Getting a Marriage License in Lubbock County
The Lubbock County Clerk, Kelly Pinion, issues formal marriage licenses and records declarations of informal marriage. The marriage office sits inside the courthouse at 904 Broadway, Room 207. License hours run 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Both applicants must come in person. There is no mail or online option to apply for the license itself. The clerk also keeps the record after the wedding, so the same office that issues the license later sells the certified copy.
Eligibility rules are set by Texas Family Code and applied by the County Clerk. Both parties must be 18 or older. A person who is 17 or under needs a court order removing the disabilities of minority under Texas Family Code Section 2.003. Each applicant must show current proof of identity and age, and an expired document will not be accepted. Both must give a Social Security number or state they have none.
The County Clerk's office handles the marriage division along with civil, criminal, probate, and real property records. The marriage line is 806-775-1054. For broad clerk duties and the full office profile, see the Lubbock County Clerk page.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
The process is short, but both people have to be there. Bring your documents and plan to finish in one visit during license hours. Same-sex and opposite-sex couples follow the same steps.
- Both applicants go to the County Clerk at 904 Broadway, Room 207, during license hours of 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
- Each person shows current accepted photo ID that proves identity and age. Expired IDs are not taken.
- Each person gives a Social Security number, or states that they have none.
- Both complete all application information the clerk asks for.
- Pay the marriage license fee set by the County Clerk. Confirm the current amount with the office before you go.
- Observe the Texas waiting period and the license expiration window before the ceremony.
- An authorized officiant performs the ceremony, then returns the license to the County Clerk for recording.
After recording, you can order a certified copy using the reference or document number. The County Clerk's marriage page lays out the requirements and the copy rules in detail.
The County Clerk marriage page spells out ID rules, hours, and the certified-copy instructions for Lubbock County marriage records.
That page shows the same requirements and copy fees that apply when you request a Lubbock County marriage record by mail or in person.
Marriage License Application Fields
The clerk asks each applicant for a set of details before the license is issued. You give this information at the counter, not online. The table below lists what both people provide when they apply for a Lubbock County marriage license.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Both applicants present | Yes | Both must appear in person at the County Clerk during license hours. |
| Photo ID | Yes | Current driver license, state ID, military ID, or U.S. or foreign passport. No expired documents. |
| Proof of age | Yes | Both must be 18 or older, or 17 with a court order under Family Code 2.003. |
| Social Security number | Yes | Give the SSN, or state that you have none. |
| Application information | Yes | Both provide all application data the clerk requests. |
Accepted ID can be issued by any U.S. state, a Canadian province, or a foreign government. The clerk checks that each document is current.
Lubbock County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Copy fees split between the two offices. The County Clerk sells the certified marriage copy at a flat rate. The District Clerk charges per page for certified divorce copies pulled from its archives, and that fee applies after a short wait. The marriage license issuance fee is set by the County Clerk, so call ahead to confirm the current amount before you apply. The table lists the copy fees confirmed in official county records.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of marriage license | $21.00 |
| District Clerk certified copy (after five business days) | $1.00 per page |
| Marriage license issuance fee | Set by County Clerk; confirm current fee |
For mailed marriage copies, pay the County Clerk by cashier's check or money order made out to Lubbock County Clerk. The office does not take personal checks. You must also include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Note: The marriage license issuance fee was not posted in the official text reviewed, so confirm the current amount with the County Clerk before you apply.
Authorized Marriage Officiants
Texas sets who may legally perform a wedding, and the County Clerk's marriage page lists the same roles. A licensed or ordained Christian minister or priest can officiate. So can a Jewish rabbi or an officer of a religious organization the group authorizes. Many state judges qualify too.
Judges and justices who may officiate include those from Texas appellate, district, county, probate, county court at law, domestic relations, and juvenile courts. Retired judges and justices, justices of the peace, municipal judges, and associate judges also qualify. Federal judges and magistrates serving in Texas can perform the ceremony as well.
How to Look Up Lubbock County Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are public record in Lubbock County. A local visitor can come to the County Clerk's office and get a copy in person. To order a certified copy by mail, you must give the clerk enough detail to find the file. The office will not run a search that statute does not authorize, so an exact reference helps.
A mail request needs three things: the license reference number, both parties' names at the time of marriage, and the marriage date. Include the $21.00 certified-copy fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The county returns copies by regular USPS unless you include a prepaid expedited envelope. If an online search returns an error, the county suggests trying a different browser or search engine.
The County Clerk page is the gateway for marriage, real property, and other county records in Lubbock County.
The County Clerk department page names Kelly Pinion and links the civil, criminal, probate, real property, and marriage contacts.
From that page you reach the marriage division and the online access tools used for a Lubbock County marriage records search.
How to Find Lubbock County Divorce Records
Divorce is a family case in Texas, so divorce records live with the District Clerk, not the County Clerk. The Lubbock County District Clerk, Sara L. Smith, is the custodian of court files in the district courts. Divorce cases filed after August 2021 use the format DC-YYYY-FM-XXXX, where FM marks a family case. That cause number is the fastest way to pull a file.
You can search the district court case index through the county's free Public Access portal after you register. The portal shows the case index, parties, attorneys, and hearing settings. It does not show document images for a standard user. To get a decree or a document that does not appear online, contact the District Clerk Archives at 806-775-1322 or dcarchives@lubbockcounty.gov.
A divorce file holds the petition, any standing orders, property and child agreements, and the final decree. Some parts are protected. Social Security numbers, certain financial details, and any sealed material stay out of public view. For broader case search help, see the Lubbock County court records page, and for the office profile see the District Clerk page.
Filing for Divorce in Lubbock County
A divorce starts with a petition filed in a Lubbock County district court. Attorneys file through eFileTexas, the state's official e-filing front door. A self-represented person, called a pro se filer, may file in person at the District Clerk's office. Either way, the case is opened, given a DC-YYYY-FM number, and assigned to a court.
The basic path runs in order.
- Confirm Texas residency and Lubbock County venue, then check the current Family Code and court instructions.
- Prepare the petition, any civil case information sheet, standing-order acknowledgments, and child or property forms that apply.
- File through eFileTexas, or in person if you are pro se.
- Pay the filing fee, or submit a statement of inability to afford payment of court costs.
- Serve the respondent, or file a waiver of service.
- Follow any standing orders on children, property, and conduct.
- Attend hearings or mediation if the court orders them.
- Submit the proposed final decree under District Clerk rules.
The District Clerk also notes that since January 1, 2026, new filings are kept in electronic form only.
Getting Certified Divorce Copies
A certified copy carries the clerk's seal and works for legal and official needs. An uncertified printout does not. For a marriage record, the County Clerk sells a certified copy for $21.00. For a divorce decree, the District Clerk provides a certified copy at $1.00 per page after five business days, per the office FAQ.
Request divorce copies from the District Clerk. If the document is older or not visible online, the Archives line handles the pull. Call 806-775-1322 or email dcarchives@lubbockcounty.gov with the cause number and party names. Have the case number ready to speed the search.
Justice of the Peace and Marriages
Justice of the Peace courts in Lubbock County handle small civil claims, evictions, fine-only offenses, and traffic. JP judges also perform marriages, which is one reason couples ask about the precinct courts. The county describes these duties on its official JP page.
The JP duties page covers the precinct court roles, including the authority to officiate weddings in Lubbock County.
That page confirms that a justice of the peace may perform a marriage, though the license still comes from the County Clerk.