Atascosa County Marriage License

Atascosa County, Texas issues marriage licenses through the County Clerk's office in Jourdanton. Couples must appear together at the clerk's office, show valid photo ID, and provide their Social Security numbers. The process follows state law set in Texas Family Code Chapter 2. No residency in the county or state is required. The standard fee is approximately $82. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education program pay around $22. A 72-hour waiting period applies before the ceremony, and the license stays valid for 90 days from the date of issuance.

Atascosa County Clerk - Marriage License Office

The County Clerk's office in Jourdanton handles all marriage license applications for Atascosa County. The office is in the Atascosa County Courthouse in the center of Jourdanton. Both formal marriage licenses and informal marriage declarations are processed here. The clerk also maintains the official records once ceremonies are complete and licenses are returned.

Atascosa County is located south of San Antonio in the South Texas Plains region. Some applicants who live near the county choose to apply here rather than at a larger county clerk's office. The process is the same statewide, so whichever county you apply in, the requirements and waiting period are identical.

The standard marriage license fee in Atascosa County is approximately $82. With a Twogether in Texas certificate, the fee is reduced to around $22. The informal marriage declaration fee is about $42. Certified copies of recorded licenses are around $21 each. Call to verify current fees and confirm payment methods accepted at the office.

The Atascosa County official website offers contact information and department listings including the County Clerk's office.

The county site lists current office hours and any service updates that might affect your trip to Jourdanton to apply for a marriage license.

Requirements for Atascosa County Marriage License

Both applicants must appear in person together at the Atascosa County Clerk's office. This is required under Texas Family Code Section 2.002. Absent applicant affidavits are available only in limited circumstances, primarily for military personnel stationed abroad. In most cases, both people go to the office together on the same visit.

Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID all qualify. You must also provide your Social Security number. No blood test is required. No proof of address is needed. You do not have to live in Atascosa County or even in Texas to get a license here.

If either applicant was divorced in the last 30 days, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. Texas sets a 30-day waiting period between a divorce and issuing a new marriage license under Section 2.009. Both applicants must be 18 or older. Under the 2017 change to Texas law, anyone under 18 must have a court order removing disabilities of minority. The application form is prescribed by the state and requires full legal names, dates of birth, places of birth, and other standard information for both parties.

The 72-Hour Wait and Twogether in Texas Program

Texas requires every couple to wait 72 hours after their license is issued before the ceremony can take place. This is mandated by Section 2.204 of the Texas Family Code. The 90-day validity period starts on the same day the license is issued. Time it so your ceremony falls between 72 hours and 90 days after you receive the license.

Three situations waive the 72-hour wait. Active duty military personnel are exempt automatically. A judge with family law jurisdiction can grant a written waiver for good cause. And couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education course get the wait waived and pay a lower fee. The course is 8 hours long and offered at approved locations around the state. Completing it saves roughly $60 on the license fee in Atascosa County.

Atascosa County is close enough to San Antonio that some couples choose to apply there at the Bexar County Clerk's office for convenience. But if you prefer a shorter line or want to keep the process local, the Atascosa County Clerk's office in Jourdanton handles it all. The same rules apply either way.

Marriage License Records in Atascosa County

Your officiant must sign and return the completed marriage license to the Atascosa County Clerk within 30 days of the ceremony. This is required by Texas Family Code Section 2.206. Once the clerk records it, the marriage is part of the permanent public record. After recording, certified copies become available.

Certified copies of marriage licenses are approximately $21 each at the Atascosa County Clerk. You can request them in person or by mail. You will typically need certified copies for name changes at the Texas DPS and Social Security Administration, updating benefits, and various legal and financial matters. Order a couple extra copies at the time of your first request so you have them on hand.

For statewide verification of marriages from 1966 to the present, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit maintains a central index. Verification letters cost $20. They confirm a record exists but are not certified copies. For certified copies, you go to the county clerk where the license was originally issued.

Nearby Counties

Atascosa County is in South Texas south of San Antonio. Nearby counties also issue marriage licenses under Texas state law.