Texas Free Marriage Records

By Ben Kingsley


The State of Texas is one of the popular states that are visited because it offers marriage to non-residents and allows common or informal marriage as well as approves marriages of underage couples with parental consent. Although the State does offer these services, they do not allow marriage for same sex couple as well as marriage between cousins or relatives. The State of Texas Bureau of Statistics provides verification for Texas marriage record but does not issue certified true copies.

In securing a marriage license, couples can obtain the license by visiting the county clerk of the place where they intend to marry. The couples should show valid IDs as proof of their identity. They can show their passports or driver's license for verification. Should one of the couple not be able to show himself/herself to the county clerk; a proxy can stand for them. Proxy marriages are allowed in the State; however, they should present an absentee form and one valid ID of the person they are stepping in for. Once the clerk of the county releases the marriage license, the couple has to wait a minimum period of 72 hours before they can get married. The 72-hr period is waived when the couple has attended the free seminar provided by the State.

The fee for the marriage license costs about $60 and other fees may also apply depending on the county one is set to marry at. However, this fee is waived if the couple attends a pre-marital education seminar. The seminar discusses what is important in marriage including handling conflict and improving communication between the couple. The workshop lasts about eight hours and is completed one year before one applies for a marriage license. Once the couple finishes the workshop, the $60 fee is waived and the seventy-two hour waiting period is waived as well.

For underage couples, especially those that are of sixteen (16) - seventeen (17) years of age, marriage is possible; all they need to do is to obtain a parental consent form and submit this to the county clerk. Another is if one of them is divorced, they can submit a certified copy of the divorce. The engaged couples can also obtain a court order from the place where their parents reside to allow them to marry.

Common marriages or informal marriages are recognized by the State. The State of Texas declares the marriage to be an informal or common marriage if the couple has (a) signed a declaration under oath of their marriage (b) when they have lived as husband and wife and (c) represent themselves to other people as such.

The marriage license is valid for only thirty days upon the issuance of the county clerk. Marriages anywhere in Texas are allowed so one can have a ceremony after the waiting period anywhere they want. For a request of marriage license, couples can request a certified true copy of their license from the county clerk or from one of the many online providers. Requesting for a marriage license through the internet is one of the fastest ways to do so as well as the most convenient.




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