How to Find Texas Marriage Records

How To Find U.S. Marriage Records How To Find Texas Marriage Records

Finding Texas Marriage Records

• Pre-1837 marriages were recorded by the Catholic Church
• Marriages are kept by the county clerk for each county and usually begin at the creation of the county
• In Texas, duplicate copies are not sent to the Department of State Health Services

Next Step: When did the marriage occur?		Marriage Records Choose a time period: Before 1837 1837 to Present Marriage year unknown

Learn more about U.S. Marriage Records

Marriages Before 1837

• Pre-statehood marriages were recorded by the Catholic Church

Before 1837, no marriages were recorded by the county or state. First, check marriages recorded by the Catholic Church. If your ancestor does not appear in Catholic records, you must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s marriage date and place.

Records that give marriage information:
Newspapers Bible Records	Church Records Military Records

For marriages that exist during the time period, try the following databases. Try each link.

Texas Marriage Databases - Index Only
At FamilySearch Centers/Libraries:
	1814-1909 and 1966-2002 at Ancestry.com	Ancestry Library edition - free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center; Index only - images of records available at FamilySearch Centers - see below
Use Your Ancestry Subscription:
	1814-1909 and 1966-2002 at Ancestry.com	Ancestry subscription - $, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Index only - images of records available at FamilySearch Centers - see below

Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No marriage record for your ancestor?		Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. Other records with marriage information

Found the index but not the image of the marriage?
Some images of county marriage records may be available on microfilm at your local Family Search Center. If you know the approximate date and county where the marriage took place, use the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) to see what is available.

• Search the FHLC by county.
• Select the topic Vital Records. Look for records authored by the county clerk.
• For a small fee, order the microfilm to view at a local FamilySearch Center.

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

Marriages 1837 to Present

• Marriages are kept by the county clerk for each county and usually begin at the creation of the county
• In Texas, duplicate copies are not sent to the Department of State Health Services

STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information in Index

Marriage Indexes and Digital Images
Database Name - Index and Image	Link or links to access database		# of records
FamilySearch, Marriages, 1837-1977	On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years		187,126

If you do not locate the marriage in the above, try:
Database Name-Index Only	Link or links to access database		# of records
Ancestry, Marriages, 1814-1909 and 1966-2002	Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers	$, Use your own Ancestry subscription	12,788,808
FamilySearch, Marriage Index, 1837-1973	On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years		2,099,675
FamilySearch, Marriage Index, 1837-1977	On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years		365,805
FamilySearch, Marriage Index, 1966-2010	On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years		7,606,159
VitalSearch, Marriage Index, 1967-2011	$, On VitalSearch		Not disclosed

Can't access Ancestry?	Visit your local Family History Center or your local public library.
No marriage record for your ancestor?	Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. Search other records with marriage information.

Found the index but not the image of the marriage?
Some images of county marriage records may be available on microfilm at your local Family Search Center. If you know the approximate date and county where the marriage took place, use the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) to see what is available.

• Search the FHLC by county.
• Select the topic Vital Records. Look for records authored by the county clerk.
• For a small fee, order the microfilm to view at a local FamilySearch Center.

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

If you did not find your ancestor in the above database, follow the instructions below:

PART A: You don't know the exact date or place of marriage

• If you know the county of marriage, you can request a search for a fee from the county clerk.
• If you don't know the county or date of marriage, you can request a search for a fee from the West Virginia Department of Health State office.
• If you don't know the date or county of marriage, you can also try searching for marriage information in other records.

PART B: You know the exact date and place of marriage from your records

• Order a copy of a marriage record for a fee from the county clerk.

OR

• Order a copy of a marriage record for a fee from the West Virginia Department of Health State office.

To Order Marriage Certificates
From County of Marriage		From WV Dept. of Health State office
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use	Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee	May be more expensive than ordering from the county

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/vs/field/localremotedistrict.shtm

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