Coryell County Marriage License

Coryell County, Texas issues marriage licenses through two County Clerk locations: the main office in Gatesville and an annex in Copperas Cove. Both applicants must appear in person following 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 applies after the license is issued, and the license is valid for 90 days.

Coryell County Clerk - Marriage License Offices

Coryell County has two locations where you can apply for a marriage license. The main office is in Gatesville at the County Clerk's main location. A second office operates at the Copperas Cove Annex, which is more convenient for residents in the eastern part of the county. Both locations process applications, accept documents, and can issue licenses. The signed license after the ceremony should be returned to the Gatesville main office.

Both offices require that both applicants appear in person together. The Copperas Cove annex is near Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood), making it a convenient option for military personnel and families stationed there. Both locations observe regular weekday hours and are closed on state and federal holidays.

Cash, check, and money order are accepted. The fee for a Coryell County marriage license is approximately $75, which is slightly lower than many other Texas counties. If you and your partner complete the Twogether in Texas premarital program, the fee drops to around $21 and the 72-hour wait is waived. Bring the completion certificate when you apply. The Coryell County Clerk's website at coryellcountyclerk.com/marriage-license/ has current details about requirements and the application process.

If either applicant was divorced within the past 30 days, bring a certified copy of that divorce decree. Texas Family Code Section 2.009 bars a new license from being issued within 30 days of a final divorce.

The Coryell County Clerk marriage license page provides full details about what to bring, office locations, fees, and requirements for applicants in the county.

Reviewing the county clerk's website before your visit will confirm which location is best for you and ensure you have everything you need.

How to Get a Marriage License in Coryell County

Both applicants must go to one of the two Coryell County Clerk locations together. Bring your documents, complete the application, and pay the fee. Most couples finish in a single visit.

Required for each applicant:

• Valid photo ID from a government agency (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID)
• Social Security number (card or memorized)
• Certified divorce decree if divorced within the last 30 days
• Court order removing disabilities of minority if under 18 (required since September 1, 2017)
• Twogether in Texas certificate if seeking reduced fee and no waiting period

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

After the ceremony, the completed and signed license must be mailed or returned to the Coryell County Clerk's main office at P.O. Box 237, Gatesville, TX 76528 within 30 days. The clerk will record it and return it to you once it is processed.

72-Hour Waiting Period and Fees

Texas law requires a 72-hour wait from the time the license is issued before the ceremony can take place, per Texas Family Code Section 2.204. A license picked up on a Tuesday morning can't be used for a ceremony until Friday morning.

Three things can waive the wait. Active duty military members are automatically exempt. A judge can grant a written waiver for good cause. And couples who complete the Twogether in Texas program waive the wait and pay a reduced fee of about $21 instead of the standard $75. The program runs eight hours and is offered at locations around the state. Register at www.twogetherintexas.com. Bring your certificate to the clerk when you apply. Coryell County is close to Fort Cavazos, so military members should be aware that the active duty waiver applies here as well.

The license expires 90 days after it is issued. If the ceremony doesn't happen before then, you need to apply again and pay a new fee. Most couples apply about one to two weeks before the ceremony to stay within the window.

Informal marriage declarations are also available through the Coryell County Clerk. Both people must appear in person. The fee for an informal marriage record is typically around $42.

Coryell County Marriage License Records

After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and must return it to the Coryell County Clerk within 30 days. This is required by Texas Family Code Section 2.206. The return address is Coryell County Clerk, P.O. Box 237, Gatesville, TX 76528. The clerk records the license and returns it to the applicants. After recording, it becomes part of the permanent public record and certified copies can be ordered.

Certified copies from the Coryell County Clerk cost around $21 per copy. You can request them in person at either location or by mail to the Gatesville office. For statewide verification 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 Coryell County marriage records date back many decades. Genealogists can request older records through the main office in Gatesville or search genealogy databases for indexed Texas county records.

Nearby Counties

Coryell County is in central Texas near the Fort Cavazos region. These bordering counties also issue marriage licenses through their County Clerk offices.