Texas - Obtain copy of Marriage Certificate

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Procedure

1. Requests for certified copies of a Marriage Certificate should be directed to the County Clerk's Office where the event occurred.
2. Complete an application form and submit all required documents.
3. Pay the fee.

Marriage Verification

Verification letters are not considered legal substitutes for marriage licenses or divorce decrees. The Vital Statistics Unit highly recommends that applicants ensure a verification will satisfy its intended use.

Certified copies of marriage licenses or divorce decrees are only available from the county clerk (marriage) or district clerk (divorce) in the county or district in which it was obtained.

The Vital Statistics Unit provides letters verifying if marriage or divorce was recorded with the State of Texas based on the application for marriage or divorce sent to our office by the county or district clerk. If no record of a marriage is found, the verification letter itself can be considered a "single-status letter," which some foreign countries accept as legal proof of single status.

In-Person

1. Submit your request to:
   1100 W. 49th St.
   Austin, TX 78756
   The office is open MondayFriday 8 am5 pm
2. Obtain and fill out an application.
3. Send in the completed application along with your payment and your valid identification.

Expedited Services

1. Print the application.
2. Fill in the required information.
3. You must include a photocopy of your valid photo ID issued by a governmental entity.
4. Orders must be sent to the Texas Department of State Health ServicesVital Statistics Unit via an overnight mail service, such as: Fedex, Lonestar, UPS. Note: Do not send via USPS Priority Mail.

U.S. Postal Service

1. Print the application.
2. Fill in the required information.
3. You must include a photocopy of your valid photo ID issued by a governmental entity.

Online
You can apply online with www.texas.gov

Texas.gov

Anyone ordering from Texas.gov must be ordering a record to be delivered within the United States, to U.S. territories or U.S. commonwealths, or to U.S. military addresses (APO, FPO). Texas.gov Vital Records Application - LINK

Online (VitalChek)

Go online and simply follow the steps to place an order. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service and all major credit cards are accepted. You will receive an e-mail notification once your certificate is shipped. If your shipment is via UPS, you will also receive the UPS tracking number.

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Required Documents

One of the following ID's can be used

• State-issued driver's license
• State/city/county ID card
• Student ID
• Government employment badge or card
• Prison ID
• Military ID

See Section 181.28 of the the Texas Administrative Code for a complete list of acceptable forms of identification

Office Locations & Contacts

Texas Department of State Health Services

Mailing Address:
PO Box 149347, Austin, Texas 78714-9347

Overnight Mailings (Federal Express, UPS, DHL):
1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756-3199

Physical Addresses:
Central Campus 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756
Map and Other Locations

Vital Statistics - Phone/Fax: (512) 776-7111
Vital Statistics - Request Processing: Toll Free (888) 963-7111

Website

County and District Clerk's offices in Texas

Certificates may also be obtained from your local county. Use the contact information below to inquire.

Anderson County : 500 N. Church Street, #10, Palestine, TX 75801
Website

Andrews County : 215 NW 1st Street Andrews, TX 79714
Phone: 915.524.1426 Website

Angelina County : PO Box 908 Lufkin, TX 75902-0908
Phone: 936.634.8339 Website

Aransas County : 301 N Liveoak Street Rockport, TX 78382-2744
Phone: 361.790.0122 Website

Archer County : 112 E Walnut PO Box 458 Archer City, TX 76351
Phone: 940.574.4615 Website

Armstrong County : Courthouse PO Box 309 Claude, TX 79019
Phone: 806.226.2081 Website

Atascosa County : 5 Courthouse Circle Drive; Jourdanton, TX 78026
Phone: 830.769.2511 Website

Austin County : 1 E Main Street Bellville, TX 77418
Phone: 979.865.5911 Website

Bailey County : 300 S 1st Street Muleshoe, TX 79347-3621
Phone: 806.272.3044 Website

Bandera County : Bandera, TX 78003
Phone: 830.796.3332 Website

Bastrop County : 804 Pecan Street PO Box 577 Bastrop, TX 78602
Phone: 512.332.7234 Website

Baylor County : 101 S Washington PO Box 689 Seymour, TX 76380-0689
Phone: 940.888.3322 Website

Bee County : 105 W Corpus Christi Street Beeville, TX 78102-5684
Phone: 361.362.3245 Website

Bell County : 550 E 2nd Street PO Box 480 Belton, TX 76513
Phone: 254.933.5174 Website

Bexar County : 100 Dolorosa, Suite 108 San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: 210-335-2585 Website

Blanco County : PO Box 65 Johnson City, TX 78636-0117
Phone: 830.868.7357 Website

Borden County : 117 E Wasson PO Box 124 Gail, TX 79738
Phone: 806.756.4312 Website

Bosque County : PO Box 617 Meridian, TX 76665
Phone: 254.435.2201 Website

Bowie County : PO Box 248 New Boston, TX 75570
Phone: 903.628.2571 Website

Brazoria County : 111 E Locust St Ste 200 Angleton, TX 7751
Phone: 979.864.1357 Website

Brazos County  : 300 E 26th Ste 120 Bryan, TX 77803
Phone: 979.361.4528 Website

Brewster County  : 201 W Ave East Alpine, TX 79830
Phone: 915.837.3366 Website

Briscoe County  : 415 Main Street P.O. Box 555 Silverton, Tx 79257
Phone: 806-823-2134 Website

Brooks County  : PO Box 427 Falfurrias, TX 78355
Phone: 361.325.3053 Website

Brown County  : 200 S Broadway Street Brownwood, TX 76801
Phone: 915.643.2594 Website

Burleson County  : PO Box 57 Caldwell, TX 77836
Phone: 409.567.2329 Website

Burnet County  : 220 S Pierce Street Burnet, TX 78611-3136
Phone: 512.756.5420 Website

Caldwell County  : 110 S Main Street Lockhart, TX 78644
Phone: 512.398.1804 Website

Calhoun

Eligibility

Marriages should be registered with Texas Department of State Health Services.

Fees

DSHS

In Person: $20 per verification

You may pay in: Cash, Check, Credit/Debit Card+, Money order

Expedited Service:

• $20 per verification
• Plus $5 expedited processing fee
• Plus $8 return delivery for Lonestar (within Texas) or Fedex (outside of Texas) or $19.95 for P.O. Box and express mail (optional) *

You may pay in: Check, Money order

U.S. Postal Service:

• $20 per verification
• Plus $5 expedited processing fee
• Plus $8 return delivery for Lonestar (within Texas) or Fedex (outside of Texas) or $19.95 for P.O. Box and express mail (optional) *

You may pay in: Check, Money order

Notes:

* Additional carrier rates for Saturday and international shipping will apply. + Credit cards will require a $2.25 processing fee.

Make checks or money orders payable to DSHS.

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Please attach documents which can be used by people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents which would help other people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Processing Time

• In Person:530 minutes.
• Expedited Service: 1015 business days. Note: Incomplete or unacceptable applications will require additional processing time.
• U.S. Postal Service: 68 weeks
• Online:
  • Texas.gov: The current estimated processing time is 1015 business days.

Instructions

You must contact the relevant County Clerk's office for marriage or the District Clerk's office for divorce.

The Vital Statistics Unit can only provide a verification that a marriage or divorce has occurred.

• Verification letters of marriage are available for marriages that occurred from 1966 to the present.
• Verification letters of divorce are available for divorces that occurred from 1968 to the present.

Required Information

A list which displays the kind of information which is required to complete the procedure.
e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

Need for the Document

Following are procedures on how you can obtain a marriage certificate in Texas.