The Marriage License Copy Request Form is the Bexar County Clerk's form for asking for a plain or certified copy of a marriage license that has already been recorded; the PDF itself is titled Request for Certified Copy of Marriage License. It is one of the Bexar County marriage license forms, and it is used after the ceremony, once the officiant has returned the signed license to the County Clerk's Office. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the form is published by the Bexar County Clerk at bexar.org.
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What is Marriage License Copy Request Form – Bexar County, TX?
The Marriage License Copy Request Form is the Bexar County Clerk's form for requesting a plain or certified copy of a marriage license that has been recorded with the County Clerk's Office in San Antonio, Texas.
The PDF is headed Request for Certified Copy of Marriage License. It asks for the names of Marriage Applicant 1 and Marriage Applicant 2, the date of marriage, the number of plain copies and certified copies you want, and your own contact information, with a signature and date. The block marked Office Use Only (Document #, Volume, Page and Issuing Clerk Initials) is for the clerk.
The form explains where a copy comes from: after the marriage ceremony, the officiant completes and signs the license and returns it to the County Clerk's Office, where it is recorded. After that, you may request a plain or certified copy. According to the County Clerk's marriage license page, the office can provide a copy of a marriage license issued in Bexar County from 1837 to the present day, and copies of Declaration of Informal Marriage certificates recorded in Bexar County.
This form is not the application for a marriage license. Applying for a license is a separate process with its own online application and an in-person visit. It is also not the way to request a Declaration and Registration of Informal Marriage certificate, which the County Clerk handles differently (see who needs it).
Who needs to file Marriage License Copy Request Form – Bexar County, TX?
Anyone may use this form to request a copy of a recorded marriage license. The Bexar County Clerk states that marriage licenses are public records, so you do not have to be one of the spouses.
Conditions and exclusions:
- The license must have been purchased in Bexar County. Only licenses purchased in Bexar County are recorded by the Bexar County Clerk, regardless of where the ceremony took place. For a license purchased in another county, contact that county's County Clerk office.
- The copy must come from a license recorded by the Bexar County Clerk; the office provides copies of licenses issued in Bexar County from 1837 to the present day.
- A Declaration and Registration of Informal Marriage certificate is not a public record. Only the two applicants listed on that certificate may receive a copy, and the County Clerk says copies are obtained by visiting its Vital Statistics Department, Southside Annex or a Records on the Run location, not by this form.
If you changed your name because of marriage, the County Clerk's page suggests you may want two certified copies.
When to file Marriage License Copy Request Form – Bexar County, TX
Send the request after the marriage license has been recorded. The form explains that the license is filed with the Bexar County Clerk's Office after the ceremony: the officiant completes and signs it and returns it to the County Clerk's Office, where it is recorded. Only after that may you request a plain or certified copy.
If the license has not been recorded yet, the County Clerk's page says you can record it in person at the Vital Statistics Department or mail the original license to the Bexar County Clerk's Office: Vital Statistics. The recorded license is then mailed back to the address listed on the back of the license.
The form prints no deadline for requesting a copy, and it states no processing time.
How to fill out Marriage License Copy Request Form – Bexar County, TX
Enter Marriage Applicant 1
Under Marriage Record Information, write the first, middle and last name of Marriage Applicant 1 as shown on the marriage license.
Enter Marriage Applicant 2
On the next line, write the first, middle and last name of Marriage Applicant 2.
Enter the date of marriage
On the Date of Marriage line, enter the date the marriage took place.
Choose the number of copies
Under Number of Copies Requested, enter a Quantity for Plain Copies, for Certified Copies, or for both. The two copy types have different fees printed on the form.
Add your contact information
Under Your Contact Information, enter your name, mailing address, phone and email. The mailing address is where the copies are sent when you request them by mail.
Sign and date the request
Sign on the Signature line and enter the date next to it.
Leave the Office Use Only block blank
Do not write in the Document #, Volume, Page or Issuing Clerk Initials lines; the clerk completes them.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check the names, the date of marriage and the quantities, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Prepare your payment and send the form as described under How to submit.
How to submit Marriage License Copy Request Form – Bexar County, TX
The form is returned to the Bexar County Clerk by mail, or in person where the County Clerk's Vital Statistics services are offered.
- By mail: send the completed form and your payment to: Bexar County Clerk's Office, Attn: Vital Statistics Department, 100 Dolorosa, Suite 104, San Antonio, Texas 78205. By mail, the form accepts a check or money order only.
- In person: the form says cash, check, money order, or debit/credit card are accepted in person. The County Clerk's page lists the Vital Statistics Department (Paul Elizondo Tower, 101 W. Nueva, Ste. B110), the Southside Annex (3505 Pleasanton Rd.) and Records on the Run mobile locations for recording and for informal marriage copies.
A fee applies for each copy, and plain and certified copies are priced differently. The amounts are printed on the form. For questions, the County Clerk lists 210-335-2223.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Requesting a copy of a license that was purchased in another county; the Bexar County Clerk records only licenses purchased in Bexar County, and other counties' licenses are requested from that county's clerk.
- Mailing cash with the form; by mail the form accepts only a check or money order.
- Using this form to request a copy of a Declaration and Registration of Informal Marriage certificate, which only the two listed applicants may receive.
- Mailing the request somewhere other than the address printed on the form: Bexar County Clerk's Office, Attn: Vital Statistics Department, 100 Dolorosa, Suite 104, San Antonio, Texas 78205.
- Asking for a copy before the license has been recorded after the ceremony.
- Leaving the Quantity lines blank, so the clerk cannot tell how many plain copies and how many certified copies you want.
- Filling in the Office Use Only block (Document #, Volume, Page, Issuing Clerk Initials), which is reserved for the clerk.
- Sending the form without a signature and date in the contact information block.
Frequently asked questions
Who can request a copy of a Bexar County marriage license?
Anyone can. The Bexar County Clerk says marriage licenses are public records, so a copy can be requested by completing the Marriage License Copy Request Form and submitting it to the County Clerk. The license must have been purchased in Bexar County.
How far back do Bexar County marriage license copies go?
The Bexar County Clerk's Office can provide a copy of a marriage license issued in Bexar County from 1837 to the present day. The license must have been recorded in Bexar County, regardless of where the ceremony took place.
Where do I mail the marriage license copy request?
Mail the form and payment to Bexar County Clerk's Office, Attn: Vital Statistics Department, 100 Dolorosa, Suite 104, San Antonio, Texas 78205. By mail, only a check or money order is accepted as payment.
How do I pay for a copy of a marriage license?
A fee applies per copy, and the form lists separate fees for plain and certified copies. By mail you pay by check or money order; in person the form accepts cash, check, money order, or debit/credit card. Check the form for the amounts.
Can I use this form for a Declaration of Informal Marriage?
No. A Declaration and Registration of Informal Marriage certificate is not a public record, and only the two applicants listed on it may receive a copy. The County Clerk says copies are obtained by visiting its Vital Statistics Department or other listed locations.
My marriage license was issued in another Texas county. Can Bexar County copy it?
No. Only licenses purchased in Bexar County are recorded by the Bexar County Clerk. To request a copy of a license purchased in another county, contact that county's County Clerk office.
When can I request a copy of my marriage license?
After the license has been recorded. The officiant completes and signs it after the ceremony and returns it to the County Clerk's Office. Once it is recorded, you may request a plain or certified copy.
Can I fill out the marriage license copy request form online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not send the request to the County Clerk; you mail or deliver it yourself through the County Clerk's channels.
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