Find Marriage Records in Wichita County

Wichita County marriage records are maintained by the County Clerk in Wichita Falls, Texas. The clerk's office has kept marriage records since 1882 and handles everything from new license applications to certified copies of older records. If you need a marriage license in Wichita County or want to search existing Wichita County marriage records, this page covers your options.

Wichita County Clerk Office

The Wichita County Clerk's office is at 900 7th St., Room 250, Wichita Falls, TX 76301. Phone is (940) 766-8195 and fax is (940) 716-8554. The county website is at wichitacounty.org. Wichita County has marriage records going back to 1882. Other records available include birth and death records from 1903, land records from 1873, probate records from 1882, and court records from 1882.

Wichita County was created on February 1, 1858 from the Young Territory and was organized on June 21, 1882. It was named for the Wichita Native American tribe. The county seat of Wichita Falls is a mid-sized city with a significant military presence, home to Sheppard Air Force Base. The clerk's office uses the CivicPlus government platform, which may offer account creation for notifications and online service access.

Getting a Marriage License in Wichita County

Both applicants must appear in person at the Wichita County Clerk's office in Wichita Falls. Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID and their Social Security number. Both must be at least 18. Under Texas Family Code Chapter 2, the license is valid for use anywhere in Texas. You can get married anywhere in the state regardless of where you got the license.

The standard fee is $81. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education course pay a reduced fee and the 72-hour waiting period is waived. Without the certificate, you must wait 72 hours after the license is issued before holding the ceremony, as required under Section 2.204 of the Texas Family Code. Active military members may also qualify for a waiver. The license is good for 90 days from the date of issue. If either party was divorced, the divorce must have been final for 30 days.

Certified Copies of Wichita County Marriage Records

Certified copies of Wichita County marriage licenses come from the Wichita County Clerk in Wichita Falls. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section keeps a statewide index from 1966 forward and issues $20 verification letters, but that office cannot issue certified copies. For the official certified copy, contact the Wichita County Clerk directly.

Request copies in person at 900 7th St., Room 250, or by mail. Include both parties' full legal names, the approximate date of marriage, and your fee payment. Call (940) 766-8195 ahead of your visit or mail request to confirm current fees and what the office requires. Certified copies carry the official seal and are accepted for name changes, insurance, government filings, and similar needs.

Wichita County's large records collection going back to 1882 means the clerk has a well-established index for searching older records, which is useful for genealogy research on families from the Wichita Falls area.

Contents of Wichita County Marriage Records

Wichita County marriage license applications follow the state format under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 194. Records include both parties' full legal names, dates of birth, addresses, and Social Security numbers. The issue date, ceremony date, ceremony location, and officiant's name are part of each record. Prior marriages and how they ended are also noted.

The clerk submits a copy to the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit within 90 days of the application. Both county records and the statewide index are public. Anyone with the parties' names and approximate marriage date can request a copy from either the county or the state.

Informal Marriage in Wichita County

Texas allows informal marriage under Texas Family Code Section 2.401. Couples in Wichita County can register by signing a Declaration of Informal Marriage at the clerk's office in Wichita Falls. This creates a public record with the same legal standing as a standard license. The fee is typically $46.

Without a declaration, a couple can still prove an informal marriage through three elements: agreement to be married, living together as spouses in Texas, and representing themselves as married to others. Filing the declaration is the more straightforward approach and avoids ambiguity about the legal status of the relationship.

Wichita County Clerk Resources

The Wichita County website provides access to the county clerk's office and all county departments. The site uses the CivicPlus platform, which may offer online account registration for record notifications and service access.

The Wichita County clerk page provides contact details, office location, and records availability going back to 1882, making it useful for both current requests and historical research on marriages in the Wichita Falls area.

For state-level information about how Texas marriage records work, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics portal covers the statewide index, verification letters, and links to county clerk offices across the state.

The DSHS portal is useful background when you are working with marriage records from multiple Texas counties or need to understand the relationship between state and county records.

Cities in Wichita County

Wichita County includes Wichita Falls and several surrounding communities. All marriage licenses for cities in this county are issued and recorded at the Wichita County Clerk's office.

Other communities in Wichita County include Burkburnett, Iowa Park, and Electra. Marriage records for all these areas are on file with the Wichita County Clerk in Wichita Falls.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Wichita County. Each keeps its own marriage records at its county clerk's office.