Find Marriage Records in Travis County
Travis County marriage records are on file with the County Clerk in Austin, Texas. The clerk's office handles marriage license applications, maintains the official records index, and issues certified copies of licenses to anyone who requests them. This page covers everything you need for Travis County marriage records, from getting a new license to requesting copies of older records.
Travis County Overview
Travis County Clerk Recording Division
The Travis County Clerk's Recording Division handles marriage licenses at two locations in Austin. The main office is at 5501 Airport Blvd., Suite 100B, Austin, TX 78751. The Civil Family Courthouse location is at 1700 Guadalupe St., 4th Floor, Austin, TX 78701. Call (512) 854-9188 with questions. Fax is (512) 854-4526. Mailing address: P.O. Box 149325, Austin, TX 78714.
Travis County is the seat of Texas state government and home to the University of Texas. The clerk's office handles a high volume of marriage license applications and records requests. Having two locations helps spread out that volume. Both locations issue licenses during regular business hours. Check the Travis County Clerk website before you go to confirm current hours and any appointment requirements, as procedures can change.
| Office | Travis County Clerk - Recording Division |
|---|---|
| Main Address | 5501 Airport Blvd., Ste. 100B, Austin, TX 78751 |
| Civil Courthouse | 1700 Guadalupe St., 4th Floor, Austin, TX 78701 |
| Phone | (512) 854-9188 |
| Fax | (512) 854-4526 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 149325, Austin, TX 78714 |
| Website | countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov |
How to Get a Travis County Marriage License
Both applicants must appear in person together at either Travis County Clerk location. Each person must bring a valid government-issued photo ID and their Social Security number. Under Texas Family Code Chapter 2, a license issued in Travis County is valid statewide. You can get married anywhere in Texas regardless of where you got the license.
The fee in Travis County is $80. If you and your partner complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education course, the fee drops to just $20. That certificate must be presented when you apply. It also waives the 72-hour waiting period required under Section 2.204 of the Texas Family Code. Without the certificate, you cannot hold the ceremony until 72 hours after the license is issued. Active duty military members about to deploy to a hostile fire zone are fully exempt from the fee.
The license is good for 90 days from the date of issue. If the marriage does not happen within that time, the license expires. There is no way to extend it. Travis County marriage records go back to 1840, giving the county one of the longer historical records in Texas.
| Standard Fee | $80.00 |
|---|---|
| With Twogether in Texas | $20.00 |
| Military Exemption | Active duty deploying to hostile fire zone |
| Waiting Period | 72 hours (waivable) |
| License Valid | 90 days |
| Historical Records | From 1840 |
Certified Copies of Travis County Marriage Records
Certified copies of Travis County marriage licenses are only available from the Travis County Clerk. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section keeps a statewide index from 1966 forward and can issue verification letters at $20, but those are not certified copies. For the actual certified copy with the official seal, you must contact the county where the license was issued.
Travis County offers online record access through the clerk's portal. You can search for records and initiate copy requests online. For in-person requests, visit either Austin office during regular business hours. Mail requests go to the P.O. Box 149325, Austin, TX 78714. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate marriage date, and payment. Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and are accepted for name changes, government filings, and insurance updates.
Plain copies are also available at a lower cost for personal reference if you do not need the official certification.
Historical Marriage Records
Travis County has one of the oldest and most complete marriage record collections in Texas. Records go back to 1840. The Portal to Texas History has digitized historical Travis County records, including marriage records from 1941 to 1964 and earlier. This is a valuable resource for genealogy researchers looking for ancestors who married in the Austin area.
The Travis County Clerk's online system provides case data from June 1986 to present and redacted documents from December 2005 to present. For records older than what is available online, contact the clerk's office directly. They can tell you what is on file and how to access or order copies of older records.
Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 194, county clerks send copies of all marriage license applications to the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit within 90 days. Both the county records and the state index are public records open to anyone with identifying information for the parties involved.
Informal Marriage in Travis County
Texas allows informal marriage registration under Texas Family Code Section 2.401. Couples in Travis County can sign a Declaration of Informal Marriage at either clerk location. This creates a formal public record with the same legal effect as a standard marriage license. Austin sees a fair number of informal marriage registrations given the county's large and diverse population.
Without filing a declaration, a couple can still establish an informal marriage by proving three elements: an agreement to be married, living together in Texas as spouses, and holding themselves out to others as married. If you want a clean public record, the declaration at the clerk's office is the better option. The fee for registering an informal marriage is typically $46 at Travis County.
Travis County Marriage License Resources
The Travis County Clerk marriage license page provides current requirements, fees, office locations, and instructions for getting a license or requesting a copy of an existing record.
The Travis County Clerk's marriage license page is your most reliable source for up-to-date fee information, location details, and what documents to bring when you apply.
The Portal to Texas History - Travis County collection offers digitized historical records for genealogy research, including early marriage records not available through the clerk's online system.
The Portal to Texas History contains digitized Travis County records that can help you trace marriage records for ancestors who lived in the Austin area going back to the 1800s.
Cities in Travis County
Travis County includes Austin and several surrounding communities. All marriage licenses for cities in this county are issued and recorded at the Travis County Clerk's office in Austin.
Other communities in Travis County include Cedar Park (partially), Pflugerville, Manor, Lago Vista, Lakeway, and Rollingwood. Marriage records for all these areas are on file with the Travis County Clerk in Austin.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Travis County. Each maintains its own marriage records through its county clerk's office.