Québec Marriages - What else you can try
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This page will give you additional guidance and resources to find marriage information for your ancestor. Use this page after first completing the marriage section of the Québec Guided Research page.
Additional Online Resources
Additional Databases and Online Resources
- 1552 onward: Canada, Montréal, Non-Catholic Marriages at MyHeritage ($)
- 1761-1940: Québec City Area, Marriage Contract Index at Ancestry ($)
- 1761-1941: Quebec, Canada, Marriage Contract Index at Ancestry ($)
- 1761-1941: Canada, Quebec, Marriage Records at MyHeritage ($)
- 1766-1899: Montreal, Canada, non-Catholic Marriage Index at Ancestry ($)
- 1782-1961: Canada, Quebec, Catholic Parish Marriages at MyHeritage ($)
Images Only (Browsable Images)
Some collections have not been indexed but are available to browse image by image.
- 1642-1902: Quebec Index to Civil Copy of Church Records at FamilySearch Historical Records
Click the question mark for instructions for how to search Historical Records browsable images when there is no index. - 1763-1967: Quebec, Non-Catholic Parish Registers at FamilySearch Historical Records Click the question mark for instructions for how to search Historical Records browsable images when there is no index.
- Quebec Marriages: Southwest Counties (in French) on the FamilySearch Catalog
To find more church records online, go to the FamilySearch Catalog and search for the smaller jurisdiction (parish, town, or city).
How to Request the Record When It's Not Online
Province-wide registration for marriages started in 1994. Before this, most vital records were copies of church records sent to government archives.
To learn more about record limitations and restrictions, see the article Quebec Vital Records.
To order civil marriage records, contact:
- Directeur de l'état civil
2535 Boulevard Laurier
Québec G1V 5C5
Canada
Phone: 1 418 644-0075
Email: etatcivil@dec.gouv.qc.ca
Website - To learn more about the process of ordering civil records, see Certificates.
NOTE: Marriage records are confidential after 1900. Only a person named on the certificate, immediate family, or a legal representative may order a marriage certificate during this restricted period (see Restrictions for more details).
Substitute Records
Additional Records with Marriage Information
Substitute records may contain information about more than one event and are used when records for an event are not available. Records that are used to substitute for marriage events may not have been created at the time of the marriage. The accuracy of the record is contingent upon when the information was recorded. Search for information in multiple substitute records to confirm the accuracy of these records.
| Use these additional records to locate marriage information about your ancestor: | ||
| Why to search the records | ||
| Wedding announcements and golden anniversaries often appear in newspapers. | ||
| Obituaries include death information. More recent obituaries may also include the name of a surviving spouse and the date and place of the marriage. | ||
| Until the 1990s, vital records were kept by churches (who then sent copies to government archives). Marriage records list the marriage date and the parties involved. In addition, a death or burial record may include a relation, such as spouse. To find the correct church records, first determine the denomination. Many church records are available online (see above section). | ||
| Quebec can be found in Canada censuses from 1871 to 1921. Additionally, Quebec was included in the regional censuses of 1825, 1831, 1842, 1851, and 1861. Census records may list the name and marital status of everyone in the household; however, relationships are not listed until 1891. | ||
| Death records may include the name of the spouse and whether the deceased was married, widowed, or divorced. Click on the link to the left to return to the Death page. | ||
Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
Couples in Quebec may have married outside of their jurisdiction of residence in order to avoid restrictions or procedures imposed there. Popular destinations include:
- Crown Point, Essex, New York
- Ogdensburgh, St. Lawrence, New York
- Niagara Falls, Niagara, New York
- Buffalo, Erie, New York
Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens.
Research Help
Virtual Genealogy Consultations
Schedule a free online consultation with a research specialist:
Ask the Community
Select a community research group where you can ask questions and receive free genealogy help.
Improve Searching
Tips for finding marriages
Successfully finding marriage records in online databases depends on a few key points. Try the following search suggestions:
- Spelling variations. Your ancestor's name may be misspelled. Search with spelling variations for the first and last name of your ancestor.
- Search given name. Search by given name by leaving out the last name.
- Search for bride. Search by the bride’s name rather than the groom’s name.
- Add information. For common names, add more information to narrow the search such as approximate year of marriage or the county the marriage took place in.
- Date range. Expand the date range of the search by 5 years.
- Search province. Search using the province name only instead of by smaller locality.
Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
Couples in Quebec may have married outside of their jurisdiction of residence in order to avoid restrictions or procedures imposed there. Popular destinations include:
- Crown Point, Essex, New York
- Ogdensburgh, St. Lawrence, New York
- Niagara Falls, Niagara, New York
- Buffalo, Erie, New York
Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens.
Why the Record may not Exist
Known Record Gaps
Records Start
- 1679-1993 Vital records were recorded in churches (copies were sent to government archives).
- 1960s Marriages commonly registered with the government without church involvement.
- 1994 Civil registration began.
Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
Couples in Quebec may have married outside of their jurisdiction of residence in order to avoid restrictions or procedures imposed there. Popular destinations include:
- Crown Point, Essex, New York
- Ogdensburgh, St. Lawrence, New York
- Niagara Falls, Niagara, New York
- Buffalo, Erie, New York
Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens.