Mills County Marriage Records

Mills County marriage records are kept by the County Clerk in Goldthwaite. The clerk issues marriage licenses and maintains certified copies of licenses filed in the county. If you need to get a marriage license or request a copy of an existing Mills County marriage record, the county clerk's office in Goldthwaite is the place to start. Records in the county date back to 1887 when the county was organized.

Mills County Clerk Office

The Mills County Clerk is based in Goldthwaite, the county seat. The clerk's office handles marriage licenses and other official records for the county. You can find the county website at co.mills.tx.us. Call ahead to confirm current office hours, fees, and procedures before making the drive to Goldthwaite.

Mills County was organized on March 15, 1887 from parts of Comanche, Brown, Hamilton, and Lampasas counties. Marriage records date back to that year. Because the county is small, the county clerk also serves as district clerk, which is allowed under Texas law for counties under 8,000 in population.

Getting a Marriage License in Mills County

Both applicants must go to the Mills County Clerk's office together to apply for a marriage license. You each need a valid photo ID and your Social Security number. No blood test is needed. Under Texas Family Code Chapter 2, you must be at least 18 years old. People under 18 need a court order before they can apply.

Texas law sets a 72-hour waiting period after you pick up the license before the ceremony can take place. That waiting period is waived if you complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education course and present the certificate when applying. The course is free and also reduces the license fee by $60, bringing the standard $81 fee down to about $21. The certificate must be within one year of completion.

A Mills County marriage license is valid for 90 days and can be used anywhere in the state. If the license expires before you marry, you start over from the beginning.

Certified Copies of Mills County Marriage Records

Only the Mills County Clerk can issue certified copies of marriage licenses filed in the county. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section keeps a statewide index from 1966 forward and can issue verification letters for $20. But they cannot issue certified copies. For those, you go to the county where the license was filed.

Request copies in person at the clerk's office in Goldthwaite. Mail requests are generally accepted with names of both parties, the date of marriage, and payment. Contact the office to get current fee amounts and confirm how they accept payment.

Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and are the accepted form for name changes and government filings. Plain copies serve personal reference purposes at a lower cost.

Historical Mills County Marriage Records

Mills County marriage records go back to 1887. FamilySearch has an extensive collection for this county covering records from 1841 to 1985, which includes marriages. This is notable for a county organized in 1887 because the collection appears to draw on records from the parent counties that pre-date Mills County's formation.

You can search the FamilySearch catalog for Mills County, Texas to see what collections are available and whether they have been indexed. Some records may need to be browsed by date rather than searched by name. This is a good starting point for genealogy research on Mills County marriages.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission also holds some historical vital records. For official certified copies of modern records, the county clerk is always the right contact.

Informal Marriage Records in Mills County

Texas recognizes informal marriage under Family Code Section 2.401. Couples in Mills County can file a Declaration of Informal Marriage with the county clerk to create a formal public record. This record has the same legal standing as a standard marriage license and is the simplest way to document a common law marriage.

Without a declaration, proving an informal marriage requires showing all three elements: an agreement to be married, cohabitation in Texas as spouses, and representing to others that you are married. All three must be present at the same time. Once an informal marriage is established, it carries full legal rights and duties, and a formal divorce is required to end it.

Mills County Marriage Record Sources

The Mills County official website provides access to clerk information, office hours, and local resources for marriage license applications and record requests in Goldthwaite.

The county website is the primary resource for confirming current office hours and contacting the clerk's office before you visit.

TexasFile's directory can give you a preview of indexed records before you make contact with the Mills County Clerk for certified copies.

Cities in Mills County

Mills County is a small, rural county in central Texas. The county seat is Goldthwaite. All marriage licenses for this county are issued through the Mills County Clerk.

Communities in Mills County include Goldthwaite, Mullin, and Priddy. None currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All marriage records for these areas are on file with the Mills County Clerk in Goldthwaite.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Mills County. Each clerk handles marriage records for their own jurisdiction.