Jones County Marriage Records

Jones County marriage records are maintained by the County Clerk in Anson. The clerk issues marriage licenses and holds certified copies of all licenses recorded in the county. If you need to search Jones County marriage records or get a certified copy of a license, the county clerk's office in Anson is where to start.

Jones County Clerk Office

The Jones County Clerk is located at P.O. Box 552, Anson, TX 79501. The phone number is (325) 823-3734. The clerk handles marriage licenses, certified copies, and all official county records. Jones County was created in 1858 and named after Anson Jones, the last president of the Republic of Texas. The county seat, Anson, was named after him as well.

Both applicants must appear in person with valid photo ID to apply for a license. Each person also needs their Social Security number. No blood test is required. Under Texas Family Code Chapter 2, a license issued in Jones County can be used for a ceremony anywhere in Texas.

Applying for a Marriage License in Jones County

Both people who plan to marry must go to the clerk's office together. Each needs a valid photo ID. Driver's licenses, passports, and state ID cards all work. You will give your Social Security number at the time of application. The clerk will complete the form with you.

Texas sets a 72-hour waiting period from the time you get the license until the ceremony can be held. This comes from Texas Family Code Section 2.204. To skip the wait, complete the free Twogether in Texas premarital course and bring your certificate to the clerk when you apply. The certificate also takes $60 off the license fee, bringing it from about $81 down to around $21. It must be dated within the past year. Your license is valid for 90 days from the date issued.

Note: Minors under 18 cannot marry in Texas without a court order, per Texas Family Code Section 2.003.

Certified Copies in Jones County

Certified copies of Jones County marriage licenses must come from the Jones County Clerk's office. The Texas Department of State Health Services keeps a statewide index from 1966 forward and offers $20 verification letters, but it cannot issue certified copies. Only the county where the license was filed can do that.

To get a certified copy in person, visit the clerk's office in Anson during business hours. For mail requests, send to P.O. Box 552, Anson, TX 79501. Include both parties' names, the approximate marriage date, and payment for the copy. Call (325) 823-3734 to ask about current fees before sending a mail request. DSHS statewide line is (888) 963-7111.

Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and are legally accepted for name changes, insurance updates, government filings, and similar purposes. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 194, the county clerk files a copy of each application with the state within 90 days.

Jones County Marriage Record Contents

Marriage license records in Jones County follow the standard Texas format. They include both parties' full names, dates of birth, addresses, and Social Security numbers. The record also notes the date the license was issued, when and where the ceremony took place, who performed it, and any prior marriages. These records are public. Anyone with sufficient information to identify a specific record can request a copy.

Jones County records go back to the county's formation in 1858. For genealogy, FamilySearch holds digitized Texas marriage records for many counties. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission also has older historical materials that may be useful for pre-1966 research.

Informal Marriage in Jones County

Under Texas Family Code Section 2.401, Texas recognizes informal marriage. Couples in Jones County can sign a Declaration of Informal Marriage at the county clerk's office in Anson. That creates a formal public record. Informal marriage can also be established without a declaration if a couple can show they agreed to be married, lived together in Texas as spouses, and represented to others that they were married. Once established, informal marriage has the same legal standing as a formal ceremony and must be dissolved by divorce.

Jones County Marriage Record Resources

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section provides statewide marriage verification services for all Texas counties, including Jones County, going back to 1966.

DSHS processes verification letters for $20 each by mail, in person, or online. For records before 1966, the county clerk in Anson is the primary source.

Cities in Jones County

Jones County is located in West Central Texas. The county seat is Anson. All marriage records are on file with the Jones County Clerk in Anson.

No cities in Jones County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. Communities in the county including Anson, Hamlin, and Stamford are all served by the Jones County Clerk for marriage records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Jones County. Each county clerk maintains its own marriage records.