Culberson County Marriage License

Culberson County, Texas issues marriage licenses through the County Clerk's office in Van Horn. Both applicants must appear in person and comply with Texas Family Code Chapter 2. No Texas residency is required. Bring valid photo ID and your Social Security number. Texas requires a 72-hour wait after the license is issued before the ceremony, and the license is valid for 90 days.

Culberson County Clerk - Marriage License Office

The Culberson County Clerk in Van Horn is the only office in the county for marriage license services. Both formal and informal marriage licenses are issued here. Staff can walk you through the application process and answer questions about requirements, fees, and documents. After the ceremony, the signed license is returned and recorded at this office.

The clerk's office is located at the Culberson County Courthouse in Van Horn. Culberson County is in far West Texas along Interstate 10 near the Davis Mountains. Van Horn is the only city in the county. Given the remote location, calling ahead before your visit is strongly recommended. The office observes standard weekday hours and closes on state and federal holidays.

Cash and check are the typical payment methods. Call ahead to ask about card payments. The standard fee is approximately $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 the course certificate to the clerk on the day you apply.

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

The Culberson County official website has contact information and office details for the County Clerk in Van Horn.

Culberson County is one of the most remote counties in Texas. Calling ahead before driving to Van Horn is always a good idea.

How to Get a Marriage License in Culberson County

Both applicants appear together at the clerk's office. Bring your documents, fill out the form, and pay the fee. With everything ready, the process is typically done in one visit.

What 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 in the last 30 days
• Court order removing disabilities of minority if either applicant is under 18 (required since September 1, 2017)

No residency in Culberson County or Texas is required. The license is valid anywhere in the state. No blood test is needed. The state 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. Prior marriages must be disclosed. Both applicants sign and the clerk witnesses the signatures. Most people finish the process in about 20 to 30 minutes when documents are in order.

72-Hour Waiting Period and Fees

Texas requires a 72-hour wait between the time the license is issued and when the ceremony can be held, per Texas Family Code Section 2.204. A license issued on a Tuesday afternoon can't be used until Friday afternoon.

Active duty military are exempt from the wait. A judge can grant a written waiver. The Twogether in Texas program also waives the wait and reduces the fee from about $82 to around $22. The course is eight hours and is available at sites around the state. Register at www.twogetherintexas.com. Bring your certificate to the clerk when you apply.

The license is valid for 90 days. If no ceremony happens by then, you reapply and pay again. Plan the application date so the ceremony falls well within the 90-day window. Most couples apply a week or two before the date.

Informal marriage declarations are also available through the Culberson County Clerk. Both parties must appear in person. The fee is typically around $42.

Culberson County Marriage License Records

After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the Culberson County Clerk within 30 days. This is required by Texas Family Code Section 2.206. Once recorded, the marriage is part of the permanent public record. Certified copies can then be requested for name changes, insurance, or other legal needs.

Certified copies from the Culberson County Clerk cost around $21 each 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 letters confirm a record is on file but are not certified county copies.

Culberson County is one of the least densely populated counties in Texas. Its marriage records date back many decades. Researchers and genealogists can contact the clerk's office to request historical records or search digitized Texas genealogy archives.

Nearby Counties

Culberson County is in far West Texas, bordering New Mexico to the north and west. These neighboring Texas counties also issue marriage licenses through their County Clerk offices.