How to Find Rhode Island Marriage Records

Finding Rhode Island Marriage Records

State wide registration of marriages in Rhode Island began in 1853. Earlier marriage records dating back to 1636 were kept by the towns. Some pre-1636 marriage records are available in the following Findmypast collection:

United States Marriages – Rhode Island, 1522-1989 ($) index and some images

If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for marriage information in other records.

1. Look first in	2. Then search
Church Records Newspapers Military Records Obituaries	Census Records Cemetery Records Death Records Bible Records

Next Step: When did the marriage occur?

Marriage Records

Choose a time period:

Marriages 1636 to present
Marriage year unknown

Learn more about U.S. Marriage Records

Marriages 1636 to present

Towns began keeping marriage records as early as 1636. In 1700 the laws concerning vital records registration were made more specific and the records after that time are more complete. State wide registration of marriages began in 1853 and was generally complied with by the 1900s.

For marriages that occurred in this time period try the following databases:

Rhode Island Marriages Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images
Try:
	1724-1916 Rhode Island Marriages- At FamilySearch.org	Free; Rhode Island, Marriages, 1724-1916: Name index to marriage records from the state of Rhode Island. Index only.
Try:
	1522-1989 United States Marriages- At Findmypast.com	($); index and some images
Try:
	1846-1953 Rhode Island Vital Records - At FamilySearch.org	Free; Rhode Island, Vital records, 1846-1898, 1901-1953: Certificates and registers of marriages from the State Archives in Providence.
Try:
	1636-1850 Vital Records of Rhode Island, First Series, Births, Marriages and Deaths: a family register for the people	$ Free at FamilySearch centers; Find your local FamilySearch Center. Index only.
Try;
	1636-1899 Rhode Island, Vital Extracts	$ Free at FamilySearch centers; Find your local FamilySearch Center. Marriage records from Rhode Island counties, church records, newspaper, and military records. Index only.
Try;
	1851-1920 Rhode Island Marriages	$ Free at FamilySearch centers; Find your local FamilySearch Center. Marriage records taken from existing copies of the original records. Index only.

Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No marriage record for your ancestor?		other records.

Obtain the Record

With the approximate marriage date and place, you can locate marriage records available through the city or town where the marriage occurred or from the Rhode Island State Archives.

To Order Marriage Certificates
From Town of the Marriage		Rhode Island State Archives
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	Town websites can be more difficult to use	records 100 years and older have no restrictions	May be more expensive than ordering from the Town

Record Restrictions

There are no restrictions for obtaining a certificate for a marriage that occurred 100 or more years ago.

To obtain a record for a marriage that occurred less than 100 year ago you must be:

person named on the certificate
a member of his/her immediate family
his/her guardian, or an authorized agent of these individuals
Attorneys-at-law, title examiners, or members of legally incorporated genealogical societies conducting their official duties
person requiring information to determine or protect a personal or property right
person who has been granted a court order instructing the registrar to provide the document

If you do not want to order the marriage record, you can search other records with marriage information.

1. Look first in	2. Then search
Church Records Newspapers Military Records Obituaries	Census Records Cemetery Records Death Records Bible Records

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