Texas Vital Record
Texas Marriage Certificate Apostille
Texas SOS currently uses a Universal Apostille workflow. For marriage cases, success starts with a certified county-issued Texas marriage certificate and a complete Form 2102 packet.
Texas DSHS also provides marriage verification records, but many foreign authorities still require the certified county record itself. Confirm the required format before filing.
Reviewed by Amelia Rivera
Lead Apostille Specialist • Verified February 2026
Updated
February 2026
Content and source verification
Texas Fee Baseline
$15
Per universal apostille (standard)
Mail Timeline
Up to 25 Business Days
From receipt; can exceed in high demand
At a Glance - Texas Snapshot
| Apostille Authority | Office of the Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit |
|---|---|
| Certificate Type | Universal Apostille (serves apostille/authentication roles per Texas SOS) |
| State Fee | $15 per document (standard); adoption uses separate reduced-fee form path |
| Required Form | Form 2102 (Request for Universal Apostille, rev. 11/2025) |
| In-Person Service | Appointments Tue-Thu; walk-in queue Mon/Fri; same-day processing target for eligible requests |
| Mail Service | Can take up to 25 business days from receipt; current processing may exceed this timeframe |
| Recordable Rule | Recordable documents must be issued within the past five years |
| Marriage Record Format | County-certified certificate is usually preferred; DSHS verification records may not satisfy all foreign authorities |
| Primary Rejection Risk | Submitting non-certified records or incomplete Form 2102/payment packet |
Accepted and Not Accepted for Texas Marriage Records
Texas marriage filings are strongest when built around a certified county record, clear destination-country requirements, and a complete Form 2102 packet.
Accepted
- Certified marriage certificate issued by the county clerk where marriage was recorded.
- Record issued within Texas SOS recordable-document windows.
- Packet with Form 2102, payment, and destination-country details.
- Intact original record with legible signature and stamp/seal.
Not Accepted
- Photocopies, print scans, or altered copies.
- Out-of-state marriage certificates sent to Texas SOS.
- Using only a DSHS verification record when destination requires certified county certificate.
- Old recordable documents outside SOS issue-date limits.
- Packets missing destination-country entry on Form 2102.
Requirements Checklist
Must Have
- Certified county-issued Texas marriage certificate in acceptable condition.
- Form 2102 with country, contact, and return-shipping details.
- Correct payment method for your submission channel.
- Pre-addressed return envelope/label with valid billing method.
- Country-level legalization check (Hague vs non-Hague).
Destination-Country Checks
- Non-Hague countries may require U.S. State Department follow-up authentication.
- Some authorities require very recently issued vital records.
- If translation is required, confirm sequence before filing.
- Use separate apostilled records for separate countries when needed.
Mail Packet Checklist
Use this order to reduce matching and processing errors.
- Certified county-issued Texas marriage certificate (recordable document).
- Completed Form 2102 with destination country.
- $15 per document payment (check/money order or SOS client account path).
- Prepaid, pre-addressed return envelope or carrier label.
- Optional cover page with phone/email for issue resolution.