Harris County Marriage Record Search

Harris County marriage records are official recordings of martial unions in Harris County. They contain pertinent information about locally recorded marriages, such as the name of the involved parties ( i.e., the bride and groom), marriage date, and location. Marriage records comprise diverse legal documents, including but not limited to marriage licenses and certificates. These documents each serve different purposes. For instance, marriage licenses are required for a marriage to be legally valid in Harris County. Meanwhile, a marriage certificate is issued after a marriage is recorded and is legally proof that the marriage occurred.

In Harris County, marriage records are issued and maintained by the Harris County Clerk's office. Hence, record seekers can search marriage records as well as other Harris county court records through the County Clerk's office.

Are Marriage Records Public?

Yes. Under the Texas Public Information Act, marriage records are considered part of public records and are open to the general public to copy and inspect. Public records is a general term for all documents and other materials maintained or received by government agencies in Georgia due to their official functions or services.

Notwithstanding, specific forms of marriage records or information found within these records are exempt from the provisions of the Texas Public Information Act due to privacy concerns and their sensitive nature. Certified copies of a marriage license are examples of non-public marriage records. These records are typically only available to the married parties (i.e., bride and groom) or other persons with proof of a direct or tangible interest in the record. Meanwhile, sensitive information like social security numbers is usually redacted from public marriage records to protect the privacy of parties to a marriage.

Types of Marriage Records in Harris County

Harris County has two (2) types of marriage records: marriage license and marriage certificate.

Marriage license: This legal document authorizes prospective couples under state law to enter the 'Rites of Matrimony' in Harris County. Prospective couples must obtain a marriage license before their wedding ceremony; otherwise, their union will be null and void. In Harris County, interested persons can apply for a marriage license through the County Clerk's Office.

Generally, a marriage license remains valid for 90 days after its issuance. After receiving a marriage license, it can be used to conduct a marriage ceremony within the 90-day timeframe. Following the ceremony, the marriage license must be signed by the parties to the marriage and returned by mail or in-person to the issuing County Clerk's Office for recording.

Marriage certificate: This official document is legal proof that a marriage has occurred. The term "marriage certificate" is not mentioned in the Texas Family Code; instead, "recorded marriage license" is used. In Harris County, the Clerk's Office issues a recorded marriage license within 1-2 weeks days after a marriage license is returned to the office after being used in a marriage ceremony. This document is required for several official purposes, including requesting a name change, buying a home, filing taxes, and other pertinent life events.

Marriage verification letter: This letter contains basic information about a recorded marriage. It is available for marriages recorded on or after 1966 in any county in Texas, including Harris County. It is obtainable through the Texas Department of State Health Services (DPSH) Vital Statistics Section and is typically requested for genealogical purposes.

How to Find Marriage Records in Harris County

Harris County marriage records are accessible and may be requested through any of the following:

• Harris County Clerk's Office
• Texas Department of State Health Services (DPSH) Vital Statistics Section
• Third-party aggregate websites

Harris County Marriage License Lookup

Record seekers can look up Harris County marriage licenses through the Document Search Portal provided by the Harris County Clerk's Office. The portal is accessible for free and searchable by applicant's name, license file number, or film code. Additional search criteria, such as the license issuance date or marriage date, may also be provided to narrow down search results further.

Alternatively, inquirers can look up marriage licenses in person at any of the Harris County Clerk's office locations during office hours. There are 11 different locations across the county, and their office hours are from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (Monday through Friday).

Where Do I Get A Certified Copy Of My Marriage Certificate

In Harris County, interested persons can get certified copies of their marriage certificates through the Harris County Clerk's Office in person, by mail, or by email. Record seekers can order a certified copy of their marriage certificate in person at any of the County Clerk's Office 11 locations during their office hours.

Meanwhile, to order marriage certificates by mail, record seekers must draft a written request and mail it to the Harris County Clerk's Public Records Department. The written request must contain sufficient information about the sought marriage certificate, such as the marriage parties' (i.e., the bride and groom) names, marriage license file number, marriage date, and the requester's contact information. The written request should be mailed to:

Harris County Clerk
Attn: Public Records Department
P.O. Box 1525
Houston, TX. 77251

Records seekers can use the Harris County Clerk's contact form for email requests. Users must select 'Public Records' under the department option on the form, provide their email address and sufficient information about the sought certificate (as previously described).

Get a Marriage Certificate Online in Harris County

Besides the Harris County Clerk's Document Search Portal (the official government-provided channel), interested persons can use certain third-party aggregate websites to order marriage certificates online. Generally, there are fees associated with using these websites, and users must provide specific details about the desired certificate to identify it. These details include the name of the groom and bride and the marriage date or case number. Meanwhile, required fees may vary by service provider. Interested persons can find these third-party websites using reputable search engines, such as Google, to search for websites or resources that offer online ordering services for Harris County marriage certificates.

Find Public Marriage Records Free Online

Inquirers can find public Harris County marriage records for free online through the Harris County Clerk's Document Search Portal. Users must supply specific search criteria to conduct a marriage record search on the portal. These search criteria include the full name of the bride and groom, the marriage date, or the date the marriage license was issued or recorded. Note that the portal provides limited information about recorded marriage licenses in Harris County, such as;

• The license's file number
• Full names of applicants
• The marriage officiant's full name
• The license status
• License's issuance date
• Marriage date
• Marriage license application number

It is also worth noting that interested people can order uncertified copies of a marriage certificate online through the County Clerk's Document Search Portal. However, users must log in to the portal to place an order. Returning users can use their account details to log in, while new users must register an account.