Ochiltree County Marriage Records

Ochiltree County marriage records are maintained by the County Clerk in Perryton. The clerk's office handles marriage license applications, keeps the official marriage index, and provides certified copies of records on file in the county. Records in Ochiltree County date back to 1889. The clerk in Perryton is the starting point for both new license applications and historical record requests.

Ochiltree County Clerk

The Ochiltree County Clerk is Stacey Brown. The office is at 511 South Main St, Perryton, TX 79070. Phone: (806) 435-8039 or (806) 435-8054. Fax: (806) 435-2081. The website is www.co.ochiltree.tx.us. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Ochiltree County was organized on August 21, 1876, from the Bexar Land District, though marriage records begin in 1889 when the county became populated enough to maintain regular records. The county is named for William Beck Ochiltree, who served as Attorney General of the Republic of Texas. Perryton is the county seat and home to all county clerk services.

Applying for a Marriage License

Both applicants must appear in person together at the Ochiltree County Clerk's office in Perryton. Each person needs a valid, unexpired photo ID and Social Security number. No blood test is required. Both must be 18 or older. Under Texas Family Code Chapter 2, a marriage license issued in Ochiltree County is valid for a ceremony anywhere in Texas.

The standard fee is $81. Texas Family Code Section 2.204 requires a 72-hour waiting period between license issuance and the ceremony. Three exceptions apply: active duty military, a judge's written waiver for good cause, or completing the Twogether in Texas premarital education course. Twogether is free, takes about eight hours, and reduces the fee to $21 while waiving the 72-hour wait. The certificate must be less than one year old and presented at the time of application.

The license is valid for 90 days. It cannot be renewed or extended. If you do not marry within that window, you must apply again. Plan your ceremony date before going to the office to make sure everything aligns.

Note: The office takes a lunch break from noon to 1:00 PM on weekdays. Plan your visit outside that window to avoid delays.

Certified Copies of Marriage Licenses

Only the Ochiltree County Clerk can provide certified copies of marriage licenses issued in Ochiltree County. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section holds a statewide index from 1966 to the present and can issue a $20 verification letter. But the state office cannot issue certified copies. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Section 194.004, that authority stays with the county clerk.

For copies, contact the clerk at (806) 435-8039 or visit the office in Perryton. For mail requests, include both parties' full names, the date of marriage, and payment. Call first to confirm current fees and accepted payment methods. Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and are used for name changes, insurance updates, and other legal purposes.

Historical Records in Ochiltree County

Marriage records in Ochiltree County begin in 1889 and continue to the present. The Panhandle region of Texas, where Ochiltree County sits, was settled later than East or Central Texas, which is why records here start in the late 1880s rather than the 1840s. Even so, that is more than 130 years of continuous marriage documentation.

For genealogy research, FamilySearch has digitized microfilm from many Texas Panhandle counties. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission may also have materials relevant to this area. For records from 1966 to present, the DSHS statewide index is searchable at a cost of $20 per request by mail or through Texas.gov online.

Informal Marriage in Ochiltree County

Texas law recognizes informal (common law) marriage under Texas Family Code Section 2.401. Couples in Ochiltree County can sign a Declaration of Informal Marriage at the clerk's office to create an official public record. The declaration carries the same legal weight as a formal marriage license.

Three things are required: agreement between the parties to be married, living together in Texas as spouses, and representing the relationship as a marriage to others. All three must exist. Without the declaration, the informal marriage can still be proven in court, but it requires more effort. Once the declaration is on file, community property rules apply, and dissolving the marriage requires a formal divorce.

Ochiltree County Record Sources

The Ochiltree County Clerk's website in Perryton provides contact information and office details for marriage license and vital records services.

Check the county website for current office hours and any updates to procedures before visiting the Perryton office or submitting a request by mail.

Cities in Ochiltree County

Ochiltree County includes Perryton and surrounding communities. All marriage licenses for the county are issued at the Ochiltree County Clerk's office in Perryton.

No cities in Ochiltree County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All marriage records are maintained at the county clerk's office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Ochiltree County. Each maintains its own marriage records at the county clerk's office.