Marriage License Fee Increase

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Marriage License Fee Increase

Lindsey Rogers

Story Created: Sep 2, 2008 at 5:55 PM CST

Story Updated: Sep 2, 2008 at 6:05 PM CST

Texas is now charging $72 for a marriage license but officials hope residents will use the fee as an incentive to take a marriage education course.

Most couples we talked with say they're ready to tie the knot and don't want to wait.

"We kind of have to do it today. I'm active military and just need to get through this as soon as possible," said Nathaniel Robinson.

"We're going to pay extra cause we're getting married on Saturday and don't want to wait. We've already got it planned out," said Thelma Polite.

Most of them didn't know they would have to take a counceling course or pay $72 for a marriage license.

"We ain't got that kind of cash. Man, a couple of days later ridiculous. You know they try to do this whole thing for marriage concluding, that's good for young couples but we've both been previously married. We know what we're getting into," said Eric Morris.

Twogether In Texas coordinators say the course isn't just for engaged couples.  While it focuses on marriage skills, it also covers conflict resolution and communication.

"The truth is it's going to take more than love to sustain a marriage. It's going to take communication skills. That's what we try to address, the skills necessary to know when effective communication takes place," said Twogether In Texas Director of Recruitment Jose Egoavil.

Wichita County Clerk Lori Bohannan thinks it may take a while for the new program to catch on.

"I think their concept on this is good. Do I think right now off the bat a lot of people will do it, I don't," said Bohannon.

But it could catch on. Completing the course will reduce the marriage license fee to $12, and couples won't have to wait 72 hours to say 'i do.'

Twogether in Texas instructors stress their class is nothing like marriage counceling.

"Nobody's telling anybody what to do. We're just kind of giving people some tools and ideas that they can create their own fame plan for their marriage," said Twogether In Texas Community Relations Coordinator Jeannette Gist.

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