The 72-Hour Waiver Form (Marriage License) is the "Order Waiving 72 Hour Waiting Period" that the Travis County Clerk provides so a judge can allow a marriage ceremony to take place during the 72 hours after the license is issued. It is one of the forms that goes with a Travis County marriage license, and it is signed by a judge, not by the Clerk. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original is published by the Travis County Clerk at countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov.
Last updated
What is 72-Hour Waiver Form (Marriage License) – Travis County, TX?
The 72-Hour Waiver Form (Marriage License) is the Travis County Clerk's printed court order, titled "Order Waiving 72 Hour Waiting Period," by which a judge finds good cause for a couple's marriage ceremony to take place within the 72 hours immediately following issuance of their marriage license.
The order names the two applicants and states that the judge has heard their request. It then declares that, under Texas Family Code Sec. 2.204(c), the 72-hour waiting period is waived. The judge signs on the line marked "Judge of Court." The form also has spaces for an applicant's address, city, state and ZIP code and for the Marriage License Document #.
The form carries the instruction "KEEP THIS DOCUMENT WITH YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE." After the ceremony has been performed, the order is returned together with the marriage license to the Travis County Clerk.
This document is only the waiver of the waiting period. It is not the marriage license and is not an application for one. The Travis County Clerk's Recording forms page lists the marriage license, the 72-Hour Waiver Form, the Affidavit of Absent Application and the Military Waiver as separate items.
Who needs to file 72-Hour Waiver Form (Marriage License) – Travis County, TX?
Couples who hold a Travis County marriage license and want the ceremony to take place during the 72-hour period immediately following its issuance use this order. They are the "Applicants" named on the form, and the judge's order is what permits the early ceremony.
The form is completed by a judge, not by the Clerk's office. Its note says any of the following may complete it:
- a Judge with jurisdiction in family law cases, including District Court Judges;
- a Justice of the Supreme Court;
- a Judge of the court of Criminal Appeals;
- a County Judge, including County Court-at-Law and Probate Judges;
- a Judge of the Court of Appeals;
- an Associate Judge appointed under Chapter 201;
- an Associate Judge appointed under Chapter 54A, Government Code;
- a Justice of the Peace.
Couples who plan the ceremony after the 72-hour period has passed do not need this order. The form does not describe any other waiver; the Clerk's forms page lists a separate Military Waiver.
When to file 72-Hour Waiver Form (Marriage License) – Travis County, TX
The order is needed when the marriage ceremony is to take place during the 72-hour period immediately following issuance of the marriage license, so it must be signed by the judge before that ceremony. After the ceremony has been performed, the order is returned with the marriage license to the Travis County Clerk. The form prints no other deadline and no processing time. Keep the order with the license until it is returned.
Documents you need
- The marriage license, returned together with the signed order to the Travis County Clerk after the ceremony; the form says to keep the order with the license.
How to fill out 72-Hour Waiver Form (Marriage License) – Travis County, TX
Enter the date of the order
In the opening line, fill in the day, the month and the year ("20__") on which the request is heard.
Name the two applicants
Write the names of both applicants in the blanks after "request of" so the order identifies the couple whose ceremony it permits.
Confirm the judge may sign
Check the NOTE on the form: the order can be completed by any judge or justice listed there, including a County Judge or a Justice of the Peace.
Have the judge sign the order
The judge signs on the line marked "Judge of Court" after finding good cause for the ceremony to take place during the 72-hour period.
Enter the applicant's address
In the section headed "KEEP THIS DOCUMENT WITH YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE," write the Applicant's Address, City, State and Zip.
Enter the license document number
Write the Marriage License Document # exactly as it appears on the marriage license issued to the applicants.
Review, download and keep with the license
Check every blank, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and keep it with the marriage license until it is returned as described under How to submit.
How to submit 72-Hour Waiver Form (Marriage License) – Travis County, TX
The form names one channel: mail the signed order back to the Travis County Clerk together with the marriage license after the ceremony.
- By mail: Travis County Clerk, PO Box 149325, Austin, TX 78714-9325.
- Questions: the Clerk's phone number printed on the form is (512) 854-9188.
Send the order only after the ceremony has been performed, and send it with the marriage license, not by itself. Before the ceremony, keep the order with the license. The form does not mention a fee. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the Travis County Clerk's instructions above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mailing the order back before the ceremony has been performed; the form says to return it after the ceremony.
- Sending the order to the Clerk without the marriage license; the form says to return it with the license.
- Letting the order get separated from the license; the form says to keep this document with your marriage license.
- Leaving the Marriage License Document # blank, so the order cannot be matched to the license.
- Having the order signed by someone who is not among the judges listed in the form's note.
- Mailing the return to a street address instead of PO Box 149325, Austin, TX 78714-9325.
- Treating the waiver as a marriage license; it only waives the 72-hour waiting period under Texas Family Code Sec. 2.204(c).
Frequently asked questions
What is the 72-Hour Waiver Form for a marriage license?
It is the Travis County Clerk's "Order Waiving 72 Hour Waiting Period." A judge signs it to permit a marriage ceremony during the 72 hours immediately after the marriage license is issued, under Texas Family Code Sec. 2.204(c).
Is this the form to get a Travis County marriage license?
No. This is only the waiver of the 72-hour waiting period, to be kept with a marriage license you already hold. The Travis County Clerk lists the marriage license separately under Recording; call (512) 854-9188 for questions.
Who can sign the 72-hour waiver order?
Any judge listed in the form's note: a family-law judge including District Court Judges, a Supreme Court Justice, a Judge of the court of Criminal Appeals, a County Judge, a Court of Appeals Judge, certain Associate Judges, or a Justice of the Peace.
Where do I send the 72-hour waiver after the ceremony?
Return it with the marriage license to the Travis County Clerk, PO Box 149325, Austin, TX 78714-9325, after the ceremony has been performed. The form names no other return channel.
Do I have to keep the waiver with my marriage license?
Yes. The form is marked "KEEP THIS DOCUMENT WITH YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE" and says to return the order with the license after the ceremony. It also asks for the Marriage License Document # so the two match.
Can I fill out the 72-hour waiver form online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of the Travis County Clerk and does not file the order; the judge must sign it, and it is returned to the Clerk by mail.
Ready to fill out 72-Hour Waiver Form (Marriage License) – Travis County, TX?
Fill out 72-Hour Waiver Form (Marriage License) – Travis County, TX now