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Romantic Adventure

Wednesday 12 February 2014

Texas Public Marriage Records

By Ben Kingsley


Looking for Texas marriage records can be difficult. You may have to search among seven million records that have taken place in Texas just from the years 1966 to 2008. The records contain information of the marriage such as the names of the spouses, when the marriage took place and where it happened. You'll also find on the same page the marriage license with one portion done by the officiator of the marriage.

Some people search for the records for various purposes. The usual purpose is for completing genealogical history. You'll be able to find your distant ancestors as long as it is recorded properly. The record can also be used for several legal purposes. It can be used to settle the legitimacy of a child. The record is also part of the documents needed during divorce proceedings to prove that the marriage took place in the first place.

Searching for your record among seven million marriages that have taken place in Texas can be a problem. If you just got married and would like to be certified, you would have to consult with a Texas county clerk. It would be advisable to consult with a Texas County clerk first so you'll know the steps in certifying your record. If you're not sure of the location of the nearest County Clerk, you can find the information online or look them up via phonebooks.

For records of previous marriages (assuming you've had several or looking up records of your parents or other persons) that took place a long time ago, you'll find the website of the Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics a great help. They offer a free access to obtain records of marriages since 1966. If you're looking for records before that year, you'll have better help if you approach your County Clerk. The records given by the department are not certified. It will only be good for reference or record keeping. To get certified records, you need to go to your local County Clerk again before using them as legal documents.

The downside to searching for records via the department is the large file you'll be getting. You can't do a specific search; instead you'll have to download the records for the whole year. This could take a long time to download especially since a whole year record may have about two hundred thousand or more marriage applications listed. However once you've downloaded the whole record, you'll be able to search for the record you need manually. Records are listed in chronological order so just have the specific date (or approximate month) of marriage ready. The records you get aren't certified yet. You need to download a form and pay the $20 fee and send it to the vital records department.

A better way is to use other websites that specialize in obtaining a specific marriage license. These are websites that offer the service for a small sum. You have options such as a 7 day trial or whole year fee. They have up to date online database that will allow you to search for a specific record using only the first and last name. Advanced searches are also available such as specific date and place. There are also websites that offer to get certified records for you and mail them so you won't have to visit your County Clerk. If you need a certified record from the vital records department, you can download the form from their website. Fill the application and attach your payment. The fee is $20 and can be sent with your form as cash, money order, check or even credit card.




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