Stephens County Marriage Records
Stephens County marriage records are filed and maintained by the County Clerk in Breckenridge. The clerk issues marriage licenses and keeps the official record of every marriage in the county. Whether you need to apply for a license or get a certified copy of a past marriage, the Stephens County Clerk's office in Breckenridge is where you go.
Stephens County Overview
Stephens County Clerk Office
The Stephens County Clerk is located at the courthouse in Breckenridge in West Central Texas. This office handles marriage licenses as well as land records, probate records, and court filings for the county. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday. Both applicants must appear in person to apply for a marriage license.
You will need a valid photo ID and your Social Security number. The standard fee is $81 for Texas residents. The fee is $181 if neither party is a Texas resident. The clerk's staff can answer questions about the application process and what documents you need to bring.
| Office | Stephens County Clerk |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Breckenridge, TX |
| Website | co.stephens.tx.us |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, regular business hours |
How to Get a Marriage License
Both parties must show up together at the clerk's office in Breckenridge. No blood test is required. Both must be 18 or older. A court order is needed for anyone under 18. Valid ID forms include a driver's license, state-issued ID card, passport, or military ID. Have your Social Security number ready, or bring a signed statement that you have none.
A 72-hour waiting period is required by Texas Family Code Chapter 2 before the ceremony can take place. The license is valid for 90 days. The Twogether in Texas premarital course can cut the fee to around $21 and waive the wait entirely. You must bring the certificate to the clerk when you apply.
Certified Copies of Marriage Records
Certified copies of Stephens County marriage licenses must come from the County Clerk in Breckenridge. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section can verify a marriage from 1966 forward and issue a $20 letter, but it does not provide certified copies. The county is your only source for a certified copy.
Contact the clerk's office with both parties' names and the date of the marriage. Requests are handled in person or by mail. Include your payment when mailing. Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and are accepted for name changes, government IDs, insurance updates, and similar legal needs.
Informal Marriage in Stephens County
Texas allows couples to formalize an informal marriage by filing a Declaration of Informal Marriage at the Stephens County Clerk's office. Under Texas Family Code Section 2.401, a registered informal marriage carries the same legal weight as a formal one. Both parties must appear, sign the declaration, and pay the fee, which is typically $46.
Without a declaration, proving an informal marriage requires showing three elements: an agreement to be married, living together in Texas as spouses, and representing yourselves as married to others in the community. Registering eliminates the need to prove any of this later.
Texas Family Code and Marriage Law
Texas marriage law is governed by Family Code Chapter 2. Key sections include 2.001 (license requirements), 2.204 (72-hour waiting period), 2.201 (90-day validity), and 2.401-2.402 (informal marriage rules). Under Section 2.009, divorced individuals must wait 30 days after the divorce is final before a new license can be issued, unless a judge waives this.
Under Health and Safety Code Chapter 194, county clerks must send a copy of each license to the state vital statistics unit within 90 days of the application date. The state index is public but does not replace county records for official purposes.
Stephens County Marriage Record Sources
The Stephens County main website provides contact details for the clerk's office and other county departments in Breckenridge.
The county site lists office hours and contact information for the Stephens County Clerk, which handles marriage license applications and certified copy requests in Breckenridge.
Cities in Stephens County
Breckenridge is the county seat and main city in Stephens County. All marriage licenses in the county are handled through the Stephens County Clerk's office.
No cities in Stephens County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. Contact the county clerk in Breckenridge for all marriage record needs.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Stephens County. Each county clerk maintains its own marriage records.