Medina County Marriage Records
Medina County marriage records are on file with the County Clerk in Hondo, Texas. The clerk's office issues marriage licenses, provides certified copies, and maintains the official marriage index for the county. Medina County marriage records reach back to 1848, making them among the older archives in this part of South Texas. The clerk's office also offers a property fraud alert service for county residents.
Medina County Overview
Medina County Clerk Office
The Medina County Clerk is at 1100 16th Street, Room 109, in Hondo. Call (830) 741-6040 or fax (830) 741-7851. The county clerk website is at medinacountyclerk.com. Hours follow the standard Monday through Friday county schedule. The office processes marriage licenses and all official county vital records.
| Office | Medina County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 1100 16th St, Room 109 Hondo, TX 78861 |
| Phone | (830) 741-6040 |
| Fax | (830) 741-7851 |
| Website | medinacountyclerk.com |
Medina County was organized in 1848 from Bexar County and is one of the older organized counties in South Texas. Hondo is the county seat. The clerk's office has maintained marriage records since the county's organization, giving the archive a depth going back over 175 years. Medina County lies southwest of San Antonio and serves communities in the area including Castroville, Hondo, and surrounding rural communities.
Getting a Marriage License in Medina County
Both applicants must appear together in person at the Medina County Clerk's office in Hondo. Each 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 issued in Medina County is valid for use anywhere in Texas.
The standard fee is $81. If both partners complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education course, the fee drops to $21. Bring the completion certificate when you apply. It must be dated within one year. The certificate also waives the 72-hour waiting period required by Section 2.204. Without it, a three-day wait between getting the license and holding the ceremony is required by Texas law.
Under Section 2.201, the license expires after 90 days. There is no renewal. Set your ceremony date before you go to the clerk to make sure the 90-day window works for you.
Certified Copies of Medina County Marriage Records
Certified copies of Medina County marriage licenses come from the Medina County Clerk. Contact the office at (830) 741-6040 or visit the website at medinacountyclerk.com for current fee information and submission options. For mail requests, write to 1100 16th Street, Room 109, Hondo, TX 78861. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate marriage date, and payment.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit maintains a statewide marriage index from 1966 onward and offers verification letters for $20. But only the Medina County Clerk can provide a certified copy with a legal seal. Certified copies are accepted for name changes, government filings, insurance updates, and other legal needs.
What Medina County Marriage Records Show
Medina County marriage license applications follow the Texas state format. The record includes both parties' full legal names, dates of birth, addresses, and Social Security numbers. It shows when the license was issued, the date and location of the ceremony, and who officiated. Any prior marriages and how they ended are also listed.
Completed licenses are transmitted to the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit within 90 days. Both the county and state records are public. Medina County's archive stretches back to 1848, covering nearly the full span of Texas statehood and making it a valuable resource for genealogical research in South Texas.
Informal Marriage in Medina County
Texas law recognizes informal marriage under Texas Family Code Section 2.401. Couples in Medina County can sign a Declaration of Informal Marriage at the clerk's office in Hondo. This creates a public record with the same legal force as a formal marriage license and is the most direct way to officially document a common-law relationship.
Without a signed declaration, you must prove three elements: an agreement to be married, cohabitation in Texas as spouses, and representing to others that you are married. A declaration removes that burden and provides a clear, searchable record. The Medina County Clerk's office on 16th Street in Hondo can provide the form.
Medina County Marriage Record Sources
The Medina County Clerk website provides contact details, information about county services including marriage licenses, and resources for residents in Hondo and surrounding communities.
Use the Medina County Clerk website to confirm current fees, office hours, and the process for requesting certified copies of marriage records in Hondo.
Nearby Counties
Marriage records for these neighboring counties are on file at each county's own clerk office.