Well, we went to the county clerk to ask about the differences between the marriage license and the declaration of informal marriage, and in Texas, here is what we found out:
The marriage license costs $70+ unless you do an 8-hour state-approved pre-marital course (lots of hyphens). Then the state will waive their $60 fee, and you don't have to wait 3 days.
The declaration of informal marriage does have a cost, but it's only $32. You don't have to take a class, and you don't have to wait. Both documents are just as legal and valid.
My FI and I signed a declaration of informal marriage today so we are actually officially married!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have been in our hearts for a long time, but we are still doing the ceremony. We are legal in the eyes of the
state; now we want to be legal in the eyes of God. And on that note, we have not had sex ever, and we still won't until that night. :) The main reason why we went ahead and did this was so I could go ahead and start getting my
name changed everywhere before we have to deal with moving, changing jobs, combining insurance, etc... later on this fall. I still can't believe it! But it feels so right. :D
