Track Down Free Travis County Marriage Records

Search free Travis County marriage records today to find information on anyone married locally.

Government agencies must make these records available because of the Texas Public Information Act. Marriage records can be useful resources for learning more about your family history when performing a genealogy search; they may also be necessary to prove a marriage for a legal claim or business situation where this proof is required.

People may also want to learn how to search marriage records to learn more about a family member, friend or colleague. Whatever your reason, knowing how to access and request these records is important. The information below will provide all the information you need to begin your search for marriage records in Travis County and throughout Texas.

This resource was written by Attorney Robert Bailey Jr, who holds a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law.

How To Find Travis County Marriage Records for Free

Let’s get started on the process of accessing marital records in Travis County. Marriage records are maintained by the Travis County Clerk.

The quickest way to view marriage records is to search with the Travis County Clerk Web Search Tool. To begin your search, click on the marriage icon at the top of the screen and then select “Search marriage index.”

The marriage search page will allow you to look for records by either party’s name or license number. You can also set a date range for when the application was submitted or when the marriage occurred. You can also further narrow down your search results by selecting a license status (issued, returned, expired).

Once you complete your search, the results page will provide you with the license number, application date, marriage date and both people’s names. You then have the option to click on the license number to view a copy of the original marriage certificate. You can also choose to purchase an informational copy online for a $1.00 fee.

Another option is to inquire with the Travis County Clerk about the process of requesting certified or informational copies of marriage records in person or by mail. You can check out their FAQ page, call them at 512-854-9188 or talk to someone in person at the address below:²

Travis County Clerk
5501 Airport Blvd.
Austin, Texas 78751

The Travis County Clerk is open and can provide these types of services Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Archived marriage records for genealogy searches will be covered next.

How Do You View Archived Marriage Records in Travis County Texas?

As records get older, they may be harder to find. In many cases, a county government agency will designate a particular office to preserve and maintain older documents, including archived marriage records.

Travis County does not have a separate process for accessing their archived marriage records. If you are looking to view any archived Travis County marital records, your primary county resource is the Clerk’s Office. You can begin your search by seeing what is available through their Travis County Clerk Online Search Tool.

If you do not find what you are looking for online, you can contact the Travis County Clerk to ask them what types of archived marriage records they have available and how to access them. You can call them at 512-854-9188 or go to the address below:

Travis County Clerk
5501 Airport Blvd.
Austin, Texas 78751

Archived marriage records are not just held with government agencies. You can check with religious institutions (e.g., churches) to see if they kept records of any weddings they performed. You can also check old newspapers, marriage indexes and other documents at local historical societies and libraries.

For archived records of marriages in various counties, you can inquire with the Texas State Library Archives Commission to find out what types of documents they have available.³ To learn more about the types of marriage records they maintain, call them at 512-463-5474 or send an email to [email protected]. Their office is located at the address below:

Texas State Library & Archives
1201 Brazos Street
Austin, Texas 78701

You can also check with the Family History Center. The Family History Center is part of the Texas State Archives and Libraries and is another option for researching archived marriage records.

Common-law marriages are legal in Texas. This is a type of informal marriage where a couple is considered married without going through the traditional process.

Since common-law marriages exist in Texas, you can access these records as well. Other types of relationships (e.g., civil unions and domestic partnerships) are not authorized throughout Texas.

How To Look Up Marriage Records That Took Place Elsewhere in Texas

You are now prepared to search for a variety of Travis County marital records. However, you may be looking for a resource that you can use to request marriage records throughout Texas. This may be necessary if you want to verify someone that was married in Texas but you are not sure of the county.

A statewide solution for accessing marriage records is the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Section.⁴ If you just need to look through records for informational purposes, you can search the available marriage indexes provided by the Vital Statistics Section.⁵ Anyone can access these records, and the cost to view them is free.

The marriage index contains a yearly compilation of all nuptials that occurred in Texas starting in 1966. They contain the following information:

• Names of each party
• Ages
• Marriage date
• Location of marriage

The Vital Statistics Section also provides a marriage verification. If you specifically need a marriage certificate, you will have to make your request with the appropriate county clerk.

For marriage verifications, the cost is $20.00, and they are available from 1966 to the present. Unlike the marriage indexes, a verification is only available to a person listed on the certificate or certain family members (e.g., spouse, child, grandparent, parent, guardian). A legal representative and a person with a court order can also obtain a marriage record through the Vital Statistics Section.

To submit a request for marriage verification, you can do so from home by completing their online marriage record form.⁷ You can also complete their standard marriage verification application and mail it to the address below:

Texas Vital Statistics
Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, Texas 78711

You can also take the completed application and bring it to one of several Vital Statistics office locations. If you have certain questions about the process, you might want to review the FAQ for marriage records page.

If you think you need to talk to someone, the Vital Statistics Section is available from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. To do so, you can email them at [email protected] or call them at 888-963-7111.

How To Request a Travis County Texas Marriage License

If you are planning to get married, there are steps you need to follow to formalize your nuptials. The first step to take after you and your partner have made this decision is to apply for a marriage license. You and your significant other can apply for a marriage license in Travis County through the County Clerk.

To do so, you must complete the Travis County Marriage License Application. To complete this application, you will have to provide your and your partner’s name, address and contact information. You will also have to list the date of birth and location for both applicants.

Once you complete the application, you and your partner must go in person to finalize your request. You can schedule an appointment online and go to the address below:⁹

Travis County Clerk
5501 Airport Blvd.
Austin, Texas 78751

Note: If only one party can make it in person at the Travis County Clerk, they must have a signed and notarized Affidavit of Absent Applicant for Marriage License Form for their partner.

To submit a request for a marriage license, you must not have been divorced in the last 30 days, although there is a very limited exception to remarry your former spouse. There are additional requirements for obtaining a marriage license, such as not being related and being at least 18 years old. At the time of your in-person appointment, you will be required to provide valid government-issued identification to verify your name and age.

After you have been approved for a marriage license, you must get married within 90 days. After that time, the marriage license expires. However, you cannot get married right away as there is a 72-hour waiting period before you can exchange vows.

There is an exception to this 72-hour rule for individuals who can prove they are members of the armed forces on active duty or for any couples that can provide a completion certificate of an approved premarital education course within one year of when they apply.¹⁰ A judge with jurisdiction over these types of matters can also grant a waiver of the 72-hour period.

The fee for a Travis County marriage license is $81.00. With the presentation of a completion certificate for an approved premarital education course, that fee will be reduced to $21.00. There are also certain fee exemptions for members of armed forces deploying to a hostile fire zone.

If you have additional questions, you can contact the Travis County Clerk by phone at 512.854-9188. The County Clerk is available for inquiries Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

You now have the information and forms needed to begin the process of applying for a marriage license. You can also use the online tools and other resources provided in this article to perform an efficient search of Travis County marriage records.