The Affidavit of Absent Applicant for Marriage License (Form VS-181) is the sworn statement a marriage license applicant gives when they cannot appear personally before the county clerk. It is one of the Hidalgo County marriage license documents published through the Hidalgo County Clerk, and its form and content are prescribed by section 2.007 of the Texas Family Code. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the county publishes the original PDF at its website, and the signed, notarized affidavit goes to the County Clerk's Office.
Last updated
What is VS-181?
The Affidavit of Absent Applicant for Marriage License (Form VS-181) is a sworn statement in which one marriage license applicant identifies themselves and the other applicant, answers a set of true/false statements, and explains why they cannot appear personally before the county clerk for the issuance of the license.
The form states that its form and content are prescribed by section 2.007 of the Texas Family Code. It is published by the Hidalgo County Clerk, and the revision printed on it is VS-181 Rev. 06/2015.
The affidavit collects the following:
- The absent applicant's name, maiden surname if applicable, address, date of birth, place of birth, Social Security number and citizenship.
- True/false statements about divorce within the last 30 days, current marital status, court-ordered child support, and family relationship to the other applicant.
- The name, maiden surname if applicable, age and address of the other applicant, and the approximate date on which the marriage is to occur.
- The reason the absent applicant cannot appear in person.
- A separate section, for members of the armed forces of the United States stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation who are unable to attend the ceremony, naming an adult proxy.
The applicant signs under an oath that warns a false statement is punishable by imprisonment and a fine, and a notary completes the block at the bottom of the page.
Who needs to file VS-181?
The form is for a marriage license applicant who is unable to appear personally before the county clerk for the issuance of the license. That applicant is the "absent applicant": they complete and swear to the affidavit, and the form asks them to name the person they desire to marry.
Members of the armed forces of the United States stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation, who are unable to attend the ceremony, may also complete the separate armed forces section. In it they name an adult person, other than the other applicant, to act as proxy for the purpose of participating in the ceremony. The form says this section can be completed only by such service members.
The affidavit is sworn before a notary, so the absent applicant needs access to one. The Hidalgo County Clerk's Forms page adds that the Clerk and deputies are not attorneys and cannot give legal advice in preparing documents; legal questions go to your own attorney.
When to file VS-181
The affidavit is needed when one marriage license applicant cannot appear personally before the county clerk for the issuance of the license, so it is completed as part of that application. The form prints no separate due date or validity period.
It asks for the approximate date on which the marriage is to occur, so have that date and the other applicant's details ready before you start. The notary completes the date the affidavit was subscribed and sworn and the commission expiration date, so the signing and notarization are done together. For timing questions about the license itself, call the County Clerk's Office at (956)318-2100.
How to fill out VS-181
Enter the state and county
At the top, fill in THE STATE OF and COUNTY OF as the form asks.
Identify the absent applicant
Enter your name (first, middle, last, suffix), your maiden surname if applicable, and your address with street, city, state and ZIP code.
Add birth, SSN and citizenship
Enter your date of birth, place of birth including city, county and state, your Social Security number and your citizenship.
Answer the true/false statements
Mark TRUE or FALSE for each statement: not divorced within the last 30 days, not presently married, currently married to the other applicant, not delinquent in court-ordered child support, and the other applicant is not presently married.
Answer the relationship statement
Mark TRUE or FALSE for the statement that you are not related to the other applicant as an ancestor or descendant, sibling, aunt or uncle, niece or nephew, current or former stepchild or stepparent, or cousin as listed on the form.
Name the person you desire to marry
Under I desire to marry, enter the other applicant's name, maiden surname if applicable, age and address, and the approximate date on which the marriage is to occur.
State why you cannot appear
Write the reason you are unable to appear personally before the county clerk for the issuance of the license.
Complete the armed forces section if eligible
Only if you are a U.S. armed forces member stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation and unable to attend the ceremony, enter the name of an adult proxy other than the other applicant. Otherwise leave it blank.
Sign and date before a notary
Sign and date under the oath in the presence of a notary. The notary completes their signature, printed name and title, the date subscribed and sworn, the commission expiration date and the seal.
Review, download and deliver
Check every statement and name for accuracy, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and deliver it as described under How to submit.
How to submit VS-181
The Hidalgo County Clerk's Forms page says that, unless otherwise noted, forms go to the County Clerk's Office by hand delivery or by mail. The affidavit itself prints no delivery instructions.
- Hand delivery: County Clerk's Office, 100 N. Closner, Edinburg, TX 78539.
- Mail: County Clerk's Office, P.O. Box 58, Edinburg, TX 78540.
- Questions: call (956)318-2100.
Sign the affidavit before a notary first: the form has a notary block for the notary's signature, printed name and title, the date it was subscribed and sworn, the commission expiration date and the seal. The county's Forms page is at https://www.hidalgocounty.us/1388/Forms. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Signing the affidavit without a notary present; the form has a notary block for the subscribed-and-sworn date, the notary's name and title, commission expiration and seal.
- Leaving a TRUE/FALSE statement unmarked, such as divorce within the last 30 days, current marital status, child support delinquency or the other applicant's marital status.
- Giving a false answer on a sworn statement; the oath warns that a false statement is punishable by imprisonment and a fine.
- Leaving out the reason you are unable to appear personally before the county clerk.
- Completing the armed forces section when you are not a member of the armed forces stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation.
- Naming the other applicant as proxy; the form asks for an adult person other than the other applicant.
- Omitting the approximate date of the marriage, or the other applicant's age or address.
- Mailing the affidavit to the street address; the Clerk's Forms page gives 100 N. Closner for hand delivery and P.O. Box 58 for mail.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Affidavit of Absent Applicant for Marriage License?
It is Form VS-181, a sworn statement a marriage license applicant gives when unable to appear personally before the county clerk. The form says its content is prescribed by section 2.007 of the Texas Family Code, and the Hidalgo County Clerk publishes it.
Who has to complete Form VS-181?
The applicant who cannot appear in person before the county clerk for the issuance of the license. They complete and swear to the affidavit and give the reason they cannot appear. The other applicant's details go in the I desire to marry section.
Does Form VS-181 have to be notarized?
The form includes a notary block with the notary's signature, printed name and title, the date subscribed and sworn, the commission expiration date and a seal. Sign it in front of the notary, who then completes that block.
Can I fill out the Hidalgo County absent applicant affidavit online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the affidavit; you deliver it to the County Clerk's Office yourself.
Where do I send the affidavit for a Hidalgo County marriage license?
The Hidalgo County Clerk's Forms page says to hand deliver forms to 100 N. Closner, Edinburg, TX 78539, or mail them to P.O. Box 58, Edinburg, TX 78540, unless otherwise noted. For questions, call (956)318-2100.
What is the armed forces section on the affidavit?
It is a section only for members of the U.S. armed forces stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation who cannot attend the ceremony. They name an adult proxy, other than the other applicant, to take part in the ceremony.
What happens if I give false information on Form VS-181?
You swear that the information is true and correct, and the form states that making a false statement on it is punishable by imprisonment and a fine, citing HSC §195.003. Check each answer before you sign.
Ready to fill out VS-181?
Fill out VS-181 now