Crosby County Marriage License

Crosby County, Texas issues marriage licenses through the County Clerk's office in Crosbyton. Both applicants must appear in person and follow 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 before the ceremony can take place, and the license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue.

Crosby County Clerk - Marriage License Office

The Crosby County Clerk in Crosbyton is the sole location in the county for marriage license services. Both formal and informal marriage licenses are issued here. Staff can answer questions about the application process, what to bring, and the current fee. Returned and signed licenses after the ceremony are recorded and maintained at this office.

The clerk's office is at the Crosby County Courthouse in Crosbyton. Crosby County is in the Texas South Plains near Lubbock. Crosbyton is a small community and the only incorporated city in the county. Confirm office hours before visiting by calling ahead or checking the county website. The office is closed on state and federal holidays.

Cash and check are accepted. Ask about card payments before you visit. The standard marriage license fee is approximately $82. If you and your partner complete the Twogether in Texas premarital program, the fee drops to about $22 and the 72-hour wait is waived. Bring your completion certificate to the clerk the day you apply.

Anyone divorced in the last 30 days must bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. Texas Family Code Section 2.009 prevents issuing a new license within 30 days of a final divorce.

The Crosby County official website provides contact details and information about county services including the Clerk's office.

Check the county site before your visit to confirm hours and any changes to the marriage license process or fees.

How to Get a Marriage License in Crosby County

Both applicants go in person to the clerk's office together. Bring your documents, fill out the application, and pay the fee. Most applications are finished the same day.

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 within the last 30 days
• Court order removing disabilities of minority if under 18 (required since September 1, 2017)

No residency in Crosby County or Texas is required. The license works anywhere in the state. No blood test is needed. The application 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. Both applicants sign the form and the clerk witnesses the signatures. Most people finish in about 20 to 30 minutes.

72-Hour Waiting Period and Fees

Per Texas Family Code Section 2.204, Texas requires a 72-hour wait after the clerk issues the license before any ceremony can be performed. A license issued on a Thursday morning means the ceremony can't happen until Sunday morning.

Active duty military are exempt from the wait. A judge can grant a written waiver. Completing the Twogether in Texas program also waives the wait and reduces the fee to about $22 from the standard $82. The program is eight hours and classes are available across the state. Go to www.twogetherintexas.com to find a class. Bring the certificate to the clerk on the day you apply.

The license expires after 90 days. If the ceremony doesn't happen in that window, you must apply again and pay a new fee. Plan your application date so the ceremony falls within the 90-day period.

Informal marriage declarations are also available at the Crosby County Clerk's office. Both parties must appear in person. The fee is around $42.

Crosby County Marriage License Records

The officiant must sign and return the completed license to the Crosby County Clerk within 30 days of the ceremony, as required by Texas Family Code Section 2.206. After recording, the marriage is part of the permanent public record. Certified copies are available for name changes and other legal purposes.

Certified copies from the Crosby County Clerk cost around $21 per copy and can be requested in person or by mail. For statewide records since 1966, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit provides $20 verification letters. These confirm a record is on file but are not certified county copies.

Historical Crosby County marriage records date back many decades. Genealogists and researchers can request older records through the clerk's office or search genealogy databases that index early Texas county records.

Nearby Counties

Crosby County is in the Texas South Plains near Lubbock. These neighboring counties also issue marriage licenses through their County Clerk offices.