Search Kleberg County Marriage Records

Kleberg County marriage records are on file with the County Clerk in Kingsville. The clerk issues marriage licenses and holds certified copies of all licenses recorded in the county. Anyone looking to search Kleberg County marriage records or request a certified copy should contact the county clerk's office in Kingsville.

Kleberg County Clerk Office

The Kleberg County Clerk's office is at P.O. Box 1327, Kingsville, TX 78364. The phone number is (361) 595-8548. The clerk handles marriage licenses, certified copies, and all official county records. Kleberg County was created in 1913 and named after Robert Justus Kleberg, a lawyer and Confederate officer. Kingsville is the county seat and is home to Texas A&M University-Kingsville. The county is also adjacent to the King Ranch, one of the largest ranches in the United States.

Both applicants must appear in person together with valid photo ID. Each also needs their Social Security number. No blood test is required. Under Texas Family Code Chapter 2, a license issued in Kleberg County is valid for use anywhere in Texas.

Getting a Marriage License in Kleberg County

Both applicants go to the clerk's office together. Each needs a valid photo ID and their Social Security number. Driver's licenses and passports work. The clerk fills out the application with your information. No blood test is required in Texas.

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

Note: Both parties must be at least 18. Minors cannot marry in Texas without a court order under Texas Family Code Section 2.003.

Certified Copies of Kleberg County Marriage Records

Certified copies of Kleberg County marriage licenses can only be obtained from the Kleberg County Clerk. The Texas Department of State Health Services keeps a statewide index from 1966 and issues $20 verification letters. But the state does not issue certified copies. Only the county clerk where the license was filed can do that. For Kleberg County marriages, that means the clerk in Kingsville.

Visit the clerk's office in person during business hours or send a mail request to P.O. Box 1327, Kingsville, TX 78364. Include both parties' full names, the approximate marriage date, and payment for the copy fee. Call (361) 595-8548 to confirm current fees and procedures. DSHS statewide line: (888) 963-7111. VitalChek may also be an option for online ordering.

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

What Kleberg County Marriage Records Contain

Kleberg County marriage license records follow the Texas state format. They include both parties' full legal names, dates of birth, addresses, and Social Security numbers. The record also shows when the license was issued, the ceremony date and location, who performed the ceremony, and any prior marriages. These records are public. Anyone with enough information to identify a specific record can request a copy.

For genealogy research, FamilySearch has digitized records for many Texas counties. Kleberg County records date back to 1913. The Texas State Library holds older South Texas records that may be useful for pre-1966 research in this region.

Informal Marriage in Kleberg County

Texas recognizes informal marriage under Texas Family Code Section 2.401. Couples in Kleberg County can sign a Declaration of Informal Marriage at the county clerk's office to create an official record. Without a declaration, informal marriage can be established by proving agreement to be married, cohabitation in Texas as spouses, and holding themselves out as married to others. Once established, informal marriage carries the same legal rights as a formal ceremony. A formal divorce is required to dissolve it.

Kleberg County Marriage Record Sources

The Kleberg County Clerk website provides information about the clerk's office in Kingsville including contact details for marriage license requests.

The Kleberg County Clerk website lists contact information, hours, and details for the clerk's office in Kingsville where marriage licenses and certified copies are available.

For statewide records, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section provides verification services and maintains the statewide marriage index.

DSHS processes verification letters for $20 each and can be reached at (888) 963-7111 for questions about the statewide index.

Cities in Kleberg County

Kleberg County is located in South Texas on the Coastal Plains. The county seat is Kingsville. All marriage licenses for the county are issued and recorded at the Kleberg County Clerk's office.

No cities in Kleberg County currently meet the population threshold for dedicated city pages. Communities including Kingsville and Ricardo are all served by the Kleberg County Clerk for marriage records.

Nearby Counties

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