El Paso County Marriage Record Search

A marriage record search involves checking official documents that record the details of a person's marriage. The El Paso County Clerk's Office maintains these records and makes them available through their main and satellite offices. The researcher must provide the couple's names or marriage dates to facilitate the search. The Clerk allows free inspection of marriage records online through its Marriage Records Search portal, but in-person requests attract a fee.

A marriage record is useful for name changes, immigration purposes, tax and financial benefits, and establishment of inheritance rights. It is also useful for filing for divorce because the court will require the applicant to provide some information regarding their marriage. This process typically prompts the addition of the couple's marriage information to the El Paso County court records.

Are Marriage Records Public?

Yes. Copies of El Paso County marriage records are open records according to the Texas Public Information Act (PIA). The El Paso County Clerk issues them to interested persons online or in person. Some unofficial marriage information can be viewed online for free, but certified copies must be obtained in person at the office. According to the Tex. Gov't Code § 552.141, the Clerk will redact the following information or document from the public before fulfilling a marriage license request:

• Affidavit of an absent applicant
• A social security number that is in a marriage license application
• Information in an application made on behalf of an absent applicant

Types of Marriage Records in El Paso County

The following types of marriage records in El Paso County are available upon request:

• Formal Marriage license: This official document shows that a marriage occurred in El Paso County. The El Paso County Clerk's Office will first provide this document to an intending couple who meets certain eligibility criteria. Once the license is issued, the couple has to wait for 72 hours before they can have their marriage ceremony. However, this waiting period can be waived under certain circumstances. The marriage must then take place within 89 days from the marriage license issuance date. If either applicant is divorced, they must wait 30 days after the final decree of divorce is signed to remarry. Following the ceremony, the person who conducted the ceremony must return the marriage license to the Clerk's Office for filing and recording within 30 days. Afterward, the marriage license becomes a public record.
• Informal marriage license: This document proves that a couple has agreed to be married and plans to live together in Texas. The couple is also required to present themselves as married to others.
• Marriage verification letter: This document helps verify if a marriage was recorded with the state based on the marriage application sent to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Vital Statistics Section (VSS) by county clerks. Marriage verification letters typically contain the couple's names, marriage dates, and the place where the marriage occurred. Record seekers can obtain this document online, by mail, or in person at the VSS.

How to Find Marriage Records in El Paso County

The most common places to find marriage records in El Paso County are:

• Online using the Texas Vital Statistics Section's Marriage Indexes or online portal
• Third-party vendor online databases
• By submitting a completed Request Form to the Texas Vital Statistics by mail
• Click the links on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's website
• In-person at the El Paso County Clerk Vital Statistics Division main office or satellite locations

El Paso County Marriage License Lookup

The El Paso County Clerk Vital Statistics Division assists customers with marriage license lookups at the main office and satellite locations on a walk-in basis. They also partner with a third-party vendor to ensure requesters access marriage licenses online. A certified marriage license copy costs $7, payable by cash, credit/debit cards, money order, cashier's check, or business check. Individuals seeking to access marriage license information for free can conduct a search using the Clerk's Marriage Records Search portal. The search parameters are name and marriage date.

Where Do I Get A Certified Copy Of My Marriage Certificate

Interested members of the public may obtain certified copies of a marriage certificate in person at the El Paso County Clerk's main office and satellite locations. Customers must complete a request form and pay a fee of $7 to obtain the desired record. Customers may visit the office with a valid photo ID during business hours. The offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but the annex offices operate till 4:30 p.m., at the following addresses:

El Paso County Courthouse
500 E. San Antonio,
Suite 105
El Paso, Texas 79901
Phone: (915) 546-2071

Northeast Annex
4641 Cohen Avenue,
Suite B
El Paso, Texas 79924
Phone: (915) 273-3452

Ysleta Annex
9521 Socorro Road,
Suite A-1
El Paso, Texas 79927
Phone: (915) 273-3468

Northwest Annex
435 Vinton Rd,
Rm. 208
Anthony, Texas 79821
Phone: (915) 273-3517

Get a Marriage Certificate Online in El Paso County

The El Paso County Clerk Vital Statistics Division partners with a third-party vendor to provide marriage certificates online. Customers would need both spouses' full names, marriage dates, place of marriage, self-identification, and proof of Relationship to place an order via the third-party portal. The standard fee for a marriage certificate in El Paso County is $7, but the vendor charges an extra $10 for processing fees. The vendor only accepts card payments.

Find Public Marriage Records Free Online

The El Paso County Clerk allows residents to find public marriage records online for free through the Marriage Records Search portal. Users can search by a party's name and date of marriage. This free search option offers limited online access to marriage documents. Individuals should visit the El Paso County Clerk's Office to access full marriage records. There are also several reputable third-party sites where record seekers can find public marriage records online without charges. The search may return insufficient information that may help identify the case. Users seeking comprehensive searches would have to pay a small fee.