Tyler County Marriage License

To get a marriage license in Tyler County, Texas, both applicants must appear in person at the County Clerk's office in Woodville, which is the Tyler County seat. The clerk issues all formal and informal marriage licenses under Texas Family Code Chapter 2. No residency in Texas is required to apply. Both people need valid photo ID and their Social Security numbers. The 72-hour waiting period applies before any ceremony, and the license is good for 90 days from the date it is issued.

Tyler County Clerk - Marriage License Office

Tyler County is named after President John Tyler, and its county seat is Woodville, not the city of Tyler. The city of Tyler is in Smith County, which is a separate county entirely. If you want a Tyler County marriage license, you go to Woodville. The Tyler County Clerk there handles all marriage license applications, record filings, and requests for certified copies.

The clerk's office is at the Tyler County Courthouse in Woodville. No satellite locations exist for this service. Go during regular weekday hours. Avoid state holidays when the office is closed. This is a rural county, so calling ahead before the drive can save you a wasted trip.

The standard fee in Tyler County is approximately $82. If you complete the Twogether in Texas premarital course, the fee drops to about $22. Call to confirm payment methods. Bring cash or a money order for safe measure.

Note: Applicants divorced within the past 30 days need a certified copy of their final divorce decree. Texas Family Code Section 2.009 requires a 30-day gap between a divorce and the issuance of a new marriage license.

The Tyler County official website provides contact details and service information for the County Clerk's office in Woodville.

Check the Tyler County website before heading to Woodville to verify hours and confirm you have all required documents for your marriage license application.

How to Get a Marriage License in Tyler County

Both people go to the Woodville courthouse together. Bring IDs, fill out the form, pay the fee. The clerk handles most applications the same day. No appointments are usually needed, but a quick phone call ahead is never a bad idea in a small county office.

What to bring:

• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID)
• Social Security number (must know it; a card helps but may not be required)
• Certified divorce decree if either person was divorced within the last 30 days
• Court order if either applicant is under 18

Residency is not required. You don't need to live in Tyler County or Texas. The license is valid anywhere in Texas, not just in Woodville or Tyler County. No blood test is required. The rules are the same for residents and out-of-state applicants alike.

The application form asks for full legal names, maiden names, birth dates, birthplaces, and Social Security numbers. Prior marriages must be listed. Each applicant explains how and when any prior marriage ended. This comes from Texas Family Code Section 2.004.

72-Hour Wait, Fees, and Waivers

Texas law sets a 72-hour waiting period between when the license is issued and when the ceremony can take place. See Texas Family Code Section 2.204. The wait starts the moment the clerk gives you the license. A Monday morning application means no ceremony until Thursday morning at the earliest.

Active duty military members can waive the 72-hour wait. A judge can issue a written waiver for good cause. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital program bypass the wait and pay only about $22. The course takes roughly eight hours and runs at approved providers across Texas.

The license is valid for 90 days. After that, you have to reapply and pay again. Time your application so the ceremony falls within the window. An informal marriage declaration in Tyler County costs approximately $42. Both people must appear in person for that process as well.

Tyler County Marriage Records

After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed license to the Tyler County Clerk within 30 days. That requirement is under Texas Family Code Section 2.206. Once filed, the record is part of the public archive. You can then request certified copies for name changes, insurance, or other legal needs.

Certified copies cost approximately $21 each. Request them in person in Woodville or by mail from the clerk's office. For statewide marriage records from 1966 onward, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit keeps a central index. Verification letters from DSHS cost $20 and confirm whether a record exists, but they are not certified county copies.

Tyler County marriage records go back many decades and are part of the permanent public record. Genealogists and researchers can contact the clerk's office in Woodville to request access to historical filings.

Nearby Counties

Tyler County is in the Piney Woods of Southeast Texas. These neighboring counties have their own clerks that issue marriage licenses.