Search Public Records
Please enter first name
Please enter last name
Please choose a state
Please enter a valid phone number
Please enter a house number
Please enter a street name
Please enter a city
Please choose a state

Texas Marriage Records

Texas marriage records are official documents that record the legal union of two individuals in the state and serve as proof of the marriage. The Texas Department of State Health Services and county clerks maintain these records for demographic data and genealogical research.

A Texas marriage record typically includes the names of the spouses, marriage location, ages, date, marriage license issuance, file number, and officiator's name. Types of marriage records in Texas include marriage verification letters, marriage license application indexes, and heirloom anniversary certificates, which are decorative but not legally binding.

Texas has specific marriage requirements, such as age limits, a 30-day waiting period after a divorce, and the need for a marriage license, which must be applied for in person or remotely in certain counties. The state recognizes ceremonial, common law, and same-sex marriages, with common law marriages not requiring a ceremony or license.

Texas has one of the lowest divorce rates in the country. Access to marriage records can be obtained through online portals or by contacting the Vital Statistics Section or county clerk's offices. Fees vary based on the type of record and processing time. 

What are Marriage Records?

Texas marriage records are official documents recording the legal union of two individuals in the state. A Texas marriage record is proof that a marriage occurred between the individuals named on the record. It is a vital record maintained by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and county clerks.

Texas marriage records may be used to track and contribute to demographic data in the state. Genealogists may also use the records to document and provide important information on familial relationships and ancestry.

A Texas marriage record includes information such as the names of the persons involved in the marriage, the marriage location, the spouses' ages, and the marriage date. You may also be able to access the marriage license issuance date, the marriage file number, and the name of the marriage officiator.

Marriage records in Texas may be marriage verification letter, marriage license application index, marriage license certificate, and heirloom anniversary certificate. A marriage verification letter includes the names of the spouses in the marriage, marriage date, and marriage location. Verification letters are available for the marriages that occurred for the years listed in the Texas Marriage Index. Unlike marriage verification letters, marriage license application indexes are not legal documents but are used to locate the county where a marriage license was filed. They are a compilation of the marriage license applications sent to the Texas Vital Statistics office from the county clerk where marriage licenses were filed. Heirloom certificates are abstracts of Texas marriage license applications. They are mainly used for framing and display. The heirloom certificate may be personalized to celebrate a couple's wedding anniversary. It features the signatures of the Governor of Texas and the Texas State Registrar. Anyone may purchase it, including the couple named on it, their children, grandchildren, other family members, or friends. The information on Texas heirloom anniversary certificates compares to the data on Texas marriage verification letters.

Marriage records are public in the Lone Star State. The public nature of marriage records in the state helps promote the transparency and accountability of the Texas government, allowing the public to inspect and monitor government operations. Hence, provided you meet the required conditions and follow the appropriate procedure, you can request or access marriage records in the state in line with the Texas Public Information Act. However, no personally identifying or private information, such as a Social Security number, may be made public. If a marriage record is requested, the private information will be redacted before release.

Marriages in Texas

In 2022, the marriage rate in Texas was 5.8 per 1,000 people, down from 10.5 in 1990. 50.8% of men and 47.6% of women in Texas were married, with Asian and White individuals having the highest marriage rates at 63.8% and 53.6%, respectively. In comparison, Black or African Americans had a lower rate at 33.5%. Interracial marriages account for 18% of all marriages in Texas, particularly prevalent in larger cities.

Men in Texas marry later than women, with median ages of 28.5 for men and 26.6 for women, slightly younger than the national averages. The average marriage duration in Texas is 17.5 years, one of the lowest in the nation. The percentage of married individuals in Texas has remained stable over the past decade, around 48%, peaking at 52.3% in 2020 before declining in subsequent years. Among the largest counties, Rockwall County has the highest marriage rate at 63.8%, while Brazos County has the lowest at 38.1%. Interracial marriages are more common in Texas's metropolitan areas, with percentages ranging from 11% to 23% across various cities.

Texas has specific requirements for getting married in the state. To marry in Texas, you must be 18 or older to marry on your own. If you are between 16 and 18, you must have parental consent or obtain a court order permitting you to marry. If you are below 16, you must possess a court order granting permission to marry. There is no requirement to reside in the county where you are applying for a marriage license, as your marriage does not have to occur in the county where your application is filed.

Also, both applicants for a marriage license must not have been divorced within the past 30 days. If your divorce was finalized in the past month, you must submit a certified copy of your divorce decree stating that a judge waived the Texas-stipulated 30-day waiting period before a new marriage.

While premarital education is not mandatory for couples looking to get married, it is encouraged that they attend at least 8 hours. This course must be completed in the year preceding the application for a marriage license.

After fulfilling the requirements to get married, couples must visit the office of a county clerk in person to apply for a marriage license. Some Texas counties now provide remote options for completing a marriage license application. These counties include Dallas, Harris, Tarrant, Travis, Bexar, Brazoria, El Paso, Hidalgo, Collin, Fort Bend, and Denton Counties.

Both parties in the application must possess a valid form of identification, such as a driver's license, a certified copy of a birth certificate, a passport, a military identification card, and a Social Security card. Texas law requires that the couples take the oath printed on the application, sign the application before the county clerk, and pay the applicable fee (between $60 and $90) to obtain a marriage license. However, the fee may be waived if the couples have completed a premarital education course. Also, military personnel deployed to a hostile fire zone do not have to pay the fee. Texas allows licensed or ordained ministers, priests or rabbis, justices of the peace, and most judges to marry couples.

Per Section 2.006 of the Texas Family Code, an adult or the other applicant may apply on behalf of one of the applicants who is unable to apply for a marriage license in person. The individual applying on behalf of one of the couples must present the following to the county clerk:

Texas law does not permit a clerk to issue a marriage license when both applicants are unable to apply in person unless the clerk is presented with affidavits stating the couples are active-duty military members currently stationed in another country in support of combat or other military operations.

Upon completing an application for a marriage license, Texas enforces a waiting period of 72 hours before the license may be issued. This waiting period may be waived for active-duty military personnel or applicants who have obtained a written waiver from a judge or participated in a premarital education course. After receiving the license, the marriage must occur within 90 days from the marriage license issuance date; otherwise, a new license must be obtained. After your marriage ceremony, the signed marriage license must be returned to the office of the county clerk within 30 days for the marriage to be officially recorded. If you are getting married out of state, you may use your Texas marriage license if the other state accepts it. If you are considering renewing your marriage vows, Texas law requires you to apply for a marriage license.

Other than the common ceremonial marriage in the state, Texas also recognizes common law and same-sex marriages. Common law marriages, also called informal marriages, do not require a ceremony or application for a marriage license. Couples in a common law marriage only need to agree to be married, live together as a married couple in Texas, and represent themselves to others as married. Same-sex marriage became legal in the state in 2015 after the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision on the Obergefell v. Hodges case.

Texas has one of the lowest divorce rates in the country, recorded at 1.9 per 1,000 people in 2022, marking a steady decline from 3.3 in 2010. The most common no-fault reason cited for divorce in Texas is "insupportability," which reflects a mutual acknowledgment that the marriage cannot continue. Divorce rates differ among ethnic groups, with Black or African Americans experiencing the highest rate at 12.7%, while Asians have the lowest at 5.0%.

Texas Marriage Certificate

The term "marriage certificate" is not used in Texas marriage laws. The term may refer to a marriage license issued by a county clerk as the documentation approving a marriage between two persons named on the document. Also, a keepsake or heirloom anniversary certificate is issued to requesters. However, a heirloom anniversary certificate is not a legal marriage certificate and cannot be used to establish a marriage relationship. An official certificate of marriage or certified copy of the marriage license may only be obtained from the office of the county clerk where the marriage license was obtained and filed. 

Anyone may request a Texas heirloom anniversary certificate for a couple as a gift. However, certified copies of marriage licenses may only be obtained from the county clerk's office where they were initially filed. 

How To Find and Access Texas Marriage Records

You may order Texas marriage records from the Vital Statistics Section (VSS) of the Department of State Health Services and the county clerk’s offices. Before ordering, the VSS recommends that requesters check public indexes to verify records for the year of marriage are available. For records unavailable for verification, you must contact the Texas county where the marriage license was awarded.

Interested parties can find and access Texas marriage records by submitting online or mail requests.

Finding and Accessing Texas Marriage Records Online

The easiest and fastest way to obtain a marriage verification letter in Texas is to order online via the Texas Department of State Health Services vital records application portal. Marriage verification letters are available for marriages held in the state since 1966. Online orders are mailed 20-25 business days after receipt of the request.

Also, some county clerks in Texas provide online access to search marriage records and make copy requests for such documents. For instance, you may use the Kaufman County Clerk Self Service Web portal to search marriage records and make copy requests online. Dallas County permits the public to place marriage certificate requests online, while the Tarrant County clerk allows individuals to obtain electronically certified copies of marriage licenses online via its official records search portal. You may check the status of your request online via the DSHS portal.

Finding and Accessing Texas Marriage Records Offline

If you cannot order a marriage verification letter online, you can order in person at a local office or the Vital Statistics headquarters in Austin. Alternatively, you may complete an order by mail. Mail-in orders may be processed with standard or expedited service and must be sent to the appropriate mailing address.

For urgent requests, orders may be expedited by sending the completed application form and expedited processing fee through an overnight mail service, such as FEDEX, Lonestar, or UPS, to:

DSHS

VSS MC 2096

1100 W. 49th Street

Austin, TX 78756

Walk-in orders are typically processed on the same day, while standard mail orders are processed and mailed in 20-25 business days after receipt of the request.

Note that a copy of a marriage verification letter costs $20 per copy, a heirloom wedding anniversary certificate costs $60, an expedited processing fee costs $10, overnight return mail (for shipping within the United States of America costs $16, while USPS Express Return Mail (for shipping to P.O. Box only) costs $22.95. Payment may be made with a check or money order made payable to DSHS-Vital Statistics. You may check the status of your request by contacting the Vital Statistics office by telephone at 1-888-963-7111. The Vital Statistics office will issue you a "not found" letter if a record is not on file.

To obtain a certified copy of your marriage license, you must contact the county clerk's office where the marriage license was originally filed. 

 

References

Counties in Texas

List of Content

  1. What are Marriage Records?
    1. Marriages in Texas
      1. Texas Marriage Certificate
    2. How To Find and Access Texas Marriage Records
      1. Finding and Accessing Texas Marriage Records Online
      2. Finding and Accessing Texas Marriage Records Offline