The Personal Records Department issues Marriage Licenses, Declaration of Informal Marriage Licenses, Assumed Names (DBA), Vital Statistic Records (Birth & Death certificates) and Animal Brands.
The department also files Personal Financial Statements, Miscellaneous Personal Records (Hospital Liens and Releases, Notice of Meetings, Power of Attorney for Minors and Bills of Sale), DD-214's (Military Discharge Papers), T.A.B.C. Applications and Uniform Commercial Code Records.
A Marriage License Certificate is a government issued document declaring to the world that two people have been authorized by the law of the State to enter the ‘Rites of Matrimony’. Marriage licenses have been around since the Middle Ages and are often required for filing taxes, buying a home and other important life events.
An Assumed Name or Doing Business As (DBA) is the registering or securing of a company or business name, owner(s) name, and address in which the company or business entity will be located and conducting business. Any individual doing business in Harris County is required to file an Assumed Name reflecting his/her business name and the ownership of the business pursuant to Business and Commerce Code 71.001. The Harris County Clerk's Office files unincorporated and withdrawals of Assumed Names.
Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) documents are certain financing statements and other documents provided for under the Uniform Commercial Code. UCC documents are filed in both the Real Property & Personal Records Department. Please contact the department directly to determine which department to file in. See Real Property for information about filing in that department.
Vital Records (birth and death certificates) are not public records. The requests for these documents can be made by immediate family members (self, parents, grandparents, legal spouse, sibling or children - all with valid identification). For additional help contact the Vital Statistics desk at 713-274-8690.
DD-214 or Military Discharge Paper is a document that is given to a person that has completed their service in the Armed Forces of the United States. This document contains pertinent information pertaining to their service and discharge from the military.
The DD-214’s can be filed in person or by mail in the Personal Records Department. The nine annex offices can accept them for filing, however it may take 5 – 7 business days to be filed based upon delivery of work to the downtown office.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code provides the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (T.A.B.C.) with the authority to regulate all aspects of alcoholic beverage manufacture, distribution, and consumption in the State of Texas. However, this code allows local communities (county, city and justice precinct) the right to determine the kind of alcohol sales within their communities.
The County Clerk's Office must certify the pre-qualification packet of the T.A.B.C. by verifying wet/dry status, permit type for the address location indicated on the application, date of certification and that the address is within Harris County.
Miscellaneous Personal Records (MPR) consist of Hospital Liens and Releases, Notice of Meetings, Power of Attorney for Minors, and Bills of Sale.
Personal Financial Statements are filed at no charge. They can be filed either in person in the Personal Records Department or filed electronically through our online filing system.
Animal Brands are the registering of the markings or branding of animal/cattle with the county in which the animal/cattle is located. The owner of the animal/cattle must come in person with valid identification to register.
An Assumed Name or "DBA" is the registering or securing of a company or business name, owner(s) name, and address in which the company or business entity will be located and conducting business. Any individual doing business in Harris County is required to file an Assumed Name reflecting his/her business name and the ownership of the business pursuant to Business and Commerce Code 71.001 . The Harris County Clerk's Office files unincorporated and withdrawals of Assumed Names.
TX Business & Commerce Code, Ch 71, Sec. 71.103 require Incorporated DBA’s to be filed with the TX Secretary of State.
Research the name of your business by visiting our Assumed Name database to determine the availability of the name of the business. Please note that the Assumed Name record is valid for up to ten years. To avoid a lapse, the owner(s) should register the name again, before the term period ends.
Filing an Assumed Name can be done in person at anyone of our 11 locations or by mail. Contact the Personal Records Department for information.
The term for an Assumed Name can be from one (1) year to ten (10) years from the registration date.
The Harris County Clerk’s Office is only the filing agent for Assumed Names applications which is registering the business name. For legal advice on starting a business the owner(s) may need to contact an attorney.
Contact the office of the Texas Secretary of State.
To change the address on your Assumed Name, you can either withdraw the current name and refile it with the updated address or just refile it with the updated address. Please note that the address does not appear on the certificate, just the application and it is not necessary to update the address with our records. We recommend that you update your address with the other entities that you have information on file with concerning your Assumed Name.
The applicant must obtain the pre-qualification packet from the T.A.B.C. office and follow the instructions listed on the form.
A Marriage License Certificate is a government issued document declaring to the world that two people have been authorized by the law of the State to enter the ‘Rites of Matrimony’.
Marriage licenses have been around since the Middle Ages and are often required for filing taxes, buying a home, and other important life events.
Both applicants can apply for a Marriage License in person at one of our 11 locations . Valid I.D. is required and the fee is $81.00. Without proof of state residency on a valid form of identification from at least one applicant the fee will be $181.00.
If for any reason a marriage applicant is unable to be present when purchasing the license, an Affidavit of Absent Applicant on Application for Marriage License form should be completed, signed and notarized.
Licenses should be returned to our office for recording, after the ceremony has been performed. Return the license either in person to any location or by mail. Upon being returned to our office, original Marriage Licenses can take anywhere from 1-2 weeks to be returned to you. If you do not receive the license after that time period, please call the Personal Records Department at 713-274-8686.
Please review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to find out the answer to many of your questions. If you cannot locate the answer among these pages, then feel free to send an e-mail to our office and we will provide you with a timely response or point you in the proper direction if we do not have the appropriate answer.
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An Informal Marriage, or common-law marriage, is legal in Texas. Both applicants must appear in person to file a Declaration of Informal Marriage. The couple must list the date on the declaration from which they have considered themselves married.
Both applicants will need to provide valid identification (State Issued I.D., Driver's License, Passport, etc.)
The fee is $46.00
Certified copies ordered when filing are $6.00 each.
