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.