Find Marriage Records in Motley County

Motley County marriage records are on file with the County Clerk in Matador. The clerk issues marriage licenses and holds certified copies of all marriages recorded in the county. If you need a license or a copy of an existing Motley County marriage record, the county clerk in Matador is your contact. Records in the county go back to 1891 when it was organized, though a 1944 courthouse fire damaged some records.

Motley County Clerk Office

The Motley County Clerk is located at 701 Dundee Ave, P.O. Box 66, Matador, TX 79244. The phone numbers are (806) 347-2621 and (806) 347-2334. The county website is at co.motley.tx.us. Call ahead to confirm current office hours, fees, and procedures before visiting or sending a mail request.

Motley County was organized in 1891 from the Bexar Land District. The county is named for Dr. Junius William Mottley, though the name was misspelled in the legislation and the error was never corrected. A courthouse fire in September 1944 destroyed the building, but no vital records were lost. Some records were damaged by water used to fight the fire, but records are generally intact from 1891 onward. Because the county is small, the county clerk also serves as the district clerk under Texas law.

Marriage Licenses in Motley County

Both applicants must appear together at the county clerk's office in Matador to apply for a marriage license. Each needs a valid government-issued photo ID and their Social Security number. Both must be at least 18 years old under Texas Family Code Chapter 2. Applicants under 18 need a court order before applying.

The standard fee in Texas is around $81. The Twogether in Texas premarital education program is free and, when you bring the certificate at the time of application, reduces the fee by $60. You pay about $21 instead. The certificate must be within one year of completion and it also waives the 72-hour waiting period normally required by Texas Family Code Section 2.204.

The license is valid for 90 days from the issue date and can be used anywhere in Texas, not just in Motley County. If it expires, you start the process over.

Certified Copies of Motley County Marriage Records

Certified copies of marriage licenses filed in Motley County can only come from the Motley County Clerk. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains a statewide index from 1966 forward and can issue $20 verification letters. They cannot issue certified copies. Contact the Motley County Clerk directly for those.

In-person requests are handled at the courthouse in Matador during regular business hours. For mail requests, write to P.O. Box 66, Matador, TX 79244. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate date of the marriage, and payment. Call (806) 347-2621 to confirm the current fee before sending your request by mail.

Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and are the standard document for legal name changes, government filings, and similar uses.

Motley County Marriage Record History

Motley County records begin in 1891. A courthouse fire in September 1944 destroyed the building but did not result in a loss of vital records. Some water damage occurred during firefighting, so condition of individual records may vary. If you are researching a marriage from that period, contact the county clerk to check the condition of the record you need.

For genealogy research, FamilySearch has digitized microfilm collections that include Texas county marriage records. You can search the FamilySearch catalog for Motley County collections to see what is available. The Library of Congress guide to Texas vital records also points to useful genealogy resources.

Informal Marriage in Motley County

Texas law recognizes informal marriage under Family Code Section 2.401. Couples in Motley 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 marriage license.

You can also establish an informal marriage without a declaration by proving three things: both parties agreed to be married, they lived together in Texas as a married couple, and they represented to others that they were married. All three must be present. Once established, the marriage has full legal consequences and requires a formal divorce to end. Contact the Motley County Clerk for the declaration form and current fees.

Motley County Marriage Record Sources

The Motley County official website provides contact information for the county clerk and details about office hours and procedures for requesting marriage licenses and certified copies in Matador.

The county website gives you current contact details and hours for the Motley County Clerk before you make the trip to Matador or send a mail request.

TexasFile's directory gives you a starting point for identifying what Motley County marriage records are indexed before contacting the county clerk directly.

Cities in Motley County

Motley County is a small, rural county in the Texas panhandle region. The county seat is Matador. All marriage licenses for this county are issued by the Motley County Clerk.

Motley County includes Matador and a few small communities. None currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All marriage records for this area are on file with the Motley County Clerk in Matador.

Nearby Counties

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