The Application for Absentee Affidavit and Instructions (Marriage License) is the Tarrant County Clerk form that lets one partner apply for a marriage license when the other cannot appear in person. It is one of the Tarrant County marriage license documents, and it carries the sworn statement of the absent applicant, which a notary must acknowledge. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF. The form and its instructions are published by the Tarrant County Clerk at tarrantcountytx.gov.
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What is Application for Absentee Affidavit and Instructions (Marriage License) – Tarrant County, TX?
The Application for Absentee Affidavit and Instructions (Marriage License) is the Tarrant County Clerk document, titled Affidavit of Absent Applicant on its second page, that an applicant completes when unable to appear personally before the County Clerk to apply for a marriage license. The other applicant may then apply on the absent applicant's behalf.
The PDF has two parts. The first is a page of instructions headed "Instructions for Completing an Absentee Affidavit". The second is the affidavit itself, headed State of Texas, County of Tarrant. It asks for the absent applicant's name, address, date and place of birth, citizenship and Social Security number. It also asks for true-or-false statements about marital status, child support and family relationship to the other applicant, the name and age of the person the applicant wants to marry, the approximate date of marriage and the reason the applicant cannot appear.
The affidavit ends with an oath of the applicant and a notary block. The instructions cite Texas Family Code, Chapter 2, Section 2.006. They also state that the County Clerk will not accept the document if it is not filled out completely and correctly.
This affidavit is not the marriage license. It supports the license application that the present applicant makes at the County Clerk's office.
Who needs to file Application for Absentee Affidavit and Instructions (Marriage License) – Tarrant County, TX?
An applicant for a marriage license in Tarrant County who cannot appear personally before the County Clerk completes the affidavit. The other applicant, who does appear, then applies on the absent applicant's behalf.
Limits stated in the instructions:
- Both applicants cannot be absent. The County Clerk may not issue a license when both are absent, unless both are members of the armed forces of the United States stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation.
- A proxy other than the other applicant must be an adult, 18 or older. A proxy is allowed only when the absent applicant cannot attend the marriage ceremony and is a member of the armed forces stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation. Line 15 of the affidavit names the proxy.
- The absent applicant must complete every blank and sign, and the signature must be acknowledged and notarized.
An applicant who can appear in person does not need this affidavit.
When to file Application for Absentee Affidavit and Instructions (Marriage License) – Tarrant County, TX
Complete the affidavit when one marriage license applicant cannot appear before the County Clerk, and before the other applicant applies for the license. The affidavit expires 90 days from the date of signing; the form's note says 90 days from the date of notary acknowledgment. The present applicant must therefore use it within that period.
After the license is issued, a 72-hour waiting period follows immediately, unless it is waived by a court order or proof of active military status. The marriage ceremony must take place within 90 days from the date the license is issued, or the license expires.
Line 12 asks for the approximate date of marriage, so plan the dates before you complete the form.
Documents you need
- The original Affidavit of Absent Applicant, completed in every blank, signed by the absent applicant and notarized. Photocopies and faxed copies are not accepted.
- Valid, government-issued picture identification for the applicant who appears in person. Photocopies of ID are not accepted.
- For the absent applicant, one of these: a certified copy of birth certificate, a valid driver's license, a military ID, a valid passport or naturalization papers. Photocopies and altered documents are not accepted.
- Proof of active military status or a court order, only if you ask to waive the 72-hour waiting period that follows issuance of the license.
How to fill out Application for Absentee Affidavit and Instructions (Marriage License) – Tarrant County, TX
Enter your name and address
Line 1: your full name exactly as it appears on your identification, including your maiden name if female. Line 2: your complete current address, or the address of the institution if you are incarcerated.
Enter birth and citizenship details
Line 3: date of birth by month, day and year, with your age. Line 4: city, county (if known) and state of birth. Line 5: your country of citizenship.
Enter your Social Security number
Line 6: enter your Social Security Number in the three spaces provided.
Answer the marital status question
Line 7: mark Yes, No or N/A to say whether a divorce occurred within the last 30 days. Line 8: mark True or False for the statement that neither you nor the other applicant is presently married.
Answer the child support and relationship lines
Line 9: mark True or False for whether you are not delinquent in court-ordered child support. Line 10: mark True or False for whether the other applicant is not related to you in any of the ways listed.
Name the person you will marry
Line 11: print the other applicant's name exactly as it appears on the ID they will use, with age and address. Line 12: enter the approximate date of marriage.
Explain why you cannot appear
Line 13: state the reason you are unable to appear in person before the County Clerk. Line 14: mark True or False for whether you will be present at the marriage ceremony.
Complete the military proxy line if it applies
Line 15 applies only to a member of the armed forces stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation who cannot attend the ceremony. Enter the proxy's name; the proxy must be 18 or older and not the other applicant.
Prepare the oath and notary block
The oath is signed by the applicant with the execution date, and the notary completes the notary signature, county, state, seal and the type of ID used for notarization. Take the printed original to a notary so the signature is acknowledged and notarized.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that every blank is filled and the names match your ID, with no alterations. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, then get it notarized and take the original to the present applicant.
How to submit Application for Absentee Affidavit and Instructions (Marriage License) – Tarrant County, TX
The affidavit is used in person: the present applicant takes the notarized original to the Tarrant County Clerk when applying for the marriage license. The instructions describe no mail, fax or online channel; photocopies and faxed copies are not accepted, and unsworn declarations are not accepted.
- In person: the present applicant appears before the County Clerk with the original notarized affidavit and valid, government-issued picture identification. The present applicant must also bring one of the accepted documents for the absent applicant, listed under required documents. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00-5:00.
- Questions: call the County Clerk at 817-884-1550. The instructions print no street address, so confirm the office location by phone or on the County Clerk's website.
- Fee: the instructions list a fee, payable by cash, Visa, Discover, MasterCard or American Express. Checks are not accepted. Ask the County Clerk for the current amount.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving any blank unfilled. The instructions say the absent party must complete every blank, and the County Clerk will not accept an incomplete affidavit.
- Printing a name that differs from the identification used to get the license. Both names must match the ID exactly.
- Submitting a photocopy, a faxed copy or an unsworn declaration instead of the original notarized affidavit.
- Signing without notary acknowledgment. The absent party's signature must be acknowledged and notarized.
- Using white-out or visible alterations on the form. The instructions say they will not be accepted.
- Presenting a photocopy or altered document as ID for the absent applicant.
- Using an affidavit that is more than 90 days old. It expires 90 days from the date of signing.
- Sending both applicants as absent, or naming a proxy who is not an adult or who is the other applicant, outside the armed forces exception.
- Paying with a check. The instructions accept cash, Visa, Discover, MasterCard or American Express only.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a Tarrant County marriage license if my partner cannot come?
The absent partner completes the Absentee Affidavit and has it notarized, and the other applicant applies for the license on their behalf at the Tarrant County Clerk. Both applicants cannot be absent, except when both are military members stationed abroad in support of combat or another military operation.
Can both applicants be absent?
Generally no. The County Clerk may not issue a marriage license when both applicants are absent, unless both are members of the armed forces of the United States stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation, as stated under Texas Family Code Chapter 2, Section 2.006.
Does the absentee affidavit have to be notarized?
Yes. The absent applicant must complete every blank and sign, and the signature must be acknowledged and notarized. Photocopies, faxed copies and unsworn declarations are not accepted, so the present applicant brings the notarized original.
How long is the absentee affidavit valid?
It expires 90 days from the date of signing. The note on the form says 90 days from the date of notary acknowledgment, so apply for the license within that period.
What ID do I need for the absent applicant?
The person who appears must show valid, government-issued picture ID, plus one document for the absent applicant: a certified copy of birth certificate, valid driver's license, military ID, valid passport or naturalization papers. Photocopies and altered documents are not accepted.
Who can act as proxy at the wedding?
A proxy other than the other applicant must be 18 or older. This applies only if the absent applicant is in the U.S. armed forces stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation and cannot attend the ceremony. Line 15 of the affidavit names the proxy.
How long do I have to marry after the license is issued?
The ceremony must take place within 90 days from the date the license is issued, or the license expires. A 72-hour waiting period follows issuance unless waived by a court order or proof of active military status.
Can I fill out the absentee affidavit online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF does not file anything with the Tarrant County Clerk and cannot notarize it: take the printed original to a notary, then to the clerk's office.
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