Johnson County Marriage Records

Johnson County marriage records are kept by the County Clerk in Cleburne. The clerk issues marriage licenses and holds certified copies of all licenses recorded in the county. If you are searching for Johnson County marriage records or need a certified copy, the county clerk's office in Cleburne is your source.

Johnson County Clerk Office

The Johnson County Clerk is located at P.O. Box 369, Cleburne, TX 76033. The phone number is (817) 556-6375. The clerk's office handles marriage licenses, certified copies, and all official county records. The county website is at johnsoncountytx.org. Johnson County was created in 1854 and named after Middleton T. Johnson, a Texas Ranger and state legislator. The county is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, and has seen significant growth in recent decades.

Both applicants must appear in person together at the clerk's office. Each person needs a valid photo ID and their Social Security number. No blood test is required. Under Texas Family Code Chapter 2, a license issued in Johnson County is valid statewide for use in any Texas county.

Getting a Marriage License in Johnson County

Both applicants must appear at the clerk's office together. Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID. Driver's licenses, passports, and state ID cards all work. You also need your Social Security number. The clerk will complete the application with your information.

Texas requires a 72-hour waiting period after you receive the license before the ceremony can take place. This is mandated by Texas Family Code Section 2.204. You can waive this wait. Complete the free Twogether in Texas premarital education course and present your certificate when you apply. The Twogether certificate also reduces the fee by $60. Standard Johnson County fees run about $81. With the Twogether certificate, you pay around $21. The certificate must be from within the past year. Your license expires 90 days after it is issued, so plan your ceremony date before you go apply.

Note: Anyone under 18 must have a court order to get a marriage license in Texas, per Section 2.003 of the Texas Family Code.

Certified Copies of Johnson County Marriage Records

Certified copies of Johnson County marriage licenses can only be obtained from the Johnson County Clerk. The Texas Department of State Health Services maintains a statewide marriage index from 1966 forward and issues verification letters for $20. But the state office does not issue certified copies. Only the issuing county clerk can do that. For Johnson County marriages, that is the clerk in Cleburne.

Go to the clerk's office in person during business hours or send a mail request to P.O. Box 369, Cleburne, TX 76033. Include both parties' full names, the approximate marriage date, and payment for the applicable fee. Call (817) 556-6375 to confirm current fees and procedures. The DSHS statewide line is (888) 963-7111. The VitalChek service may also be an option for online ordering through the county.

Certified copies carry the clerk's official seal. They are accepted for name changes, government records, insurance claims, and legal filings. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 194, the county clerk sends a copy to the state vital statistics unit within 90 days of the application date.

What Johnson County Marriage Records Contain

Marriage license records in Johnson County follow the standard Texas format. Each record includes both parties' full legal names, dates of birth, addresses, and Social Security numbers. The record shows when the license was issued, the date and location of the ceremony, who performed it, and any prior marriages. These records are public. The statewide DSHS index is searchable by both parties' names for marriages since 1966.

For genealogy research, FamilySearch holds digitized marriage records for Johnson County going back to the county's formation in 1854. The Texas Select County Marriage Records collection on FamilySearch includes Johnson County records in its index. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission also holds historical records from before statewide registration.

Informal Marriage in Johnson County

Texas recognizes informal marriage under Texas Family Code Section 2.401. Couples in Johnson County can sign a Declaration of Informal Marriage at the county clerk's office in Cleburne to create an official public record. Without that declaration, informal marriage can still be established by proving three elements: an agreement to be married, living together in Texas as spouses, and representing to others that you are married. Once established, informal marriage has the same legal weight as a formal ceremony. It requires a formal divorce to dissolve.

State and Online Resources

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section handles statewide marriage record verifications. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. Online requests through Texas.gov take about 15-20 business days. Regular mail takes 6-8 weeks. The DSHS phone number is (888) 963-7111.

For court-related family records in Johnson County, the eFileTexas system provides access to civil filings including divorces and name changes in county and district courts.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics page provides information about requesting marriage verifications, fees, and the statewide index covering all Texas counties since 1966.

Cities in Johnson County

Johnson County is located south of Fort Worth in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The county seat is Cleburne. All marriage licenses for the county are issued and recorded at the Johnson County Clerk's office.

No cities in Johnson County meet the population threshold for dedicated city pages on this site. Communities in the county including Cleburne, Burleson, Joshua, and Alvarado are all served by the Johnson County Clerk for marriage records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Johnson County. Each maintains its own marriage records at the county clerk's office.