Search Cass County Marriage Records
Cass County marriage records are maintained by the County Clerk in Linden, Texas. The clerk's office issues marriage licenses, records completed license returns from officiants, and provides certified copies to those requesting Cass County marriage records. The Linden courthouse, widely recognized as the oldest operating courthouse in the State of Texas, holds the official records for all marriages licensed in this East Texas county.
Cass County Overview
Cass County Clerk Contact Information
The Cass County Clerk is Amy L. Varnell. The office is located in the Texas Historical Courthouse at 100 E. Houston Street in Linden, Texas. The mailing address is P.O. Box 449, Linden, TX 75563. Phone: (903) 756-5071. Fax: (903) 756-8057. Deputy clerks on staff include Evelyn Charleston, Cindy Waters, April Grigsby, and Elisha Rossi.
The Cass County Courthouse is a historic landmark. Operating as a county courthouse for longer than any other in Texas, the building holds records that go back well into the 1800s. For anyone researching family history or needing official copies of older marriage records from this part of East Texas, the Linden courthouse is the primary source.
| County Clerk | Amy L. Varnell |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 E. Houston Street Linden, TX 75563 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 449, Linden, TX 75563 |
| Phone | (903) 756-5071 |
| Fax | (903) 756-8057 |
| Website | co.cass.tx.us |
Marriage License Requirements in Cass County
Both applicants must appear together at the Cass County Clerk's office during regular business hours. A valid photo ID is required from each person. You must know your Social Security number. No blood test is needed. Both parties must be at least 18. Under Texas Family Code Chapter 2, a license from Cass County is valid for use anywhere in Texas.
The standard fee is around $81. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education course pay only $21 and have the 72-hour waiting period waived. Texas Family Code Section 2.204 requires the 72-hour wait for everyone who does not have the Twogether certificate. The license expires 90 days after issuance, so plan your ceremony date in advance.
Certified Copies of Cass County Marriage Records
Certified copies of Cass County marriage licenses can only be obtained from the Cass County Clerk. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section handles statewide verification letters for $20 from 1966 forward, but it cannot issue certified copies. Only the county clerk where the license was issued can provide that.
For mail requests, send to P.O. Box 449, Linden, TX 75563. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate marriage date, and payment by check or money order. Certified copies carry the clerk's official seal and are legally valid for name changes, passport applications, and other government uses.
Note: The Cass County Clerk's office does NOT handle traffic tickets, felony cases, divorces, child support cases, county court at law cases, or property taxes. Those matters are handled by separate offices.
Cass County Marriage Record Contents
Marriage license applications in Cass County follow the state-prescribed format. Each record includes both parties' full legal names, dates of birth, addresses, and Social Security numbers. It also shows the license issue date, the ceremony date and location, the officiant's name, and prior marriage history for each party. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 194, the county clerk files a copy with the state vital statistics unit within 90 days of the application.
Cass County's records date back to the county's early history. The historic courthouse has preserved records that predate the statewide DSHS index. For marriages before 1966, the county clerk in Linden is the only source. The statewide index covers marriages from 1966 onward and is searchable under both parties' names.
Informal Marriage in Cass County
Texas recognizes informal marriage under Family Code Section 2.401. Couples can register an informal marriage at the Cass County Clerk's office by completing and signing a Declaration of Informal Marriage. This creates a permanent public record with the same legal weight as a formal marriage license.
Three elements must be present to prove an informal marriage exists without a declaration: both parties agreed to be married, they lived together in Texas as spouses, and they held themselves out to others as married. Registering at the county clerk avoids having to prove these elements later. Once established, an informal marriage must be dissolved through a formal divorce, just like a ceremonial marriage.
Cass County Record Sources
The Cass County Clerk's official website has contact details and information about services available at the historic Linden courthouse.
The Cass County Clerk's page provides contact information and an overview of the marriage license services and vital records available through the Linden courthouse.
TexasFile provides searchable access to Cass County official public records. This helps locate recorded documents from the county clerk's office by searching party names.
Cities in Cass County
Cass County includes Linden and several surrounding communities in East Texas. All marriage licenses in the county are issued and recorded at the Cass County Clerk's office in Linden.
Communities include Linden (county seat), Atlanta, Domino, Hughes Springs, Marietta, and Queen City. These communities do not qualify for individual city pages, but all Cass County marriages are on file with the county clerk.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Cass County. Marriage records for those areas are kept at each county's own clerk office.