Martin County Marriage Records

Martin County marriage records are on file with the County Clerk in Stanton, Texas. The clerk handles marriage license applications and provides certified copies of recorded licenses. Martin County marriage records begin in 1885, following the county's organization in 1884. For any records that might predate 1885, Howard County may hold relevant documents from the period when this area was under that jurisdiction.

Martin County Clerk Office

The Martin County Clerk is located in Stanton, the county seat of this Permian Basin county. Call (915) 756-3412 to reach the office. Martin County was organized in 1884 from Bexar County lands. Before that date, this area was attached to Howard County for administrative purposes, meaning records from before 1884 may be found in the Howard County Clerk's records in Big Spring.

Martin County sits in the Permian Basin of West Texas, an area known for oil and gas production. Stanton is a small community with the county courthouse at its center. The clerk's office provides marriage licensing services and maintains the county's official records. Given the rural and remote nature of the area, it is best to call ahead before visiting to confirm current office hours.

Getting a Marriage License in Martin County

Both applicants must appear in person together at the Martin County Clerk's office in Stanton. Each person needs a valid photo ID and Social Security number. No blood test is required. Both must be at least 18. Under Texas Family Code Chapter 2, a license from Martin County is valid anywhere in the state.

The standard fee is $81. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education course pay only $21. You must bring the completion certificate when you apply, and it must have been issued within the past year. Completing the course also waives the 72-hour waiting period under Section 2.204. Without it, Texas law requires you to wait three days after the license is issued before the ceremony can take place.

Under Section 2.201, the license is valid for 90 days. It cannot be renewed or extended. Plan your ceremony date before visiting the clerk.

Note: Pre-1884 records for this area are held at the Howard County Clerk in Big Spring, since Martin County was not yet organized and this territory was under Howard County's jurisdiction.

Certified Copies of Martin County Marriage Records

Certified copies of Martin County marriage licenses come from the Martin County Clerk in Stanton. Call (915) 756-3412 to confirm the current fee and submission process. For mail requests, provide the full names of both parties, the approximate marriage date, and payment. The clerk will provide instructions on where to send your request.

The Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Unit keeps a statewide index from 1966 forward and can issue verification letters for $20. However, only the Martin County Clerk can issue a certified copy of a license recorded here. That copy carries the clerk's official seal and is accepted for legal and administrative purposes including name changes and government filings.

What Marriage Records Show

Martin County marriage license applications follow the Texas state format. Each record includes both parties' full legal names, dates of birth, addresses, and Social Security numbers. The license documents the date it was issued, when and where the ceremony took place, and who performed it. Any prior marriages and how they ended are also listed.

Completed licenses are sent to the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit within 90 days. The county retains the original. Both records are public. Martin County marriage records extend from 1885, providing a solid archive for this part of the Permian Basin.

Informal Marriage Registration

Texas recognizes informal marriage under Texas Family Code Section 2.401. Couples in Martin County can register an informal marriage by signing a Declaration of Informal Marriage at the clerk's office in Stanton. The declaration has the same legal force as a formal marriage license and creates a public record of the relationship.

Without a declaration, proving an informal marriage requires showing three elements: agreement to be married, living together in Texas as spouses, and holding out to others as married. Registering a declaration makes that proof unnecessary and gives you a clear public record in Martin County's files.

Martin County Marriage Record Sources

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics page provides statewide marriage index information and the process for requesting verification letters for marriages recorded in Texas from 1966 onward.

For Martin County marriage licenses specifically, contact the county clerk in Stanton. DSHS handles statewide index searches and verification letters, while the county clerk holds the original license and issues certified copies.

Nearby Counties

Marriage records for these neighboring counties are on file at each county's own clerk office.