Find a Marriage License in Real County

To get a marriage license in Real County, Texas, both applicants must appear in person at the County Clerk's office in Leakey. The clerk issues all formal and informal marriage licenses under Texas Family Code Chapter 2. No residency in Real County or Texas is required. Both people must bring valid photo ID, know their Social Security numbers, and be prepared to wait 72 hours after the license is issued before the ceremony. The license stays valid for 90 days from the date it is issued.

Real County Clerk - Marriage License Office

The Real County Clerk's office in Leakey is the only place in the county where you can apply for a formal or informal marriage license. Staff handle the full application process and can answer questions about requirements, fees, and documents to bring. After the ceremony, they also record the completed license once the officiant returns it to the office within 30 days.

Leakey is a small Hill Country town in Real County. The courthouse there is the single point of service for marriage license applications in this county. Office hours follow a standard weekday schedule, and the office is closed on state and county holidays. Call ahead if you plan to visit on or near a holiday.

The standard marriage license fee in Real County is approximately $82. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education course can qualify for a reduced fee of around $22. Call ahead to confirm accepted payment methods. Smaller county offices often prefer cash or check. Bring your documents and payment when you visit to complete everything in one trip.

Note: If either applicant was divorced within the last 30 days, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. Per Texas Family Code Section 2.009, a new license cannot be issued until 30 days after the divorce is final.

The Real County official website has information on county services and how to contact the County Clerk's office in Leakey.

Reviewing the county site before your visit helps confirm current hours and procedures for getting a marriage license in Real County, Texas.

How to Get a Marriage License in Real County

Getting a marriage license in Real County follows the same basic Texas process. Both applicants must visit the clerk's office together in Leakey. Come prepared with the right documents and the application can be done in a single visit.

Each applicant must bring:

• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID)
• Social Security number (must know it; card is helpful)
• Certified copy of divorce decree if divorced within the last 30 days
• Court order removing disabilities of minority if under 18 (required since September 1, 2017)

There is no residency requirement for Real County or Texas. No blood test is needed. The license works anywhere in Texas. The state application form under Texas Family Code Section 2.004 collects full legal names, maiden surnames, birth dates, birthplaces, and Social Security numbers. If either applicant was married before, the clerk will ask how and when that marriage ended. All of this is required by state law, not something specific to Real County.

The 72-Hour Waiting Period and Fees

Texas requires a 72-hour waiting period after the license is issued before the ceremony can take place. This rule is in Texas Family Code Section 2.204. Apply on Monday and the earliest your ceremony can happen is Thursday. Build that into your planning.

The wait can be waived for active duty military. A judge can grant a written waiver. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas course can also skip the wait and pay a reduced fee. In Real County, the standard fee is about $82. With a valid Twogether in Texas completion certificate, the fee drops to around $22. The course is eight hours long and can be found through the Twogether in Texas website.

The license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. If the ceremony does not happen within that window, you have to reapply and pay again. Most couples plan to apply one to two weeks before the wedding. That keeps plenty of time between the waiting period and the ceremony without running risk of the license expiring.

Real County Marriage License Records

After your ceremony, the officiant must sign and return the completed marriage license to the Real County Clerk within 30 days. This is required by Texas Family Code Section 2.206. Once the clerk records it, the marriage is part of the official public record. Certified copies are available for legal use.

Certified copies of Real County marriage licenses cost approximately $21 each. You can request them in person or by mail through the County Clerk's office. For marriages in Texas since 1966, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit keeps a statewide index. They offer verification letters for $20 that confirm a record exists, but those are not the same as certified copies from the county clerk.

Older Real County marriage records are part of the permanent public record and can be accessed through the clerk's office. Genealogists and researchers looking into Hill Country family history can also check regional archives and genealogy databases.

Nearby Counties

Real County is in the Texas Hill Country. Neighboring county clerks issue marriage licenses under the same state rules.