Cochran County Marriage License

Marriage licenses in Cochran County, Texas are issued by the County Clerk in Morton. Both applicants must appear together in person and comply with Texas Family Code Chapter 2. No residency in Texas is required. Bring valid photo ID and your Social Security number. Texas law requires a 72-hour waiting period between the time the license is issued and the ceremony, and the license is valid for 90 days.

Cochran County Clerk - Marriage License Office

The Cochran County Clerk's office in Morton handles all marriage license applications. There is one location for this service in the county. The office staff can help with questions about what documents to bring, the current fee, and how to complete the form. After your ceremony, the returned license is filed here too.

The office sits at the Cochran County Courthouse in Morton. It operates standard weekday hours and closes on state and federal holidays. Morton is a small town in the Texas South Plains region. If you are coming from out of town, call ahead to confirm the office is open before making the drive.

The office accepts cash and check. Ask about card payments before your visit. The standard marriage license fee is approximately $82. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education program pay about $22 and the 72-hour wait is waived. Bring the completion certificate to the clerk on the day you apply.

If either applicant was divorced within the last 30 days, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. Texas Family Code Section 2.009 does not allow a new license within 30 days of a final divorce.

Visit the Cochran County Clerk's website for up-to-date hours, contact information, and details about marriage license services.

Checking the official county site before your visit can save time and help you show up prepared.

How to Get a Marriage License in Cochran County

Both applicants must go to the clerk's office together. Bring your documents, fill out the form, and pay the fee. If everything is in order, you can finish the same day.

Documents required from each applicant:

• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID)
• Social Security number (card or memorized)
• Certified divorce decree if divorced in the last 30 days
• Court order removing disabilities of minority if under 18 (required since September 1, 2017)

Residency in Cochran County or Texas is not required. The license is valid for use anywhere in the state. No blood test is needed. The application form under Texas Family Code Section 2.004 asks for full legal names, dates of birth, places of birth, and Social Security numbers. The clerk will also ask about prior marriages. Be ready with dates and how each ended.

Both people must sign the application. The clerk will notarize or witness the signatures. Most applicants finish in about 20 to 30 minutes with their documents ready.

72-Hour Waiting Period and Fees

There is a mandatory 72-hour wait between when the clerk issues the license and when the ceremony can take place, per Texas Family Code Section 2.204. A license picked up on Wednesday morning can't be used until Saturday morning.

Active duty military can skip the wait. Judges can grant a written waiver. The Twogether in Texas premarital program also waives the wait and reduces the fee from about $82 to around $22. The program is eight hours and is held at locations across Texas. Go to www.twogetherintexas.com to sign up. Bring the certificate to the clerk the day you apply.

The license expires after 90 days. Don't apply too far ahead of the wedding. If the 90-day window closes before the ceremony, you need to start over. Most couples apply one to two weeks before the date.

An informal marriage declaration is also available at the Cochran County Clerk's office. Both parties must appear in person. The fee is around $42.

Cochran County Marriage License Records

The officiant must return the signed license to the Cochran County Clerk within 30 days of the ceremony, as required by Texas Family Code Section 2.206. Once recorded, the marriage becomes part of the public record. You can then order certified copies for name changes, insurance, or other legal needs.

Certified copies from the Cochran County Clerk cost around $21 each and can be requested in person or by mail. For a statewide search going back to 1966, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit sells $20 verification letters. These confirm a record is on file but are not certified county copies.

Historical marriage records in Cochran County date back to the early days of the county. Researchers can request records through the clerk's office or search genealogy databases that index early Texas county records.

Nearby Counties

Cochran County is in the Texas South Plains region, bordering several other counties. Each County Clerk issues marriage licenses under the same state rules.