Getting married costs enough already. What most engaged couples never find out is that several states will pay you back for doing something genuinely good for your marriage: completing a premarital counseling or education course before you pick up your marriage license. If you are searching for a way to save money on your marriage license, or you heard about a marriage certificate discount and wondered if it is real, it is, and this page has every verified one.
We went through the statutes state by state and verified every discount marriage license program that exists in 2026. Eight states offer a real, statewide discount. A few more have partial or county-level programs. Everything below cites the actual law, so you can bring it to your county clerk with confidence.
The quick answer: every verified discount in 2026#
| State | You save | What it takes | The law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $75 ($115 down to $40) | 12 hours of premarital education | Minn. Stat. 517.08 |
| Texas | $60 plus the 72-hour wait waived | 8-hour Twogether in Texas course | Tex. Fam. Code 2.013 |
| Tennessee | About $60 ($97 down to $37) | 4-hour approved course | Tenn. Code 36-6-413 |
| Oklahoma | $45 ($50 down to $5) | 4 hours of premarital counseling | 43 Okla. Stat. 5.1 |
| Georgia | $40 ($56 down to $16) | 6-hour qualifying course | O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1 |
| Florida | About $32.50 plus the 3-day wait waived | 4-hour approved course | Fla. Stat. 741.0305 |
| West Virginia | $20 ($55 down to $35) | 4-hour course from an approved provider | W. Va. Code 59-1-10 |
| Utah | $20 | 6 hours of marriage education or 3 hours of counseling | Utah Code 81-2-206 |
Add it up and couples across these eight states can save roughly $350 in combined license fees, and in Texas and Florida you also skip the mandatory waiting period, which matters more than the money if your ceremony date is close.
States with partial or indirect programs#
South Carolina does not discount the license itself, but couples who complete a 6-hour premarital course together can claim a $50 state income-tax credit (S.C. Code 20-1-230). You get the money at tax time instead of the clerk's window.
Maryland authorizes counties to set their own discount for couples who complete a 4-hour course covering communication, finances, and parenting (Md. Fam. Law 2-404.1). Whether you get a discount, and how much, depends on your county. Call your clerk before you count on it.
California allows counties to knock a small amount, typically up to $7, off the license for course completers (Cal. Fam. Code 358). It exists, but nobody should do a course for $7. Do the course for your marriage and treat the discount as a bonus.
And to save you a search: Arizona has no premarital discount, despite what several wedding blogs claim. We checked.
How to get a discount on your marriage license, step by step#
- Check your state's rules first. Every state sets its own course length and provider requirements. Our state guides walk through each one: Florida, Georgia, Texas, Minnesota, and Utah. The marriage license discount hub links all of them in one place.
- Choose an approved provider. Depending on the state, that can be a licensed counselor or therapist, a member of the clergy, or a state-registered course provider. Some states accept online courses; others want live instruction.
- Complete the hours and get your certificate. Most states require the certificate to be dated within a year of your license application, and some (like West Virginia) are strict about it.
- Bring the certificate when you apply. The discount is applied at the clerk's counter. In Texas, the Twogether in Texas certificate also waives the 72-hour waiting period; in Florida, the course waives the 3-day wait for residents.
Why states pay you to do this#
This is not a gimmick. States fund these discounts because premarital education measurably works: couples who complete structured preparation report higher marital quality and lower divorce rates, and divorce is expensive for states. The discount typically covers a meaningful chunk of the course cost, and in Minnesota it can cover all of it.
The bigger win is not the fee. A good premarital course or counseling series is where couples have the conversations that are hard to start on their own: money, family, faith, conflict, expectations. The license discount is the state's way of nudging you toward a stronger start.
The math: course cost vs. discount#
Qualifying online courses in most of these states run somewhere around $20 to $50 per couple. In Minnesota ($75 off), Texas ($60 off), Tennessee ($60 off), and Oklahoma ($45 off), the discount frequently exceeds the course price, which means the state is effectively paying you to prepare for your marriage. Working with a counselor one-on-one costs more than a self-paced course, but many counselors' premarital packages satisfy the same statutes, so you can get real counseling and the discount.
If you would rather do your preparation with a real counselor than a self-paced video course, that is exactly what we are here for. Every counselor in our directory works with engaged couples, and many are approved providers under these statutes. Use the Get Matched button anywhere on this site and we will connect you with someone qualified in your state, free.
Fee amounts reflect the statutes and county fee schedules as of July 2026. Counties sometimes adjust base fees, so treat the exact dollar figures as typical rather than guaranteed, and confirm with your county clerk.
Who is actually allowed to sign your certificate#
Most couples assume the discount requires buying a course from a company that specialises in them. In several states that is not what the law says. A licensed therapist can often provide the education and sign the certificate, and many couples never find that out.
It matters because the two options are different products. An online course is cheap, fast, and built to satisfy the requirement. A licensed clinician costs more and gives you actual counselling, with the certificate as a by-product. Both are legal. Which one is right depends on whether you want the paperwork or the conversation.
Here is what four of the larger discount states require. Always confirm with your own county clerk before you book anything, because clerks are the ones who accept or reject the certificate.
Florida#
Under Florida Statute 741.0305, the course may be provided by a psychologist licensed under chapter 490, or a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or mental health counselor licensed under chapter 491. An official representative of a recognised religious institution may also provide it if they have relevant training, as may other providers designated by a judicial circuit, including certified school counselors.
There is a catch that trips couples up. Every provider must register with the clerk of the circuit court first, by filing an affidavit stating their qualifications and license number. A licensed therapist who has not filed that affidavit cannot give you a certificate the clerk will accept. Ask your counselor directly whether they are registered, before your first session.
Georgia#
O.C.G.A. 19-3-30.1 requires at least six hours of instruction, provided by a licensed professional counselor, social worker, or marriage and family therapist, a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist, or an active member of the clergy or their trained designee.
One extra rule applies if either party is 17 years old: in that case clergy providing the education must also be a licensed counselor, social worker, or marriage and family therapist.
Tennessee#
Tennessee requires at least four hours, completed no more than one year before you apply for the license, and it exempts you from the additional fee. Qualified instructors include a licensed mental health counselor, psychologist, clinical social worker, or marriage and family therapist, and representatives of religious institutions with relevant training.
Worth knowing: Tennessee does not certify approved providers or keep a central list. Each judicial circuit maintains its own roster of qualified instructors. So there is no official directory to check, which is exactly why couples assume they need a course company.
Texas#
Texas is the strictest of the four and the exception to the pattern. Under Texas Family Code section 2.013, the course must be at least eight hours and cover conflict management, communication skills, and the key components of a successful marriage, taught from a skills-based and research-based curriculum. Providers register with the state through the Twogether in Texas program, and the state runs its own searchable directory of approved providers.
In Texas, being a licensed therapist is not by itself enough. Your counselor needs to be a registered Twogether in Texas provider.
The practical version#
If you want the certificate as cheaply as possible, an approved online course is the obvious answer, and in most of these states it runs between twenty and forty dollars per couple.
If you would rather spend the same hours actually talking to someone about your marriage, ask a licensed counselor two questions before you book: are you qualified under our state's statute, and have you completed whatever registration our county requires. If the answer to both is yes, you get the counselling and the discount from the same appointment.
Frequently asked questions#
How do I get a discount on my marriage license?#
Complete a qualifying premarital counseling or education course before you apply for the license, get a certificate of completion from an approved provider, and bring that certificate to the county clerk when you apply. The discount is applied at the counter. The exact course hours and provider rules vary by state, so check your state's guide linked above first.
Is the marriage certificate discount the same thing as the license discount?#
Yes. Couples search for both phrases, but states write their statutes around the marriage license fee, which is the document you apply for before the ceremony. The discount comes off that license fee. Your marriage certificate, issued after the ceremony, is a separate document with its own small fees in most counties, and the premarital discount does not apply to it.
What is the easiest way to save money on a marriage license?#
If you live in one of the eight discount states, a qualifying online course is usually the cheapest and fastest route, typically $20 to $50 per couple. In Minnesota, Texas, Tennessee, and Oklahoma, the discount frequently exceeds the course price, so you come out ahead in cash terms. If you would rather have real counseling than a video course, many licensed counselors qualify as providers, and the license discount offsets part of their fee.
Do online courses count for the discount?#
In several states, yes, including the big programs in Texas and Florida, though each state sets its own provider approval rules. Confirm that your specific course is accepted before you enroll, because the clerk only honors certificates from qualifying providers.
Get matched with a counselor#
If you want the license discount and real preparation at the same time, a licensed counselor can often deliver both in the same sessions. Browse premarital counselors in your state through our directory, or use Get Matched to tell us where you are getting married, and we will connect you with someone qualified under your state's statute, free.
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