Marriage License in Stephens County

To get a marriage license in Stephens County, Texas, both applicants must appear together at the County Clerk's office in Breckenridge. The clerk issues all marriage licenses for the county under the rules of Texas Family Code Chapter 2. No residency is required. Bring a valid photo ID and your Social Security number. After the license is issued, you must wait 72 hours before the ceremony can be performed. The license is valid for 90 days from the issue date, and no blood test is required.

Stephens County Clerk - Marriage License Office

The Stephens County Clerk in Breckenridge is the only office in the county for marriage licenses. The clerk takes your application, collects the fee, and issues the license. After the ceremony is done, the officiant returns the signed license and the clerk records it. The clerk also handles requests for certified copies after the record is filed.

Stephens County is a rural county in West-Central Texas. The clerk's office is at the Stephens County Courthouse in Breckenridge. There are no satellite offices. You must go to the main courthouse during regular weekday business hours. The office does not operate on state or major federal holidays.

The standard fee for a marriage license in Stephens County is about $82. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education course pay around $22. Cash, check, and money order are the most common payment methods at rural county clerks. Call ahead to ask about card payments.

Note: If either applicant was divorced within the last 30 days, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. Texas does not allow a new marriage license to be issued within 30 days of a divorce being granted.

The Stephens County website has contact information for the clerk's office and details about services available in Breckenridge.

Check the county website before visiting to confirm the office hours and any recent changes to the application process.

How to Get a Marriage License in Stephens County

Both people must go to the clerk's office in Breckenridge at the same time. The process usually takes one visit. Bring your documents and the clerk will walk you through the state application form and verify your IDs before issuing the license.

Each applicant must bring:

• Valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID
• Social Security number (you must be able to provide it; the card can help)
• Certified copy of divorce decree if either applicant was divorced within the last 30 days
• Court order removing disabilities of minority if either person is under 18

Texas does not require residency in the county or state to get a marriage license here. The license is valid for use in any Texas county once issued. No blood test is required. The application form asks for full legal names including maiden surnames, birth dates, birthplaces, and Social Security numbers. Prior marriages and how they ended must be disclosed as required by Texas Family Code Section 2.004.

In a small county like Stephens, the clerk's office is generally not crowded. Most applicants complete the process in 20 to 30 minutes. Having all your documents in order makes the visit fast and easy.

72-Hour Waiting Period and License Fees

Once the Stephens County Clerk issues your marriage license, Texas law requires you to wait 72 hours before holding the ceremony. This is required by Texas Family Code Section 2.204. The wait begins from the exact time the license is issued. There is no way to skip it on your own.

Active military members on duty can have the waiting period waived. A judge can issue a written waiver for documented cause. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital course also skip the wait and pay a lower fee of about $22 instead of $82. The course is eight hours and covers relationship topics. Find it at twogetherintexas.com.

Your license expires after 90 days. Plan your application date so the ceremony happens within that window. Most couples apply one to two weeks before the wedding. That works well with the 72-hour wait requirement and keeps the license from expiring.

Stephens County Marriage Records

After the ceremony, the person who performed it must sign the license and return it to the Stephens County Clerk within 30 days. This is required by Texas Family Code Section 2.206. The clerk then files it as part of the official public record. You can request certified copies for name changes, benefits, legal filings, and other purposes.

Certified copies cost approximately $21 each through the Stephens County Clerk. You can get them in person or by mail. For statewide marriage verification going back to 1966, the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics unit issues verification letters for $20. These letters confirm a record exists but are not the same as a certified county copy.

Older marriage records from Stephens County are part of the permanent county archive. Genealogists and researchers can contact the clerk's office to ask about accessing historical records. Some may be available through microfilm or genealogy research databases.

Nearby Counties

Stephens County sits in West-Central Texas near several other counties. Their clerk offices follow the same Texas rules for marriage licenses.