The new statewide Twogether in Texas healthy marriage initiative is offering $60 off marriage license fees to Freestone County couples. All the couple has to do is attend a free eight-hour secular healthy marriage workshop.

The workshop will be held at Fairfield City Hall from 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 31.

Through a provision passed by the Texas Legislature, effective September 2008, couples who complete a state approved eight-hour marriage workshop do not have to pay the state's marriage license fee.

On September 1, 2008, this fee increased to $60, double the previous rate. Couples completing the eight-hour workshop will also have the 72-hour waiting period waived when they purchase their marriage license.

These secular marriage education workshops are offered at no cost to engaged couples.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission recently named Lutheran Social Services of the South (LSS) as one of 12 Regional Intermediaries across Texas for the Twogether in Texas Healthy Marriage initiative.

As Regional Intermediary, LSS will be responsible for ensuring healthy marriage services are available in its 30-county region, extending from Hill County to Hays County and from San Saba County to Grimes County.

"Recent studies show that couples that take premarital education classes have a 30% higher success rate in their marriages," said Patricia Polega, Director of Marriage Education with LSS. "Statistics show that children from healthy marriages do better in school, enjoy better physical and mental health, and have a reduced rate of alcohol and substance abuse," said Polega.