Free Guadalupe County Marriage Records: Search Anybody

Check out free Guadalupe County marriage records to determine valuable information about someone’s former or current marital status.

The Texas Public Information Act (PIA) is the law that establishes which records should be readily available to the people. Finding information related to public records should always be within reach of citizens who desire or require them.

This resource introduces all the tools available for finding marriage records in Guadalupe County, Texas. It also covers what can be searched online and what needs to be resolved in person.

How To Look Up Guadalupe County Marriage Records

Concerned citizens trying to uncover information about someone’s marital status can work with the Guadalupe County Clerk’s Office. They’re the official repository of public records in Guadalupe County and offer a free online tool for people to look up marriage licenses.

The Public Record Search System permits inquiries by name. To get started, users should select “Marriage” on the left bar and input a name. Providing a full name will lead to targeted results, but the system will work with only a partial name.

The results appear in the form of a list and include the full name of the bride and groom, the date when the application was filed, the date the marriage happened, and when it was recorded. By clicking on the result, it’s possible to access more details. For example, users can visualize the marriage license and request copies.

In Guadalupe County, people can order uncertified and certified copies. Uncertified copies can’t be used officially and cost $1 per page. Certified copies are as official as they get and cost $6 each, plus $1 per page.

There’s a full fee schedule available online for those who might need more than just the copies.¹

The system states that it’ll show marriage licenses starting in 1853 all the way to the present day. However, some records might not be available online. When the license is ready to be ordered, a small gray ball with a few dots will appear next to the groom’s name.

If that’s the case for the record being searched, users can click on it and conveniently place an order online.

For other copies or when more support is needed, citizens must work with the Guadalupe County Clerk. To order a copy (certified or not) of a marriage license, searchers must complete an application and bring it to the Clerk’s Office.²

Searchers should be aware that the state of Texas recognizes common-law marriages. Therefore, those in Guadalupe County who don’t want to apply for a proper marriage license can do an informal marriage application.

The online search tool provided by the Clerk’s Office won’t show common-law marriages – only official marriage licenses. However, information about informal relationships is available to concerned citizens running Guadalupe County marital records searches at the Clerk’s Office. People should never hesitate to seek out that information if they need it.

The Guadalupe County Clerk’s Office serves the local public at two different locations. This is where interested people can go:

Guadalupe County Clerk – Main Office
211 W Court St.
Seguin, TX 78155

Phone: 830.303.8863

Guadalupe County Clerk
Schertz Satellite Office
1101 Elbel Rd
Schertz, TX 78154

How To Access Archived & Historical Marriage Records in Guadalupe County Texas

The Guadalupe County Clerk’s Office search system shows marriages all the way back to 1853.³ Consequently, those running historical searches or seeking information about their ancestors can rest assured that marital records should be relatively convenient to find.

As with any other Guadalupe County marital records search, it might be necessary to contact the Clerk’s Office for support and work with them to find the desired licenses.

Their contact information is detailed above in the previous section of this article.

Another valuable tool interested citizens can use is the Texas State Library & Archives Commission.⁵ They have a wide array of collections and indexes that include genealogical information, county databases and more. They might be able to help when a Guadalupe County marriage search isn’t sufficient to find the desired records.

If searching online isn’t enough, people can also work with the Archives Commission in person. This is their contact information:

Texas State Library & Archives Commission
1201 Brazos Street
Austin, TX 78701

Phone: 512.463.5474
Email: [email protected]

How To Locate Marriage Records From Other Nearby Counties or Throughout Texas

In Texas, marriages are recorded by the county that issued the license. It may occur that someone who currently lives in Guadalupe County actually has their nuptials, making a search for this license a bit more complicated.

In that scenario, there are a few different ways that the Texas Vital Records Office can help.⁶ First and foremost, the Vital Records Office allows authorized individuals to request a letter of verification for marriages registered in the state.

To place a request, the person must be named on the license, be a parent or a child of the couple, a legal guardian or a legal representative. Guardians and representatives must show proof of connection with the couple.

To start a request, the searcher has to complete a Mail Application for Marriage or Divorce Record and be ready to pay $20 for each letter that’s provided.⁷ It’s possible to place the order by mail or in person. Mail-in requests must include the application, payment in the form of a money order, and proof of connection with the marriage being searched.

Those requests must be sent to the address below:

Texas Vital Statistics
Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040

If ordering in person sounds more convenient, there’s a list of local offices that are available to help. This is the address for the Vital Records main office in Austin:

Texas Vital Statistics
Department of State Health Services
1100 West 49th St.
Austin, TX 78756

Phone: 512.776.7111

For those who aren’t entitled to request a letter of marriage verification, the Vital Records Office has indexes for nuptials that happened in Texas between 1966 and 2019.⁸

Those indexes can be accessed for free and include valuable information, such as the names of the husband and wife, the date of the marriage, the county where it was registered, and the file number.

Having the file number is particularly convenient if it becomes necessary to contact a local clerk’s office and request a copy of the marriage license. Also, according to the Vital Records Office, the 2020 index is expected to become available in the Summer of 2024, while the 2021 index should be released in the Summer of 2025.

If anyone believes that they need more information or support than what’s offered on the indexes, they can contact the department directly by email: [email protected].

Searchers can also place an order online using the Texas Department of State Health Services system, which can be quite convenient, especially for those who are far from the area.

Last, but not least, just like someone may run a Guadalupe County marital records inquiry and be assisted by the local clerk’s office, the same may happen in any county in Texas. If the searchers know which county recorded the marriage they wish to find, it might be a good idea to try and contact them directly.

How To Apply for a Marriage License in Guadalupe County Texas

Texas recognizes common-law marriages. Therefore, couples in a relationship in Guadalupe County can choose between applying for a formal and an informal marriage license.⁹

A formal marriage license is intended for those who wish to have a proper marriage officiated and registered.¹⁰

An informal marriage license is just to establish that there’s a relationship in place, which isn’t intended to be a formal wedding.

After filling out the desired application, the couple must visit the Guadalupe County Clerk’s Office in person to finalize the application. According to the Guadalupe Clerk’s Office fee schedule, those are the prices for marriage licenses:

• $81 for a regular marriage certificate
• $21 for situations when the couple shows proof of having done counseling prior to applying
• $181 for a marriage license for non-residents
• $46 for a declaration of informal marriage

Licenses issued in Guadalupe County can be used for weddings anywhere in Texas. Also, marriage licenses are good for 90 days, and couples must wait 72 hours before being allowed to use them. These are the Guadalupe County Clerk’s Offices to visit and finalize the application:¹¹

Guadalupe County Clerk – Main Office
211 W Court St.
Seguin, TX 78155

Phone: 830.303.8863

Guadalupe County Clerk
Schertz Satellite Office
1101 Elbel Rd
Schertz, TX 78154

Marriage records should always be readily available to those who seek them because it’s important to be aware of people’s marital status. Especially when starting a new relationship, knowing if the other person is married or not would likely affect how that connection would move forward.

Everyone should feel empowered to search for Guadalupe County marriage records at any time, using all the tools presented in this streamlined resource.