Marriage Records in Rains County

Rains County marriage records go back to 1880 and are held by the County Clerk in Emory. County Clerk Mandy Sawyer handles marriage license applications, certified copy requests, and vital records for this small East Texas county. If you need a marriage license or a copy of a past record from Rains County, the clerk's office is your source. Note that email requests for vital records are not accepted here.

Rains County Clerk Office

County Clerk Mandy Sawyer runs the Rains County Clerk's office in Emory. The office handles all marriage records, land records, probate matters, and other official documents for the county. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Passport acceptance hours run from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The District Clerk, Laura Pate, handles court records and is reachable at the same number with a different extension.

One important policy: email requests for vital records are not accepted by the Rains County Clerk. This is clearly stated on the county website. You must request certified copies in person or by mail. Do not send your request by email and expect a response. All vital records requests go through the mail or in-person visit process.

The Rains County Clerk's page has contact information and details on available records. The District Clerk, Laura Pate, can be reached at 903-473-5000 x101 for court records.

Marriage Licenses in Rains County

Both applicants must appear in person at the Rains County Clerk's office to apply for a marriage license. Both need valid government-issued photo ID and Social Security numbers. The standard fee in Texas is approximately $81.00. Contact the clerk at 903-473-5000 x107 to confirm the exact current fee for Rains County before your visit.

Texas requires a 72-hour waiting period after the license is issued before the ceremony can take place. This is set by Texas Family Code Chapter 2. You can get the wait waived and save $60 on the fee by completing a premarital education course through the Twogether in Texas program. Active-duty military members can also get the wait waived with military ID.

The license is valid for 90 days. If you do not have the ceremony in time, you need to apply again. After the ceremony, the officiant signs and returns the license to the clerk for recording.

When requesting certified copies of marriage records, you must provide the name of the bride, the name of the groom, and the date of marriage. The clerk only has records for marriages licensed in Rains County. If the license was issued elsewhere, contact that county's clerk.

Rains County Clerk Records Portal

The Rains County Clerk's office page has contact details, office hours, and information on the types of records maintained by the clerk, including marriage records going back to 1880.

The page also notes that email requests are not accepted for vital records and provides the correct mail address and phone number to use instead.

The Rains County main website has broader county information including links to the clerk's office, tax office, and other county departments serving Emory and the surrounding area.

Use the county site to confirm current hours and any policy updates before making a trip to the clerk's office in Emory.

Fees for Rains County Marriage Records

Certified copies of marriage records from the Rains County Clerk cost $8.00 each. This is among the lower certified copy fees in Texas. Birth certificates cost $23.00 for the first copy. Death certificates cost $21.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy purchased at the same time.

All payment types are accepted at the Rains County Clerk's office. To request by mail, send a written request that includes the names of both parties and the date of marriage, your full name and address, a copy of your valid photo ID, and a check or money order payable to the Rains County Clerk. Mail to P.O. Box 1150, Emory, TX 75440.

Remember that the clerk only has records for marriages that were licensed in Rains County. If the marriage license was issued in another county, you need to contact that county's clerk for a certified copy.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit can verify marriages in the statewide index from 1966 forward, which is an alternative if you only need a verification letter rather than a certified copy.

Historical Records and the Rains County Courthouse

Rains County has an interesting courthouse history. The current courthouse was built in 1908 and is the fourth one on record. The first courthouse was a log building. The 1871 courthouse burned in 1879. The 1884 courthouse also burned in 1908, though the records were saved in a fireproof vault. The current building has held the county records since then.

Marriage records in Rains County go back to 1880. Land records also start in 1880. Birth and death records start in 1902. Probate records date from 1894. These are all maintained at the clerk's office in the current courthouse in Emory.

The Texas Family Code Chapter 2 and the Health and Safety Code Chapter 194 govern how marriage records are created, maintained, and reported to the state. Rains County follows these laws and sends marriage data to the DSHS each year.

Cities in Rains County

Rains County includes Emory and a few small communities. All marriage licenses for county residents are issued by the County Clerk in Emory. No cities in Rains County meet the qualifying population threshold for a separate city records page.

Nearby Counties

Rains County is in East Texas northeast of Dallas. These neighboring counties are nearby.