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By Frank Flores, founder of FamiliaLista · Updated November 3, 2026

Marriage and divorce records in Texas: where to get copies

In Texas, a certified copy of a marriage license comes from the county clerk in the county that issued it, and a certified divorce decree comes from the district clerk where the divorce was granted. The state's Vital Statistics office only issues verification letters, which confirm the event but don't replace the certified record. Here's where to go and what to bring.

Married in Texas

Certified copies of marriage licenses are only available from the county clerk, in the county where the license was issued. Source: Texas DSHS, marriage and divorce records.

Divorced in Texas

Certified copies of divorce decrees are only available from the district clerk, in the county where the divorce was granted. Source: Texas DSHS, marriage and divorce records.

What is a state verification letter?

Texas Vital Statistics keeps indexes of marriages since 1966 and divorces since 1968. It can issue a letter verifying that a marriage or divorce took place, but those letters aren't legal substitutes for a marriage license or divorce decree. Each verification is $20. You can order online through Texas.gov, the fastest option, or by mail or in person. The state can't verify marriages before 1966 or divorces before 1968; for those, go to the county. Sources: Texas DSHS, marriage and divorce records, Texas DSHS, costs and fees.

Local offices can help too

Local vital records offices, run by counties, cities and districts, list marriage licenses and divorce records among the records they handle. Each sets its own hours, fees and steps, so call ahead. Source: Texas DSHS, local vital records offices.

Married in Mexico

The acta de matrimonio comes from the Registro Civil where the marriage was registered. Birth, marriage and death actas registered in Mexico can be downloaded at gob.mx/actas with a Llave MX account and the CURP or the record's details, at a cost set by each state. Mexican consulates also print them in person, without an appointment, if the record is digitized. That service doesn't list divorce records, so for a divorce granted in Mexico, ask the office that handled it. Source: Consulado de México, copias certificadas de actas registradas en México (in Spanish).

For immigration, USCIS requires a full English translation of any foreign-language document, certified by the translator as complete and accurate. Other agencies have their own rules, so ask. Source: 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), translations for USCIS.

When will your family need these?

A surviving spouse applying for Social Security survivor benefits brings the marriage certificate, and a surviving ex-spouse also brings the divorce decree. Social Security asks for originals or copies certified by the office that issued them. See the survivor benefits documents checklist and survivor benefits for an ex-spouse. Sources: SSA, what survivors need to apply, SSA, Survivors Benefits (EN-05-10084).

Checklist

[ ] Both spouses' full names, as they were at the time
[ ] Date of the marriage or divorce
[ ] County where the license was issued or the divorce was granted
[ ] Cause number of the divorce case, if you have it
[ ] Your photo ID
[ ] Payment for the clerk's fees
[ ] For Mexico: CURP or record details, and a Llave MX account
[ ] A certified English translation, if the agency needs one

Keep certified copies with your family's other papers. See how to organize important documents. Source: Texas DSHS, marriage and divorce records.

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Frequently asked questions

Where do I get a certified copy of my Texas marriage license?

From the county clerk in the county that issued the license.

Where do I get a certified copy of my divorce decree?

From the district clerk in the county where the divorce was granted.

Is the state verification letter the same as a certified copy?

No. It confirms the marriage or divorce happened, but it isn't a legal substitute for the license or decree.

Is this legal advice?

No. It's general information from Texas DSHS, Social Security and the Mexican consulate. Each office decides what it accepts.

Sources

General information, not legal or financial advice. Rules change; check the official sources above or talk to a licensed professional about your situation.