Uvalde County Marriage License

To get a marriage license in Uvalde County, Texas, both applicants must appear in person at the County Clerk's office in Uvalde. The clerk issues all formal and informal marriage licenses under Texas Family Code Chapter 2. No Texas residency is required. Both people must bring valid photo ID and know their Social Security numbers. Texas law requires a 72-hour waiting period before the ceremony, and the license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue.

Uvalde County Clerk - Marriage License Office

The Uvalde County Clerk handles all marriage license applications for the county. The office is in the city of Uvalde, which is also the county seat. Both formal and informal marriage licenses are issued here. Staff can walk you through the process, answer questions about required documents, and process requests for certified copies of marriage records.

The clerk's office is at the Uvalde County Courthouse. No satellite locations handle marriage license applications. Plan to visit on a regular weekday and avoid state holidays. If you are coming from a neighboring county or from South Texas, call ahead to confirm hours.

The standard marriage license fee in Uvalde County is approximately $82. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital program pay around $22. Call the office to confirm what payment methods are accepted. Cash and money orders are always a safe choice at smaller Texas county clerk offices.

Note: If either applicant divorced within the last 30 days, bring a certified copy of the final divorce decree. Texas Family Code Section 2.009 requires a 30-day gap between a divorce and a new marriage license.

The Texas Department of State Health Services publishes statewide marriage license requirements that apply to Uvalde County and every other county in Texas.

Checking the state requirements before visiting the Uvalde County Clerk helps ensure you arrive with all the documents needed to complete your application.

How to Get a Marriage License in Uvalde County

Both people go to the courthouse together, bring their IDs, fill out the state application, and pay the fee. The clerk processes most applications that same day. No appointment is usually required, but a call ahead is always a good idea.

What each applicant must bring:

• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID)
• Social Security number (you must know it; having the card helps)
• Certified divorce decree if either person finalized a divorce within the last 30 days
• Court order if either applicant is under 18

No residency proof is needed. The license works anywhere in Texas, not just in Uvalde County. Out-of-state applicants, travelers, and local residents all go through the same process at the same office. No blood test is required.

The application asks for full legal names, maiden names, birth dates, birthplaces, and Social Security numbers. Prior marriages must be listed, along with how and when they ended. This is required by Texas Family Code Section 2.004.

Waiting Period, Fees, and Exemptions

Texas law imposes a 72-hour waiting period that starts when the clerk issues the license. The relevant statute is Texas Family Code Section 2.204. If the license is issued on a Wednesday at 2 PM, no ceremony can happen before Saturday at 2 PM.

Active duty military members can waive the 72-hour wait. A judge may grant a written waiver for good cause. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education program bypass the wait and pay about $22 instead of $82. The course takes roughly eight hours and is offered by approved providers throughout Texas, including some near the border region in South Texas.

The license is good for 90 days from the date of issue. Missing that window means starting over with a new application and new fee. Most couples apply one to two weeks before the ceremony. An informal marriage declaration in Uvalde County typically costs around $42 and also requires both applicants to appear in person.

Uvalde County Marriage Records

After the ceremony, the officiant must sign and return the license to the Uvalde County Clerk within 30 days. That requirement comes from Texas Family Code Section 2.206. Once the clerk records it, the marriage becomes a public record. You can then request certified copies for name changes, insurance enrollment, passport applications, and similar needs.

Certified copies cost approximately $21 each. Request them in person at the Uvalde County Courthouse or by mail. For statewide records from 1966 onward, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit maintains a central index. DSHS verification letters cost $20. They confirm a record exists but are not certified copies from the county.

Older Uvalde County marriage records are part of the permanent public archive. Genealogists and researchers can contact the clerk's office to request access to historical records. Some older filings may also be accessible through genealogy databases and regional archives.

Nearby Counties

Uvalde County is in Southwest Texas and borders several counties in the Hill Country and border region.