Moore County Marriage Records Lookup

Moore County marriage records are maintained by the County Clerk in Dumas, the county seat. The clerk issues marriage licenses, records them after ceremonies, and keeps certified copies on file for the public. If you need a marriage license or a copy of an existing Moore County marriage record, the county clerk in Dumas is where to go. Records date back to 1894 when the county was organized.

Moore County Clerk Office

The Moore County Clerk is located at 715 South Dumas Ave, Rooms 105 and 107, in Dumas, TX 79029. You can reach the office by phone at (806) 935-6164 or (806) 935-2009. The fax number is (806) 935-9004. The county website is at co.moore.tx.us. The site provides an online records search that you can use to look for marriage license indexes before contacting the office directly.

Moore County was organized on August 21, 1876 from Bexar County but was not settled and did not have functioning county offices until around 1892 to 1894. Marriage records start from 1894. Call ahead to confirm current hours and fees before visiting the courthouse in Dumas.

Getting a Marriage License in Moore County

Both applicants must appear together in person at the Moore County Clerk's office in Dumas. Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID and their Social Security number. Under Texas Family Code Chapter 2, both parties must be 18 or older. Anyone under 18 must have a court order before applying.

The standard fee is around $81. The Twogether in Texas premarital education course is free to take and reduces the fee by $60, so you pay about $21 when you show the certificate. The certificate must be current within one year. It also waives the 72-hour waiting period under Texas Family Code Section 2.204. Without it, you must wait three days after getting the license before the ceremony can happen.

A Moore County marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. You can use it in any county in Texas. If it expires, you start over.

Certified Copies of Moore County Marriage Records

Certified copies of Moore County marriage licenses can only come from the Moore County Clerk. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section keeps a statewide marriage index from 1966 onward and issues $20 verification letters. They cannot provide certified copies. For those, contact the county where the license was filed.

You can also use VitalChek, which is an authorized third-party ordering service for Texas vital records. VitalChek works with county and state agencies to process requests. Keep in mind that state verification letters come through DSHS, while actual certified copies come from the county clerk in Dumas.

For in-person or mail requests, contact the Moore County Clerk at (806) 935-6164. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate marriage date, and your payment when sending a mail request.

Moore County Marriage License Contents

Moore County marriage license applications include both parties' full legal names, dates of birth, addresses, and Social Security numbers. They show the date the license was issued, the ceremony date and location, and who performed it. Prior marriages and how they ended are also recorded.

Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 194, the county clerk sends a copy to the state vital statistics unit within 90 days of the application. The statewide index is searchable under both parties' names. Both county and state records are public documents.

Informal Marriage in Moore County

Texas recognizes informal marriage under Family Code Section 2.401. Couples in Moore County can sign a Declaration of Informal Marriage at the county clerk's office to create a public record with the same legal standing as a standard license. This 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, living together in Texas as spouses, and publicly representing themselves as married. All three must be present at the same time. Once established, an informal marriage has all the same rights and obligations as a formal marriage, and a formal divorce is required to end it.

Moore County Marriage Record Sources

The Moore County official website includes online records search access and contact information for the county clerk's office in Dumas, including phone numbers and office location details.

The county website provides both the online records search and the clerk contact details you need to look up or request Moore County marriage records.

TexasFile's directory helps you see what Moore County records are indexed and available before reaching out to the county clerk for certified copies.

Cities in Moore County

Moore County includes Dumas and surrounding communities. All marriage licenses for this area are issued by the Moore County Clerk in Dumas.

The main community in Moore County is Dumas. None of the cities in Moore County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All marriage records for this area are on file with the Moore County Clerk.

Nearby Counties

These counties are adjacent to Moore County. Each has its own clerk handling local marriage records.