The Hays County Clerk has your marriage license — and your cattle brand

The County Clerk's Records Division in San Marcos keeps a wide drawer. It issues marriage licenses and keeps marriage, birth, death, and property records back to 1848. It also records assumed names and livestock brands, which have to be re-recorded every ten years.

For a walk-in marriage license, both people apply with government-issued ID. Texas has a 72-hour wait before the ceremony unless an exception applies, such as a state-approved premarital course. The license is good for 90 days.

One easy mix-up: the County Clerk handles marriage records. Divorce records are kept by the District Clerk.