Access Collingsworth County Marriage License

Collingsworth County, Texas issues marriage licenses through the County Clerk in Wellington. Both applicants must go in person and comply with Texas Family Code Chapter 2. No Texas residency is required. Bring valid photo ID and know your Social Security number. Texas law sets a 72-hour wait after the license is issued before the ceremony, and the license is valid for 90 days.

Collingsworth County Clerk - Marriage License Office

The Collingsworth County Clerk in Wellington handles all marriage license applications for the county. This is the only office in the county where formal and informal marriage licenses are issued. Staff can answer questions about the form, the fee, and what documents to bring. After your ceremony, the signed license is returned and recorded here.

The clerk's office is at the Collingsworth County Courthouse in Wellington. There is only one location. Wellington is a small town in the Texas Panhandle region. If you are driving in from outside the county, call ahead to confirm the office is open. It follows normal weekday hours and closes on state holidays.

Cash and check are standard payment methods. Ask about card payments before you go. The standard fee is around $82. If you complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education program, the fee drops to about $22 and the 72-hour wait is waived. Bring your certificate the day you apply.

If either person was divorced within the last 30 days, you must bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. Texas Family Code Section 2.009 bars a new license within 30 days of a final divorce.

The Collingsworth County website has current contact details and information about county services including the Clerk's office.

Check the county site or call before your visit to confirm current hours and any updates to the fee or process.

How to Get a Marriage License in Collingsworth County

Both applicants must go to the clerk's office at the same time. Bring your documents, complete the form, and pay the fee. You can usually finish in one visit.

Each applicant needs:

• 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 if under 18 years old (required since September 1, 2017)

No residency in Collingsworth County or Texas is needed. The license is valid for use anywhere in the state. No blood test is required. The application form under Texas Family Code Section 2.004 asks for full names including maiden names, dates of birth, birthplaces, and Social Security numbers. The clerk will ask about prior marriages. Be ready to provide dates and how they ended.

72-Hour Waiting Period and Fees

Texas requires a 72-hour wait between the time the license is issued and the ceremony, per Texas Family Code Section 2.204. A Friday afternoon license cannot be used until Monday afternoon.

Active duty military skip the wait. A judge can grant a written waiver. And couples who complete the Twogether in Texas program waive the wait and pay about $22 instead of $82. The course is eight hours and is held at various locations across Texas. Find one at www.twogetherintexas.com. Bring the certificate to the clerk when you apply.

The license is good for 90 days. If you don't hold the ceremony within that time, you must apply and pay again. Plan the application date to fall comfortably within the 90-day window. Most couples apply one to two weeks before the wedding.

Informal marriage declarations are also available at the Collingsworth County Clerk's office. Both people must appear in person, and the fee is around $42.

Collingsworth County Marriage License Records

The officiant must sign and return the license to the Collingsworth County Clerk within 30 days of the ceremony, per Texas Family Code Section 2.206. Once recorded, the marriage is part of the permanent public record. Certified copies are then available for name changes, legal needs, or benefits.

Certified copies from the Collingsworth County Clerk cost about $21 each. Request them in person or by mail. For statewide records dating back to 1966, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit sells $20 verification letters. These letters confirm a record exists but are not certified county copies.

Older marriage records from Collingsworth County are part of the permanent county archive. Researchers can request historical records through the clerk's office or check genealogy databases for indexed Texas county records.

Nearby Counties

Collingsworth County is in the Texas Panhandle. These bordering counties also issue marriage licenses through their County Clerk offices.