TDCJ Marriage Process
TDCJ Marriage Process
The Verification Worksheet has four sections as described in TDCJ's
Administrative Directive,
AD-03.42.
1) Law Library will verify and approve the officiant.
2) Inmate Records will verify you are on his visit list and over 18.
3) Warden will approve or deny
4) The chaplain will contact him to discuss and set the date.
The actual marriage process can take 3-6 weeks, sometimes longer, AFTER the affidavit and your LO's ID are sent to you.
(Officiants don't set the date), The chaplain does AFTER approval. Every unit has its own ceremony on certain days of each month.
It helps to choose an officiant first, especially before you get the marriage license. Choose someone who can answer all your questions and guide you through the process of saying I DO.
TDCJ Wedding Process
TDCJ Wedding Process
Follow this step-by-step process:
(LO is the incarcerated person)
1. You will need to go to your local county clerk's office and obtain an
"Affidavit of Absentee Application for Marriage License:" (It's generally on the county's website and can be printed out.)
2. Then you need to find an
"Officiant" to perform the marriage ceremony.
3. You will then mail the "Affidavit of Absentee Application for Marriage License" and the name of the "Officiant" to your LO. It's best to send more than one copy just in case.
4. Your LO must then submit an I-60 to the Law Library with the following
information:
I would like to begin the marriage process.
My fiancée's name is _________. Our Officiant's name and contact information is ______.
His/her phone number is ______.
5. After processing the request, your LO will be issued a lay-in to go to the law library and complete an I-25 (withdrawal slip) for $0.10 to obtain a certified copy of his prison identification card. (Waiting for the copy of the ID takes 6-8 weeks)
6. Upon receipt of the $0.10 check, Huntsville will then process it and send the Law Library a colored copy of your LO's identification card. At that point, your LO will again receive a lay-in for the Law Library.
7. Your LO must bring a stamped envelope along with the blank
"Affidavit of Absentee Application for Marriage License" to the Law Library.
8. Your LO will then fill out and sign the "Affidavit of Absentee" in the presence of a notary.
9. Your LO will then place the now notarized "Affidavit of Absentee Application for Marriage License" and the certified copy of his ID into the stamped envelope to be mailed to you.
10. Upon receiving it, you will take the "Affidavit" and a copy of his ID to the local county clerk, request and complete an "Application for Marriage License” and pay all applicable fees. The county clerk will then issue your Marriage License.
-OPTIONAL-
(There is a premarital course you can take together called “Twogether in Texas,” which is an 8-hour course.)
Once completed, you can receive $60 off the state marriage license fee. Additionally, by taking the premarital course, you avoid the three-day wait, meaning you can get married the same day that you complete your marriage application.)
TIMSA offers a physical version of the course that is sent to you and your LO, so your incarcerated LO can complete it along with you.
TDCJ Process for a Wedding Date
It all begins with an idea.
LAW LIBRARY will verify your status and confirm the Officiant is approved by Access to Court
INMATE RECORDS will verify that your Loved One is over 18 and on your visit list
WARDEN will review this information for final approval or denial
CHAPLAIN will schedule the date with you, your Loved One, or the Officiant