Texas Marriage & Divorce Vital Records

Capitol: Austin
Most Populous City: Houston
Total Area: 268,820 sq mi 
Total Population (2010): 25145561
Website: http://www.texas.gov
Source: Wikipedia

Marriage and divorce records are unprotected court records. However, the Vital Records Division does not maintain copies of these Texas vital records; the Division searches its indexes and provides verification letters only, with name, date, county and file number; the verification letters cover marriages for 1966-2005 only and divorces for 1968-2006 only. Texas marriage records are under the jurisdiction of the county clerk where the marriage license was issued, while Texas divorce records are under the jurisdiction of the clerk of the appropriate district court; these offices must be contacted for copies. Marriage records prior to 1836 are found only in church record books, but there are books with marriage information for 1824-1850. Prior to statehood in 1845, divorces were granted by special acts of congress, and afterwards by the district courts. Records dating to 1836 are available through genealogical societies and the Texas State Library.

For more information on Texas vital records, visit Texas Birth & Death Vital Records

Texas Vital Records Offices

Record Type: Marriage Certificates
Department of State Health Svcs
Bureau of Vital Statistics
PO Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040
Phone: 512-758-7366
Fax: 512-758-7711
Website

Business Hours: 8AM-5PM
Record Access Requirements: This agency will only supply a verification. They only have a copy of the application form and an index to the county record. The actual certificate must be obtained from the county recorder of record.

Records Available: Divorce Records
Department of State Health Svcs
Bureau of Vital Statistics
PO Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040
Phone: 512-758-7366
Fax: 512-758-7711
Website

Business Hours: 8AM-5PM
Record Access Requirements: This agency will only supply a verification. They only have the report of divorce form and an index that directs you to the county district court of record. A copy of the actual record must be obtained at the county level.

Records Available: Statewide Court Records
Office of Court Administration
PO Box 12066
Austin, TX 78711-2066
Phone: 512-463-1625
Fax: 512-463-1648
Website

Business Hours: 8AM-5PM
Note: Except for certain online research capabilities, all trial court record access must be done at the local level.
Record Access Requirements: Trial court records are maintained by each county.

Records Available: Criminal Records
DPS - Access & Dissemination Bureau
Crime Records Service
PO Box 15999
Austin, TX 78761-5999
Phone: 512-424-2474
Fax: 512-424-5011
Website

Business Hours: 8AM-5PM
Record Access Requirements: To obtain ALL arrest information (conviction and non-conviction), must have a signed release and full set of fingerprints from the person of record.
Search Note: To obtain conviction and deferred adjudication data only, submit full name, sex, race, and DOB. The SSN is helpful, but not required. No letter of authorization is needed for the conviction only report.

Records Available: Incarceration Records
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Bureau of Classification and Records
PO Box 99
Huntsville, TX 77342
Phone: 936-295-6371
Fax: 936-437-2125
Website

Business Hours: 8AM-5PM
Search Note: Location, conviction and sentencing information are provided.

Texas County Marriage & Divorce Vital Records