Search Comal County Marriage License Records

Comal County, Texas issues marriage licenses through the County Clerk's office in New Braunfels. Both applicants must appear in person under the rules of Texas Family Code Chapter 2. No Texas residency is required. Bring valid photo ID and your Social Security number. A 72-hour waiting period applies after the license is issued, and the license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue.

Comal County Clerk - Marriage License Office

The Comal County Clerk in New Braunfels handles all marriage license applications for the county. This is where you apply for a formal or informal marriage license in Comal County. The office staff can answer questions about what to bring, the current fee, and how the process works. After your ceremony, the signed and returned license is recorded here as the official county record.

The clerk's office is located at 150 N Seguin Ave in New Braunfels. New Braunfels is a growing city between San Antonio and Austin. The office operates weekdays during regular business hours and is closed on state holidays. Comal County has seen rapid growth in recent years, so plan for possible wait times at the clerk's office, especially during busy periods.

The office accepts cash, check, and typically credit or debit cards. Confirm card acceptance by phone before your visit. The standard fee for a Comal County marriage license is approximately $82. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education program pay about $22 and the 72-hour wait is waived. Bring your completion certificate when you apply.

If either applicant was divorced within the last 30 days, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. Under Texas Family Code Section 2.009, no new license can be issued within 30 days of a final divorce.

The Comal County Clerk's website has details about marriage license requirements, office hours, and contact information in New Braunfels.

Check the county website before your visit for any updates to fees or procedures, especially as Comal County continues to grow.

How to Get a Marriage License in Comal County

Both applicants appear together at the County Clerk's office. Bring your documents, fill out the application, and pay the fee. Most couples finish the application in one visit when they have everything ready.

Each applicant must bring:

• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID)
• Social Security number (card or known by memory)
• Certified divorce decree if divorced within the past 30 days
• Court order removing disabilities of minority if either applicant is under 18 (required since September 1, 2017)

No residency in Comal County or Texas is required to apply. The license is valid for use anywhere in the state. No blood test is needed. The application form set out in Texas Family Code Section 2.004 asks for full legal names including maiden names, dates of birth, places of birth, and Social Security numbers. The clerk will ask about prior marriages. Be ready to say how and when any previous marriage ended.

Both applicants sign the form and the clerk witnesses the signatures. With all documents ready, most people complete the application in under 30 minutes. Comal County may have more foot traffic than smaller counties given the region's growth, so going early in the morning or later in the afternoon can reduce wait time.

72-Hour Waiting Period and Fees

Texas law imposes a 72-hour wait after the clerk issues the license before any ceremony can be performed, as stated in Texas Family Code Section 2.204. If you get your license on a Saturday morning, you can't hold the ceremony until Tuesday morning at the earliest.

Three things can waive the wait: active duty military status, a written judicial waiver for good cause, or completing the Twogether in Texas premarital program. That program also drops the fee from around $82 to about $22. The course is eight hours and available at multiple sites in the state. Sign up at www.twogetherintexas.com. Bring your certificate to the clerk when you apply, not after.

The license expires 90 days after it is issued. If the ceremony doesn't happen in time, you reapply and pay again. Most couples in Comal County apply about one to two weeks before the ceremony to stay safely within the 90-day window.

An informal marriage declaration is available at the Comal County Clerk's office. Both parties must appear in person. The fee for an informal marriage record is typically around $42.

Comal County Marriage License Records

After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and must return it to the Comal County Clerk within 30 days. This is required under Texas Family Code Section 2.206. Once recorded, the marriage is part of the permanent public record. Certified copies are available from the clerk for name changes, insurance, legal, or immigration needs.

Certified copies from the Comal County Clerk cost approximately $21 each. You can request them in person or by mail. For statewide records going back to 1966, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit sells $20 verification letters. These confirm a record is on file but are not the same as certified copies from the county clerk.

Comal County marriage records go back decades and are part of the permanent public archive. Researchers and genealogists can request records through the clerk's office or search digitized Texas genealogy databases.

Cities in Comal County

New Braunfels is the largest city in Comal County and has its own page with specific details about getting a marriage license there.

Nearby Counties

Comal County sits in central Texas between San Antonio and Austin. These neighboring counties also issue marriage licenses under the same state rules.