y'all think?
--Tock
Text of the City of Dallas' marriage requirement below:
From http://www.dallascounty.org/html/citizen-serv/county-clerk/marriage-license. html#1
Requirements A man and a woman desiring to enter into a ceremonial marriage must obtain a marriage
license from the county clerk of any county of this state.
Eligibility
Applicants should be 18 years or older with valid identification. Applicants under the age of 18
must have a certified copy of their birth certificate.
Applicants under the age of 18, but older than 14 years can apply for a marriage license with
parental consent or permission of a judge, or documents establishing that a prior marriage has been
dissolved.
Applicant under the age of 14 are required to have both parents consents and a court order giving
permission to marry.
Blood test or health certificates are not required to obtain a license.
A license will be issued to persons who may be delinquent for payment of court-ordered
child support.
There is a 30-day waiting period after a divorce is granted within this state. An applicant may
apply for a license within the 30 days if the court issues a waiver.
Acquiring a License
A marriage license can be obtained from a county clerk's office. The cost is $41.00 in cash.
If an applicant is unable to appear personally, any adult or the other applicant may apply on
behalf of the absent applicant. The proper paper work must be completed prior to applying.
Proper paper work including the absent applicant's identification and age is required. If one
party is incarcerated, this office must send out and receive information directly from the
incarcerated person.
If the absent applicant is under 18 years of age, proof of parental consent, or judicial permission,
or proof of the dissolution of a previous marriage must be provided.
A valid form of photo identification, such as a driver's license, U.S. passport, certified copy of a
birth certificate, or military identification is required.
Time Limitations
There is a 72-hour waiting period following the issuing of the license prior to the ceremony. If
either party is active military the 72-hour is waived if the military identification is presented at
the time of application.
If a marriage ceremony has not been conducted before the 31st day after the license is issued, the
marriage license expires.
You can apply for a marriage license in downtown Dallas at the Records Building, 1st Floor, 509 Main
Street, Suite 120 (8:00am-4:00pm, Monday through Friday) 214-653-7559 or 214-653-7131. You can apply
in East Dallas at the East Dallas Government Center, 3443 St. Francis Ave. (call for office hours)
214-321-3182. You can also apply at the North Dallas Government Center, 10056 Marsh Lane, Suite 137,
Dallas (call for office hours) 214-904-3032. Justice of the Peace, 7201 S. Polk, Dallas, (972) 228-
0280 (Call for office hours); Justice of the Peace, 1411 W. Beltline Road, Richardson, (972) 231-
1439 (Call for office hours)
Dallas . . . down at the bottom, it says:
================================
There is a 72-hour waiting period following the issuing of the license prior to the ceremony. If
either party is active military the 72-hour is waived if the military identification is presented at
the time of application.
If a marriage ceremony has not been conducted before the 31st day after the license is issued, the
marriage license expires.
==============================
Why oh why oh why does the City of Dallas (or any governmental agency for that matter) require a
"marriage ceremony" beyond the official governmental-issued marriage license? It would be one thing
if they required everyone to appear before a civil Judge (or Justice of the Peace) to make things
official and final . . . BUT--here, the government says things are not final until a religious group
says it is. It seems to me that it is unconstitutional for the City of Dallas to involve religion in
validating a government document in this way . . .
What do y'all think?
--Tock
Text of the City of Dallas' marriage requirement below:
From http://www.dallascounty.org/html/citizen-serv/county-clerk/marriage-license. html#1
Requirements A man and a woman desiring to enter into a ceremonial marriage must obtain a marriage
license from the county clerk of any county of this state.
Eligibility
Applicants should be 18 years or older with valid identification. Applicants under the age of 18
must have a certified copy of their birth certificate.
Applicants under the age of 18, but older than 14 years can apply for a marriage license with
parental consent or permission of a judge, or documents establishing that a prior marriage has been
dissolved.
Applicant under the age of 14 are required to have both parents consents and a court order giving
permission to marry.
Blood test or health certificates are not required to obtain a license.
A license will be issued to persons who may be delinquent for payment of court-ordered
child support.
There is a 30-day waiting period after a divorce is granted within this state. An applicant may
apply for a license within the 30 days if the court issues a waiver.
Acquiring a License
A marriage license can be obtained from a county clerk's office. The cost is $41.00 in cash.
If an applicant is unable to appear personally, any adult or the other applicant may apply on
behalf of the absent applicant. The proper paper work must be completed prior to applying.
Proper paper work including the absent applicant's identification and age is required. If one
party is incarcerated, this office must send out and receive information directly from the
incarcerated person.
If the absent applicant is under 18 years of age, proof of parental consent, or judicial permission,
or proof of the dissolution of a previous marriage must be provided.
A valid form of photo identification, such as a driver's license, U.S. passport, certified copy of a
birth certificate, or military identification is required.
Time Limitations
There is a 72-hour waiting period following the issuing of the license prior to the ceremony. If
either party is active military the 72-hour is waived if the military identification is presented at
the time of application.
If a marriage ceremony has not been conducted before the 31st day after the license is issued, the
marriage license expires.
You can apply for a marriage license in downtown Dallas at the Records Building, 1st Floor, 509 Main
Street, Suite 120 (8:00am-4:00pm, Monday through Friday) 214-653-7559 or 214-653-7131. You can apply
in East Dallas at the East Dallas Government Center, 3443 St. Francis Ave. (call for office hours)
214-321-3182. You can also apply at the North Dallas Government Center, 10056 Marsh Lane, Suite 137,
Dallas (call for office hours) 214-904-3032. Justice of the Peace, 7201 S. Polk, Dallas, (972) 228-
0280 (Call for office hours); Justice of the Peace, 1411 W. Beltline Road, Richardson, (972) 231-
1439 (Call for office hours)