GAINESVILLE, Texas — Getting married, filing a deed, or ordering a copy of a birth certificate in Cooke County all run through the same office: the County Clerk, on the first floor of the historic Cooke County Courthouse downtown. Here's what to know before you go.
Marriage licenses
Both people applying for a marriage license must appear in person at the County Clerk's office — applications can be started online but must be signed and paid for in person. The standard fee is $82.
Couples who complete the state-approved Twogether in Texas premarital education course can have the fee reduced to as little as $22 and skip the standard 72-hour waiting period between getting the license and holding the ceremony, by presenting their course completion certificate at the time of application. Without that waiver, couples must wait 72 hours after the license is issued before marrying. Anyone recently divorced should also budget for Texas's 30-day post-divorce waiting period unless a court has waived it.
Property deeds and other filings
The Clerk's office records property deeds, liens, assumed name (DBA) certificates, and livestock brand registrations for Cooke County. Deed records on file date back to 1850. Filing fees vary by document type and page count — the office publishes an annual fee schedule, and staff can confirm exact costs before you file.
Birth and death certificates
Certified copies of Cooke County birth and death certificates can be requested in person, by mail, by phone, or online. As of the clerk's current fee schedule, a certified birth certificate costs $23 and a certified death certificate costs $21, with an additional $5 service fee and $0.75 verification fee added to online orders. Birth records are available going back to 1928; death records are available for deaths that occurred within Cooke County dating back to 1930. Standard mail delivery is provided at no extra charge.
Court records and other services
The County Clerk's office also maintains records for county criminal and civil cases handled outside the district courts, along with probate filings. Staff can direct residents with district court questions — jury duty, felony case records — to the separate District Clerk's office, also located in the courthouse.
Where to go
- Address: 101 S. Dixon St., Suite 108, Gainesville, TX 76240 (inside the Cooke County Courthouse)
- Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:50 p.m., Monday through Friday (open through lunch)
- Phone (deeds, marriage, vital records): (940) 668-5421
- Phone (criminal and civil case information): (940) 668-5422
For a full directory of every county office and elected official, see the Record's Cooke County government directory.