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How to get a Texas marriage certificate

In Texas, order a certified marriage certificate from the county clerk of the county that issued the marriage license.1 DSHS issues only verification letters (marriages since 1966), not certified copies.1 For a certified copy, Travis County, for example, charges $62. You can order at a local office. A verification letter from the state costs $203 and can be ordered online, by mail or in person; it confirms the event but is not a certified copy.

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Ways to order
  2. Verification letters from the state
  3. What a Texas marriage certificate costs
  4. ID you need
  5. What the application asks for
  6. Which office holds a marriage record
  7. Forms
  8. Years held and older records
  9. Special situations
  10. Warnings from the office
  11. The state office
  12. Questions people ask
  13. Sources

Ways to order

HowCost per copyProcessing timePayment
At a local office$62 (Travis County)––

Not offered: by phone.4

At a local office

Fees shown are from
Travis County Clerk
Fees
  • Per copy $62

Good to know

  • Statutory county clerk fee for certified papers: $5.00 clerk's certificate plus $1.00 per page6
  • Counties set their own hours, fees and procedures5

Find a local office5

Verification letters from the state

DSHS issues only verification letters (marriages since 1966), not certified copies.1 A verification letter confirms that the event is on file. Agencies that ask for a certified copy usually will not accept it, so check what the office receiving it wants.

HowCostProcessing timePayment
Online$203 per verification letter
+ 3 possible extra charges		20 to 25 business days on average7Card8
By mail$209 per verification letter
+ 3 possible extra charges		25 to 30 business days on average7Check and money order4
In person$203 per verification letter
+ one extra charge		Same day10Check, money order and card4

Online: verification letter

Run by
Texas.gov (official State of Texas portal) - DSHS Order Vital Records application11
Fees
  • Verification letter $203
  • Approximate costs for Express delivery $1611
  • Shipping to PO Box, Alaska, Hawaii, U.S territories or commonwealths $22.9511
  • Shipping to military address outside the U.S. $4.9511
Processing time
20 to 25 business days on average7
Payment
Card8

Good to know

  • All orders are non-refundable13
  • Verification letter only; not a certified copy of the marriage license11
  • Online verification letters can be downloaded immediately for an extra $311

Go to the ordering site12

By mail: verification letter

Fees
  • Verification letter $209
  • Expedited Processing (estimated 4 weeks) $259
  • Overnight Return Mail (for shipping within USA) $169
  • USPS Express Return Mail (for shipping to PO Box ONLY) $22.959
Processing time
25 to 30 business days on average7
Expedited service
$25. Processed and mailed about 4 weeks after receipt; must be sent by overnight service to DSHS - VSS MC 2096, 1100 W. 49th St., Austin, TX 78756; expedited return shipping is then required9
Payment
Check and money order4
Make payable to
DSHS Vital Statistics4
Mail to
Texas Vital Statistics, Department of State Health Services, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040
14

Good to know

  • Original application with signature and a photocopy of the applicant's valid ID9
  • Fees are non-refundable even if no record is found3
  • Regular: Texas Vital Statistics, Department of State Health Services, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040; Expedited overnight: Texas Vital Statistics, MC 2096, Department of State Health Services, 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, TX 7875614

Open the application or mail instructions9

In person: verification letter

Fees
  • Verification letter $203
  • Processing fee $2.253
Processing time
Same day10
Payment
Check, money order and card4
Make payable to
DSHS Vital Statistics15
Office
DSHS - Vital Statistics Section, 1100 W. 49th St., Austin, TX 78756
16
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm9

Good to know

  • Original acceptable ID must be presented15

Open the official page15

What a Texas marriage certificate costs

State verification letter (not a certified copy)
$203
Expedite fee (state verification letters)
$259
If no record is found
The fee is kept as a search fee9

Types of copies

CopyAccepted forFee
Certified copy of the marriage license (county clerk)10–$62
Marriage Verification17Not a certified copy; not a legal substitute for a marriage license17$203
Photocopy of Marriage License Application (DSHS)9Photocopy as recorded with the state; confidential information redacted9$209
Heirloom Wedding Anniversary Certificate9Commemorative only; not a legal certificate of marriage9$609

ID you need

Photo ID
Required9
Accepted ID
  • Driver's license from a U.S. state
  • Federal or state ID card
  • Military ID card
  • U.S. passport
  • License to Carry a Handgun
  • Pilot's license18
Without that ID
Option 2: TWO (2) from Group B; Option 3: ONE (1) from Group B and TWO (2) from Group C18
ID copy with a mail order
Include a copy of your ID9

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.9

  • Full name of Spouse 1
  • Full name of Spouse 2 (maiden last name)
  • Date of event
  • Place of event (city or town, county; Texas only)
  • Ages or dates of birth at time of event
  • Social Security number (if known)
  • Applicant's relationship
  • Reason for request

Which office holds a marriage record

Certified copies come from the office that recorded the signed license; the years each office holds are listed below. Marriage license vs certificate explains the difference and which copy agencies ask for.

Forms

Years held and older records

Years held
1966 to today (state verification letters only)9
Older records
County clerk where the license was issued1

Special situations

Use abroad
For use abroad, get a certified copy from the county clerk, then an apostille from the Texas Secretary of State19 Details

Warnings from the office

  • A marriage verification letter is not a marriage license1

The state office

Office
Vital Statistics Section, Texas Department of State Health Services20
Mailing address
Texas Vital Statistics, Department of State Health Services, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040
14
Walk-in address
DSHS - Vital Statistics Section, 1100 W. 49th St., Austin, TX 78756
16
Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM CST20

Questions people ask

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: Driver's license from a U.S. state; Federal or state ID card; Military ID card; U.S. passport; License to Carry a Handgun; Pilot's license.18

Where are older Texas marriage certificates kept?

County clerk where the license was issued.1

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 6, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. Marriage and Divorce FAQsTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  2. Travis County Clerk, Recording fee informationTravis County Clerk
  3. Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Costs and FeesTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  4. Birth Record FAQsTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  5. Order Records LocallyTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  6. Texas statute, Texas Legislature Online (statutes.capitol.texas.gov), LG chapter 118Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes)
  7. Texas DSHS processing timesTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  8. Texas.gov FAQSTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  9. Mail application for marriage or divorce record VS 142.9 1.2026 (PDF)Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Sectiondated January 1, 2026
  10. Marriage and Divorce RecordsTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  11. Texas Department of State Health Services pageTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  12. Requirements for Online OrdersTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  13. Texas.gov Order Vital Records (official state portal, ovra.txapps.texas.gov)Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  14. Vital Statistics Mailing AddressesTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  15. Requirements for Mail/In-Person OrdersTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  16. Mail application for birth record VS 140 1.2026 (PDF)Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Sectiondated January 1, 2026
  17. Record TypesTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  18. Acceptable Identification (ID)Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  19. Records for Foreign Governments (Apostille)Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  20. Texas Department of State Health Services: Contact usTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section