Marriage State Records

Are US Marriage Records Public?

Marriage records are generally open to the public. Almost anyone can view marriage records by conducting searches using related details, such as the names of the couple, the location of the union, or the specific date. However, certified marriage records are not always considered public records. Certain US states maintain that persons requesting marriage records may only get a marriage certificate if they are previously authorized or party to a marriage. Authorized persons include the married couple, their parent, grandparent or legal guardian, child, grandchild, sibling, or domestic partner. The attorney who represents the married couple is also considered authorized. A non-authorized person may only receive a certified informational copy marked.

On the other hand, some state governments do not limit who can access marriage records. They are accessible to anyone who can provide enough information for the marriage license search and make payment of the proper fee.

Marriage is a binding legal contract between two people, and records relating to marriage are documents kept by the government or local authorities as proof that a marriage has occurred. Marriage records serve as legal and official evidence of the marital union. In the US, the state has sole responsibility for making laws and regulations regarding the recording of a marriage, and these vary from state to state.

Marriage records are classified as vital records. Vital records include major life events such as marriage, divorce, death, and birth. The records are accumulated over a long period and kept in the archives of the state's vital records office.

Requesters who are unsure about how to look up marriage records may consider the option of contacting the National Center for Health Statistics, which is the primary agency responsible for keeping most vital records.

How to Find Marriage Records

Members of the public can obtain marriage records online, at the state vital records office, and through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the past, the two central bodies that kept official marriage records were religious bodies such as churches and the state's offices for vital records or their equivalent in each state. Today, information relating to marriage between two people is publicly registered and accessible.

The state office for vital records, or the state equivalent, provides access to marriage license records and issues official and certified copies of marriage documents to persons authorized by law to obtain them. However, some state vital records offices, such as the Minnesota Office of Vital Records, do not record marriages. To find out if someone is married, inquirers may need to consider other official or third-party options.

Parties may lookup free marriage records on the official state website for marriage index or records of various states. Although marriage records are available to most public members, the court or office may limit information to the couple's names, place, date of marriage, types of documents available in the record, and reference number for the file.

The CDC may provide information on marriages that occurred abroad. To find marriage records of US citizens that occurred outside of the US, requesters may send a request to the following address:

Department of State
Passport Vital Records Section
44132 Mercure Cir.
P.O. Box 1213
Sterling, VA 20166-1213

How to Check Marriage Status Online

Inquirers can find out if someone is married online by seeking out public records containing marriage information about said person. If the subject has marriage records, divorce records, or decrees recorded by county custodians in their judicial district, these documents can provide insight into their current marital situation. Summarily, requesters can lookup the marriage status of a person online by:

• Using a third-party service. Several reputable third-party services can help users quickly determine whether a person is married. These services will typically require a nominal fee, but they are often worth the cost due to the time savings involved.
• Check with government agencies. Many resources are available through local or state governments to provide inquirers with details about a person's marital status.

Public records that can provide information about an individual's marital status include birth, death, and marriage certificates. Inquirers can also search court documents or divorce decrees if they have access to them.

How to Find Out if Someone is Married for Free

There are several options to check marriage records for free:

• Public Records: Many states make marriage records accessible online for free, and this is an easy way to search for a person’s marriage records without having to visit the office in person. The information found on these websites can range from general details like the name of parties involved and date of marriage to more specific information such as the county where the couple was married and license number.
• Courthouses: Another alternative is to check with the local courthouse where the couple is resident. All US states require individuals who want to get married in their jurisdiction to obtain a marriage license from the local courthouse prior to tying the knot.
• Genealogy Sites: There are several online genealogy sites that allow users to search for old marriage records. These sites have digitized millions of marriage records, making them easily searchable by name and location.
• Vital Records: Some states also provide free access to vital records like birth, death, and marriage records through their own designated website or other public sources. Residents can use such resources to find out if someone is married. However, it is important to note that some may charge a small fee depending on what types of records are accessed.

Types of Marriage Records: Marriage Licenses and Certificates

Marriage records may provide information on the marriage ceremony and the names of the couple. The two officially relevant marriage records are the marriage license and the marriage certificate. Most searches for marriage records are usually conducted to obtain one of these two documents, most especially the marriage certificate. While both documents are vital records, they serve different purposes:

• Marriage License: The official document issued by the appropriate local authority, usually the county clerk's office, confirming two people are legally qualified and allowed to marry. The Marriage license is obtained before the marriage ceremony itself.
• Marriage certificate: The certified vital record issued by the state as proof of marriage. Usually, after the wedding ceremony, the couple and their witnesses are required to sign the marriage license as proof that a marriage ceremony was conducted in the presence of witnesses. The officiant then files the signed marriage license at the county clerk's office, who registers it and mails the official marriage certificate to the couple.

What are Marriage Records Used For?

A certified marriage certificate is required for legal name changes. Suppose a party was recently married and wishes to change their last name to their marital name on their identification cards, social security cards, and tax and bank documents. In that case, they must obtain a certified marriage record. A certified marriage license is also needed as legal proof of marriage. For the government to recognize a marriage as legitimate, parties must present a marriage certificate. This is especially important for matters such as filing for loans, purchasing property, and filing taxes.

A certified marriage certificate is one of the most important documents when filing immigration papers. When applying for a marriage green card with the Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), the document is necessary. Certified marriage records are also required when applying for Letters of Administration, which are documents that grant individuals rights to the property of deceased spouses.

How to Change Your Name After Marriage

To perform a name change after marriage in the United States, the first step is to obtain a marriage certificate or court order. Next, parties must inform the Social Security Administration of the change and the US Department of State. To finalize a name change, it is necessary to apply for an updated driver's license or state-issued identification with the new name. Parties should also inform all other relevant agencies, such as their place of work, financial institutions, and utility providers.

It is typically advised that newlyweds who intend to change their name after marriage seek out information regarding the process. Additionally, parties may hire an attorney to aid in the process.

Cost of Obtaining Marriage Records

The cost of obtaining a marriage record varies from one location to the other. Fees associated with obtaining the record online are usually displayed after a party requests the document. Some third-party online platforms may require registration or a subscription fee and then offer certain information for free. They may also offer guidance on how to look up marriage records from government sources.

For states with centralized marriage records and statics departments or organizations, the cost of procuring a certificate or other marriage records may be determined by contacting the vital records office. Typically, the most expensive part of a marriage records request is the certified copy of the marriage certificate. Any additional copies are cheaper in cost.

How to Obtain Marriage Records: Required Information

Providing all or some of the following information may foster easier location and access for the applicant as well as the record keeper or the online public record service provider:

• Full name of wife and husband
• Wife's maiden name
• Date of marriage
• County, the marriage license was issued
• Name of applicant and mailing address
• Phone number
• Applicant signature

Some states require the applicants to fill out request forms and pay necessary charges to obtain marriage records online. The applicant may be required to fill in essential fields requesting information that would aid in finding the specific records sought.

Importance of Marriage Records

1. Compliance with Law: Maintenance of marriage records complies with local statutes. Each state in the US has a family law or code requiring the registration of vital records and provides the legal process for obtaining a marriage license and filing a marriage certificate. The States are also obligated under their public access to information laws to provide access to the vital records so kept.
2. Statistical information: In many states, vital records, including marriage records, are filed with the State Office of Vital Statistics and used by many organizations, including governmental organizations, religious bodies, economic consulting firms, and businesses, as valuable data in statistical research and analysis of trends in the society. The state and individuals can use records to analyze population growth or decline, the pattern of living, stability of family life, market forecasts, and more. Understanding how to look up marriage records is also essential for anyone delving into their family.
3. Marriage records confirm the validity of marriage documents (license and certificate) presented as proof of marriage with any formal institution or private entity. The stamp and signatures of the authorized persons at the Office of Vital Statistics and the local issuing authority confirm that the document is legitimate.

Obtaining a Marriage License

Marriage licenses are legal documents that allow two individuals to get married. They are issued by the government, typically a county clerk’s office, and outline the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of both partners in the marriage. The license is required as proof that all prerequisites for marriage have been met for it to be recognized legally. To obtain a marriage license, couples must visit their county's courthouse or city hall and complete the required application. Completed applications must then be submitted along with proof of identity and the necessary fee. The identification document may be one or more of the following:

• Government-issued ID
• Social security number
• Birth certificate
• International passport
• Any identifying document bearing the birth date of the applicant

Depending on the judicial district, there may be other requirements like blood tests or third-party affidavits. Where at least one of the couples is underaged, they must also submit a parental consent form. Divorcees must also submit their divorce decrees and widowed applicants, the death certificate of their deceased spouses.

Once all requirements are satisfied, the couple will receive their marriage license, which an officiant must sign at their wedding ceremony before it can take effect. Although the actual license itself is not typically kept on file, the signing and filing of it makes the marriage official and recognized by law.

Marriage licenses remain valid for a certain period of time, depending on each jurisdiction’s regulations; after that period, the couple must obtain a new license if they wish to marry again. Marriage licenses can be revoked or annulled in some instances, such as when one partner is found to have lied about their identity on the application form.

The validity period of marriage licenses in various US states is as follows:

• 1 year: Arizona, Nebraska, Nevada, Wyoming
• 6 months: Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey
• 90 days: Alaska, California, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Texas
• 65 days: Connecticut
• 60 days: Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia
• 35 Days: Colorado
• 33 Days: Michigan
• 30 days: Alabama, Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin
• 20 days: South Dakota
• 10 days: Oklahoma

However, marriage licenses from the following states have no expiration period:

• District of Columbia
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Mississippi
• New Mexico
• South Carolina

Are Marriage Licenses Public Records?

Yes, marriage licenses are a public record. Most states make the information available to the public through the county clerk's office in person or online. Sometimes, inquirers may need to submit a formal request with the necessary paperwork and fees. Marriage license records typically include the names of both partners, their ages, and any other pertinent information, such as previous marriages and addresses.

Marriage Certificates: Rules and Uses

Marriage certificates offer proof of a marital union between two individuals. It is issued after marriage and features the full name of the parties involved, their nationality, the date and place of the marriage, and the spouse's maiden name (where applicable). A marriage certificate is especially useful for legal functions like insurance, custody battles, proving identity, and tax purposes.

How Do I Obtain a Copy of My Marriage Certificate?

Residents can obtain copies of marriage certificates by querying the vital records office of the county where the marriage license was issued.

However, while members of the public can obtain marriage records, certified marriage documents are only available to persons who can prove a direct tangible interest in the record or are authorized by a judicial order. To request a marriage certificate from the appropriate record custodian, the requester must provide the following information during a query:

• The full name of the spouse
• The date and place of the marriage
• The purpose of the request
• The contact information of a requester