Find a Marriage License in Calhoun County

Calhoun County marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk in Port Lavaca. Both people applying must go to the office together. You bring your photo ID and Social Security number, pay the fee, and the clerk issues the license. After that, you wait 72 hours before the ceremony can happen. The license is good for 90 days. Searching for existing Calhoun County marriage records or getting a certified copy of a license already on file is also handled through the same clerk's office in Port Lavaca.

Calhoun County Clerk

The Calhoun County Clerk's office in Port Lavaca is where you apply for a marriage license. The clerk's office is located in the county courthouse. Standard hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Call ahead before your visit to confirm hours or if you have questions about what to bring. You do not need to be a resident of Calhoun County. Any Texas resident can apply for a marriage license at any county in the state.

After the ceremony, the officiant signs and returns the completed marriage license to the Calhoun County Clerk within 30 days. The clerk records the license and mails it back to the couple. That recorded license is your legal proof of marriage. Keep it in a safe place because certified copies cost a small fee each time. The clerk's office stores all marriage records and can help you search for older ones.

The Calhoun County government site lists contact information and services offered by the County Clerk's office in Port Lavaca, including marriage license applications.

Visit the county site or call the clerk's office to verify current fees and hours before traveling to Port Lavaca to apply for your marriage license.

Requirements for a Calhoun County Marriage License

Both applicants must appear in person at the Calhoun County Clerk's office. You cannot apply by mail, phone, or through a third party. Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID. Acceptable forms include a driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military identification card. The clerk needs to see the original document. Photocopies are not accepted.

You must also provide your Social Security number when you apply. You do not need to bring the card, but you must know your number. If either applicant has been divorced, you must wait 30 days after the divorce was final before you can remarry in Texas. This is required under Texas Family Code Chapter 2. If the waiting period has not passed, you need a signed court waiver. Bring a certified copy of your divorce decree if the divorce was recent so the clerk can confirm the date.

Both people must be at least 18 years old. There is no blood test required in Texas. Calhoun County has no residency requirement. Couples who are related by blood or who are already legally married to someone else cannot receive a marriage license. If any of these situations apply, the clerk must refuse to issue the license.

Fees and the Twogether in Texas Program

The standard marriage license fee in Calhoun County is approximately $82.00. Fees are paid when you apply at the clerk's office. Contact the office ahead of time to find out which payment methods are accepted. Most county clerks take cash, and many also accept credit or debit cards.

The Twogether in Texas premarital education program can cut the license fee down to around $21 to $22. Both applicants must complete at least 8 hours of a state-approved course within 12 months before applying. When you go to the clerk's office, bring your completion certificate. The clerk must see it at the time of application. You cannot get the discount after you have already paid full price and then present the certificate. Many churches, family counseling centers, and community organizations around Texas offer this course. The Texas DSHS maintains information on approved providers through the Texas Vital Statistics office.

Active-duty military members preparing for deployment to a hostile fire zone may qualify for a full fee waiver. Ask the clerk what documentation is required. Certified copies of a recorded marriage license cost around $6.00 each.

Waiting Period Rules

After the Calhoun County Clerk issues your marriage license, you must wait 72 hours before your ceremony can take place. This waiting period applies to almost all applicants. Plan ahead so the wait does not delay your wedding date.

You can get around the 72-hour wait in a few ways. Completing the Twogether in Texas premarital education course waives the waiting period automatically when you present your certificate. Active-duty military members can also apply for a waiver. A district judge, county judge, or justice of the court can sign a written waiver in other cases. Bring the waiver or certificate with you when you apply at the clerk's office so it can be noted on your license.

Your marriage license expires on the 90th day after it is issued. If you do not use it within that window, you have to start over with a new application. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed license to the Calhoun County Clerk within 30 days. The clerk records it, then mails it back. Once recorded, it is a permanent public record available to authorized parties.

Calhoun County Marriage Records

Marriage records filed in Calhoun County are stored at the County Clerk's office. These are public records. You can request a search by providing the full names of both parties and the approximate marriage date. If the clerk's office finds the record, you can get a certified copy for a fee of around $6.00.

Certified copies are accepted for legal purposes including name changes at the Social Security Administration, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and passport applications. A regular photocopy or printout is not accepted for these purposes. You need the official version with the clerk's seal and signature.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section keeps a statewide marriage index covering records from 1966 to the present. If you need a verification letter rather than a certified copy, DSHS can provide that for a fee. For records before 1966, you must contact the Calhoun County Clerk directly.

Common-law marriage in Texas is handled through a Declaration of Informal Marriage. Calhoun County couples who choose this route can file the declaration with the clerk's office. Once recorded, it serves as official proof of the informal marriage and is treated like any other marriage record.

Nearby Counties

Calhoun County sits along the Texas Gulf Coast. Nearby counties where couples can also apply for a marriage license include:

• Victoria County - County seat: Victoria
• Jackson County - County seat: Edna
• Refugio County - County seat: Refugio
• Aransas County - County seat: Rockport