County Clerk
Franklin County Texas
Office Hours Effective Monday, August 3, 2026:
Monday-Thursday 7:30-12:30 and 1:00-4:30
Closed for Lunch 12:30-1:00
Deadline to record documents is 4:00 PM.
Deadline to issue marriage licenses is 3:30 PM.
Fridays 8:00 –Noon
Deadline to record documents is Noon.
Deadline to issue marriage license is 11:30.
Fax: 903-537-2962
Contact: countyclerk@co.franklin.tx.us
200 North Kaufman Street
Mount Vernon, TX 75457
Franklin County Clerk's office now offers eRecording through CSC, Simplifile and ePN.
Need help with a legal problem? See See Self-Help Notice.
Texas Court Help
OFFICE CLOSURES AND OTHER IMPORTANT OFFICE INFORMATION
ATTENTION: THE FRANKLIN COUNTY COURTHOUSE WILL BE
CLOSED FOR REPAIRS ON SEPTEMBER 16TH AND 17TH.
Online Records:
Effective November 3, 2025: Our new Records Public Access website is LIVE! Please visit https://countyclerkrecords.co.franklin.tx.us/web/ to get started today!
The Franklin County Clerk's office offers FRAUD NOTIFY to protect your property. This is a FREE service for Franklin County property owners. All you need to do is visit HERE to sign up. By registering, you will receive email notification any time a document with your name is filed in the property records.
You may search and view records online for free. Images are clear and not distorted. To print online copies, pay with credit or debit card. The UNOFFICIAL wording will be removed after purchasing. Monthly subscriptions are available for unlimited printing of documents or you may purchase copies as you go. You will need to register a user name and password.
Deed records are online (indexed and imaged) from 1843 forward. Contract and Lien / Oil and Gas Lease Records are online (indexed and imaged) from 1910 forward. If you find a document that does not have an image, please let us know and we will correct the problem.
Please contact the County Clerk's office if you need assistance. 903-537-8357
IDENTIFICATION NOW REQUIRED TO RECORD DOCUMENTS
PURSUANT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 191.010(b) - EFFECTIVE 09/01/2025: ALL PERSONS PRESENTING DOCUMENTS TO BE RECORDED IN PERSON (OVER THE COUNTER) MUST PRESENT VALID IDENTIFICATION. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCEPT DOCUMENTS IF IDENTIFICATION IS NOT PROVIDED.
To view the language of the bill and the format for filing with the court as well as the format for the court’s findings and order, use the link: 87(R) SB 30 - Enrolled version (texas.gov)
Important Notices & Deadlines:
Deadline to Record Documents: Monday-Thursday 4:00 PM, Fridays Noon.
Marriage Licenses Issued: Monday-Thursday 7:30 AM-11:30 AM & 1:00 PM-3:30 PM, Fridays 8:00 AM-11:30.
*We may be able to accommodate a different time if prior arrangements are made.
COMMISSIONERS COURT INFORMATION COMING SOON
Birth & Death Certificate Information
VALID PHOTO ID is required to obtain a certified copy of a birth or death record and you must be an immediate family member (parent, child, sibling, grandparent, spouse). If you need your birth certificate to get your ID, please have a qualified applicant apply for your birth certificate.
PROPERLY QUALIFIED APPLICANT: the registrant; a member of his or her immediate family either by blood or marriage, including parent, grandparent, sibling, child, spouse, etc.; his or her legal guardian (must show written proof); his or her legal representative or agent (must show written proof).
EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 3, 2025: YOU MAY NOW SECURELY REQUEST VITAL RECORDS ONLINE! Please visit https://countyclerkrecords.co.franklin.tx.us/web/ to get started! Don't be tricked into paying HIGH PRICES for your VITAL RECORDS from an unofficial website. Always purchase from your local County Clerk's Office.
Birth Certificate:
Certified Copy Fee- $23.00
Application by Mail
We can issue certified birth certificates if you were born in the State of Texas. Please call 903-537-8357 before you come in person to verify we can issue your out-of-county birth certificate. Long form birth certificates can only be issued for births that occurred in Franklin County. Birth certificates issued for any other county will be what is considered the remote or short form. If you were born outside of Franklin County and need a long form birth certificate, please contact the contact in which you were born.
Death Certificate:
Certified Copy Fee- $21.00 for the first and $4.00 for each additional if purchased at the same time.
Application by Mail
Marriage License Issuance Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30 AM-11:30 AM & 1:00 PM-3:30 PM; and Fridays 8:00 AM-11:30 AM. It takes approximately 20 minutes to issue the license. Licenses are not issued after 3:30 (or 11:30 on Fridays) unless prior arrangements have been made (pending availability). Appointments are not required.
Marriage License- $81.00 (without TWOGETHERINTEXAS certificate)
$21.00 (with TWOGETHERINTEXAS certificate)
Marriage License Application
Declaration of Informal Marriage- $51.00
Informal Marriage Application
The provided application (above) may be filled out in advance to assist our clerks. The clerks will input your information into our computer system and all signatures will be executed in front of the clerks. Both parties still need to appear as well as present driver's license and social security cards. The provided applications are for convenience purposes only. These applications are not the official applications that will be sent in to the State.
WARNING: IT IS A FELONY TO FALSIFY INFORMATION ON THIS DOCUMENT. THE PENALTY FOR KNOWINGLY MAKING A FALSE STATEMENT ON THIS FORM OR FOR SIGNING A FORM WHICH CONTAINS A FALSE STATEMENT IS 2 TO 10 YEARS IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF UP TO $10,000. (HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, CHAPTER 195, SEC. 195.003)
What do I need to do to get a marriage license?
Must be applied for in person. Bring your Driver's license (photo id) and your social security card or number. Neither party can be presently married, and both parties must be divorced for more than 30 days (unless you are remarrying or waived in the divorce decree). The marriage license will expire if not used within 90 days. You must wait at least 72 hours after the purchase of the marriage license to marry unless a waiver has been obtained from a Judge. We do not issue marriage license after 3:30 PM (or 11:30 on Fridays) unless prior arrangements have been made. Please call 903-537-8357 if you have any questions.
The judges in Franklin County no longer perform marriage ceremonies.
Marriage education courses are being offered by TWOGETHER IN TEXAS. Visit www.twogetherintexas.com for more information. If both parties complete a qualified education course, $60 of the $81 marriage license fee will be waived as well as the 72-hour waiting period. An original certificate from Twogether in Texas MUST be presented at the time of the purchase of the marriage license. We will not accept a copy of the certificate. The certificate must be the original.
PLEASE NOTE: In order to rotate the image, right-click on the image and select Rotate Clockwise. It may take a few moments for it to rotate.
Public Death Index - 1903 - May 31, 2015
Public Birth Index - 1903 - December 31, 2016
Public Marriage Index - Indexed by Bride - 1875 -May 31, 2015
Public Marriage Index- Indexed by Groom - 1875 - May 31, 2015
Accepted Forms of Payment:
Cash, *Checks, **Credit/Debit Cards, Cashier's Check, or Money Order
*No out-of-state checks accepted. All checks must have the driver's license and phone number of signer otherwise your documents may be returned unrecorded. We do not accept checks for birth certificates, death certificates, or marriage licenses. If you have questions about us accepting your check, please contact us at 903-537-8357. Return check fee $30. Returned checks will not be re-deposited.
**A convenience fee will be assessed for all card payments. Credit/ Debit cards accepted: Discover, Visa, or MasterCard. We do not accept American Express. Payments may not be made over the phone. A link and instructions for our online payment option can be emailed upon request by calling 903-537-8357.
Sign up to our Newsletter
Stay up to date on the city's activities, events, programs and operations by subscribing to our eNewsletters.
