Aransas County Marriage Records

Aransas County marriage records are filed with the County Clerk in Rockport, Texas. The clerk maintains marriage licenses, vital records, and official public records for the county. Records go back to 1871. Whether you need a certified copy of a marriage license or want to apply for a new one, the Aransas County Clerk handles all of it. This page covers what you need to bring, what the fees are, and how the process works.

Aransas County Clerk Office

County Clerk Misty R. F. Kimbrough manages all official records for Aransas County. The office is currently at a temporary location on Highway 35 North in Rockport. The office maintains a morning and afternoon schedule with a midday break. Marriage licenses and records requests are handled during regular business hours.

Effective October 1, 2025, a valid picture ID is required for all official public record filings in Aransas County. This applies to marriage records, land records, probate filings, and other document types. If you submit records by mail, include a copy of your ID with the request.

The office does not conduct telephone searches of records. It does not accept out-of-state personal checks. If you are mailing a request, use a money order made out to Aransas County Clerk. A $3.00 postage fee applies to mailed documents unless you include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Aransas County Marriage License Process

To get a marriage license in Aransas County, both applicants must appear in person. Bring a valid photo ID. Texas requires both parties to be at least 18 years old. Social Security numbers must be provided to the clerk when you apply. The clerk will prepare the license and both parties will sign it at the office.

After the license is issued, there is a mandatory 72-hour waiting period before the ceremony can take place. This is set by Texas Family Code Section 2.204. The license is valid for 90 days from the date it was issued. You can use it anywhere in Texas.

The Twogether in Texas program waives the 72-hour wait and gives a $60 discount on the license fee. Complete the free premarital course and present the certificate when you apply. Find a provider at twogetherintexas.com. The certificate must be less than a year old and verifiable by the clerk online.

Getting Certified Copies of Marriage Licenses

Aransas County offers a mail-in process for certified copies of marriage licenses. The fee is $8.00 per certified copy. Send a money order made out to Aransas County Clerk along with your completed application form. The form asks for the names of both parties, the date of marriage, and your contact information for the return mailing.

You can download the certified copy application form from the county website. Fill it out and mail it with your payment. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope to avoid the $3.00 postage fee.

The state office in Austin can verify marriage records from 1966 forward through Texas DSHS Vital Statistics. That service costs $20 per verification. But it does not issue certified copies. For a certified copy accepted in court or for name changes, only the County Clerk can provide it.

Online Records Search for Aransas County

The Aransas County Clerk's online portal allows you to search official public records from home. You can search for marriage records and license applications, land records, assumed name filings, and vital statistic records. Visit the clerk's website to access the portal. Some information may be redacted from the online database per state law.

The county's online database is not the official repository for records. The official records are at the clerk's office. The online system is a search tool only. If you need a certified copy or official verification, you must request it from the clerk directly.

Aransas County marriage records date to 1871. Birth and death records also begin in 1871. Probate records go back to 1860. The county was formed from Refugio County and incorporated in September 1871.

Aransas County Historical Marriage Records

Marriage records in Aransas County go back to the county's formation in 1871. Land records also begin in 1871, and some probate records predate the county at 1860. The county has no known courthouse disasters, so records from 1871 to present should be intact.

For genealogy research, FamilySearch has an Aransas County wiki with details on available records and how to find them. The District Clerk also has naturalization records from 1908 to 1913, which can be useful for tracing immigrant ancestors who settled in this coastal area.

The Texas State Library and Archives in Austin holds some historical vital records from the Republic of Texas era and early statehood. Their collections may include early marriage records that predate systematic county record-keeping.

Texas Marriage Law and Requirements

Texas requires both parties to appear in person for a marriage license. There is an exception for active military members on overseas deployment supporting combat operations. In those cases, one party can file an absent applicant affidavit at the clerk's office.

Common law marriage, called informal marriage in Texas, is recognized under Texas Family Code Section 2.401. Couples can establish an informal marriage by signing a Declaration of Informal Marriage at the county clerk's office. The three requirements are: an agreement to be married, living together in Texas as spouses, and representing yourselves to others as married. The declaration becomes a public record once filed.

Cities in Aransas County

Aransas County includes Rockport and several coastal communities. All marriage licenses for the county are issued at the County Clerk's office in Rockport.

No cities in Aransas County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page.

Nearby Counties

Aransas County is on the Texas Gulf Coast. Bordering counties each have their own clerk offices for marriage records.