Search Smith County Marriage Records

Smith County marriage records are maintained by County Clerk Karen Phillips in Tyler. The office issues marriage licenses, keeps certified copies of all licenses filed in the county, and holds records going back to 1846. If you need to search or obtain Smith County marriage records, the clerk's office in downtown Tyler is your source.

Smith County Clerk - Karen Phillips

County Clerk Karen Phillips operates the office at 200 East Ferguson Street, Suite 300, in Tyler. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1018, Tyler, TX 75710. Call (903) 590-4670 for general inquiries or (903) 590-4689 for fax. The clerk handles marriage licenses, certified copies, land records, and other official documents.

Smith County is one of the larger counties in East Texas with Tyler as its seat. The clerk's office serves a sizable population and maintains a full range of vital records. Marriage records go back to 1846, making this office useful for both current requests and genealogy research.

Applying for a Marriage License in Smith County

Both applicants must appear in person at the Smith County Clerk's office. Bring a valid photo ID and your Social Security number. The standard fee is $81 for Texas residents. Neither party being a Texas resident raises the fee to $181.

Under Texas Family Code Chapter 2, a 72-hour waiting period applies between issuance and the ceremony. The license is valid for 90 days. If you finish the Twogether in Texas premarital education course, you pay roughly $21 and the 72-hour wait is waived. The Twogether certificate must be dated within one year of your application.

Active-duty military members are exempt from both the waiting period and the higher out-of-state fee in many Texas counties. Bring your military ID when you apply.

Certified Copies of Smith County Marriage Records

Certified copies of Smith County marriage licenses are issued by the Smith County Clerk's office in Tyler. The fee is $21 for the first certified copy and $11 for each additional copy purchased at the same time. You can request copies in person at the office or by mail. Mail requests should go to P.O. Box 1018, Tyler, TX 75710.

Include the full legal names of both parties, the approximate date of the marriage, and your payment. Certified copies carry the clerk's official seal. They are accepted for name changes, government filings, and other legal purposes. Plain copies cost less but may not be accepted for all uses.

For marriages before 1966 that are not in the state index, the Smith County Clerk is your only option for documentation. Records date to 1846.

Texas State Marriage Records and Verification

The Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Section keeps a statewide index of marriages from January 1966 to the present. The state can verify a marriage and issue a letter for $20. Order online at Texas.gov, by mail using Form VS-142.9, or walk in to the DSHS office in Austin for same-day service.

The state does not issue certified copies. For certified copies of Smith County marriages, you must go to the Smith County Clerk regardless of when the marriage took place. The DSHS verification letter is useful when you only need proof of the marriage and a formal copy is not required.

Informal (Common Law) Marriage Records

Texas law allows couples to formalize an informal marriage by filing a Declaration of Informal Marriage with the county clerk. In Smith County, this can be done at the clerk's office in Tyler. Under Texas Family Code Section 2.401, a registered informal marriage has the same legal standing as a ceremonial marriage.

Both parties must appear and sign the declaration. A Social Security number and valid ID are required for each applicant. The fee is typically $46. Without a registered declaration, proving an informal marriage requires showing three elements: an agreement to be married, living together as spouses in Texas, and representing to others that you are married.

Historical Smith County Marriage Records

Smith County marriage records go back to 1846. Early records are available through the county clerk and through FamilySearch, which has digitized many Texas county marriage records from the 1800s. Ancestry.com also holds a Texas Marriage Index covering 1824 to 2014.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission holds some Republic of Texas era records and genealogical compilations. For pre-1966 records, the Smith County Clerk in Tyler is the best direct source. Contact the office with names and approximate dates to help staff locate older files.

Smith County Marriage Record Sources

The Smith County Clerk website provides contact information, office hours, and links to county services including marriage license applications in Tyler.

The Smith County Clerk site includes details on fees, required documents, and how to request certified copies of marriage licenses from the Tyler office.

Cities in Smith County

Smith County includes Tyler and several surrounding communities. Marriage licenses for all cities in the county are issued and recorded at the Smith County Clerk's office in Tyler.

Other communities in Smith County include Lindale, Whitehouse, Bullard, and Troup. All marriage records for these areas are on file with the Smith County Clerk in Tyler.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Smith County. Marriage records for those areas are kept with each county's own clerk office.