Concho County Marriage License

Concho County, Texas issues marriage licenses through the County Clerk's office in Paint Rock. 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 know your Social Security number. A 72-hour waiting period follows the issuance of the license before the ceremony can take place, and the license is valid for 90 days.

Concho County Clerk - Marriage License Office

The Concho County Clerk in Paint Rock is the only place in the county to get a marriage license. The office handles formal and informal marriage license applications. Staff can answer questions about requirements and current fees. After the ceremony, the signed license is returned and recorded here as the official public record.

The clerk's office is at the Concho County Courthouse in Paint Rock. Concho County is a rural county in West Central Texas with a small population. Paint Rock is the only incorporated community in the county. If you are traveling from outside the county, call ahead before making the trip to confirm the office will be open. The office follows standard weekday hours and is closed on state holidays.

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

If either applicant was divorced within the last 30 days, bring a certified copy of that divorce decree. Texas Family Code Section 2.009 prevents a new license from being issued within that 30-day window.

Visit the Concho County official website for contact details and information about county services including the Clerk's office in Paint Rock.

Calling ahead or checking the county website before visiting Paint Rock is especially helpful for applicants traveling long distances to this rural courthouse.

How to Get a Marriage License in Concho County

Both applicants appear together at the clerk's office, present their documents, fill out the form, and pay the fee. Most applications are completed in one visit.

What each applicant needs to 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 under 18 (required since September 1, 2017)

No residency in Concho County or Texas is required. The license is good for use anywhere in Texas. No blood test is needed. The state application form under Texas Family Code Section 2.004 asks for full legal names, dates of birth, birthplaces, and Social Security numbers. Prior marriage history is also collected. Both applicants sign the form in front of the clerk.

72-Hour Waiting Period and Fees

Texas requires a 72-hour wait after the license is issued before any ceremony can take place, per Texas Family Code Section 2.204. A license issued on Thursday morning can't be used until Sunday morning.

Active duty military skip the wait. A judge can grant a written waiver. The Twogether in Texas premarital program also waives the wait and cuts the fee from about $82 to around $22. The course runs eight hours and classes are available across the state. Visit www.twogetherintexas.com to register. Bring your certificate when you apply.

The license is valid for 90 days. If no ceremony takes place by then, you must apply and pay again. Plan ahead and time your application so the ceremony falls well within the 90-day window.

Concho County Clerk also issues informal marriage declarations. Both people must appear in person. The fee is around $42.

Concho County Marriage License Records

After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and must return it to the Concho County Clerk within 30 days, per Texas Family Code Section 2.206. Once recorded, the marriage becomes part of the permanent public record. Certified copies are available from the clerk for name changes and other legal purposes.

Certified copies from the Concho County Clerk cost around $21 per copy. You can request them in person or by mail. For statewide records since 1966, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit provides $20 verification letters. These confirm a record exists but are not certified county copies.

Concho County has a small population and maintains marriage records going back many years. Researchers and genealogists can request historical records from the clerk's office directly.

Nearby Counties

Concho County is in West Central Texas. These neighboring counties also issue marriage licenses through their County Clerk offices.