Learn Where a Texas Marriage Certificate Is Filed
If you are searching for marriage records in the Lone Star State, be warned: it may not be too easy. If you know something of the state’s history, you can guess why.
Through much of its early history, Texas was a territory several powers tried to occupy and keep: Spain, France, Mexico, American settlers and the US all fought over it at various times. Its shifting demographics made it near impossible to compile, much less preserve, vital records.
The fact is, many kinds of people have traveled to the state at various times and settled here. As these settlers establish their roots, Texas marriage records, perhaps more than other vital records, will be more than ever sought after.
In the earlier days, Texas marriages were not recorded by any kind of government that was responsible for maintaining the state's business. They were actually recorded by the church and so it cannot be expected that all marriages were recorded. Thus, the early TX marriage database may not be accurate. In all honesty it has to be conceded that this is the case in much of the US, and is not something that is unique in Texas.
Finding Certificates Through Government Channels
State-level vital records registration in Texas started in 1903. Some fragments of records do exist from earlier time periods, but master indexes are only available for records kept after 1903.
These do not include Texas marriage records, which are available only from after 1966. For these, you will need to visit or write to the Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1100 W. 49th Street, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. You may also call 512-458-7111 / 512-458-4751. For earlier records, try the relevant County Clerk's office.
Getting Your Application Right
Keep your request letter concise and topical. Unnecessary details about the family lines tend to confuse. Too many requests take longer to process, so take no more than two to begin with.
Provide the fullest possible information. If a person went by more than one name, please write them all down and include any nicknames. If that name takes alternate spellings, include them as well.
Be as accurate as you can about the date of marriage. If you are not sure of the precise date, provide a span of years that must be searched. Remember that you have to pay extra for searches that cover many years.
Be prepared to wait. If you do not already know how many pages there are in a marriage deed, you will not know exactly what fees to pay. Avoid shooting in the dark and sending a specific sum.
Best of all, write two letters. In the first, state your requirements, provide all the information and ask about your payables. In the second, enclose your check. Enclose a stamped and self-addressed envelope. This is something a lot of applicants forget to do.
You cannot expect to receive a reply immediately after you have requested for the information. You should know that in the State of Texas and also in many other places across the country, the offices are often short-staffed and they have other work to do as well. So you should be prepared to wait patiently for your marriage certificate.
Details That are Essential to Include In Your Request:
• Your date of request
• Husband’s full name (the last name in caps) and wife’s full name (maiden last name in caps).
• The marriage date
• Place of marriage (city or town, county, state).
• Relationship to you
• Purpose of your application
• Your name, signature & address
• Your driver's license number & state may be required in some counties.
Online Is Best!
Just go online and you can comfortably do away with all the hassles involved with trying to get information about your marriage in Texas. If you are writing that letter to send your request you will naturally have to wait because the postal system will carry your request to the appropriate authorities. On the Internet, you can use a few simple clicks to place your request. You can then save a lot of hassles and time, too.
|
