How to Find Mississippi Marriage Records: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:41, 1 July 2013

How To Find U.S. Marriage Records How To Find Mississippi Marriage Records

Finding Mississippi Marriage Records[edit | edit source]

Marriages are kept by the circuit clerk for each county and usually begin at the creation of the county
1926 - duplicate copies of the marriages were required to be sent to the state

Next Step: When did the marriage occur? [edit \| edit source]		Marriage Records Choose a time period: Before 1926 1926 to Present Marriage year unknown

Learn more about U.S. Marriage Records

Marriages Before 1926[edit | edit source]

Marriages are kept by the circuit clerk for each county and usually begin at the creation of the county

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

For marriages that exist during the time period, try the following databases. Try each link.

Mississippi Marriage Databases - Index Only
	1776-1935 At Ancestry.com	Ancestry Library edition - free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center; Images of records available at FamilySearch Centers - see below
Use Your Ancestry Subscription:
	1776-1935 at Ancestry.com	Ancestry subscription - $, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry
	To 1825 At Ancestry.com	Ancestry Library edition - free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center; Images of records available at FamilySearch Centers - see below
Use Your Ancestry Subscription:
	To 1825 at Ancestry.com	Ancestry subscription - $, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry
	1826-1900 At Ancestry.com	Ancestry Library edition - free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center; Images of records available at FamilySearch Centers - see below
Use Your Ancestry Subscription:
	1826-1900 at Ancestry.com	Ancestry subscription - $, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry
	1826-1850 At Ancestry.com	Ancestry Library edition - free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center; Images of records available at FamilySearch Centers - see below
Use Your Ancestry Subscription:
	1826-1850 at Ancestry.com	Ancestry subscription - $, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry
	1800-1911 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; Index only; Images of records available at FamilySearch Centers - see below


Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No marriage record for your ancestor?		Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. Other records with marriage information

Found the index but not the image of the marriage?
Some images of county marriage records may be available on microfilm at your local Family Search Center. If you know the approximate date and county where the marriage took place, use the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) to see what is available.

Search the FHLC by county.
Select the topic Vital Records. Look for records authored by the county clerk.
For a small fee, order the microfilm to view at a local FamilySearch Center.

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

Marriages 1926 to Present[edit | edit source]

1926 - duplicate copies of the marriages were required to be sent to the state
There is a gap in the state records from June 30, 1938 to January 1, 1942 - write to circuit court clerks in the appropriate county for these years

STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information in Index[edit | edit source]

Some marriage indexes after 1926 are found in the following databases.

West Virginia Deaths Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images
Try 1st:
	1853-1970 - At West Virginia Division of Culture and History	Free; dates vary by county: some start before 1853 or do not go to 1970; list of database county coverage (right side of the screen)on WV website
Try 2nd:
	1853-1970 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; dates vary by county: some start before 1853 or do not go to 1970; list of database county coverage (right side of the screen)on WV website; click on "view partner website" to see a copy of the image


Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No marriage record for your ancestor?		Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. Other records with marriage information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate[edit | edit source]

If you did not find your ancestor in the above database, follow the instructions below:

PART A: You don't know the exact date or place of marriage

If you know the county of marriage, you can request a search for a fee from the circuit court clerk.
If you don't know the county or date of marriage, you can request a 5-year search for free from the Mississippi State Department of Health office.
If you don't know the date or county of marriage, you can also try searching for marriage information in other records.

PART B: You know the exact date and place of marriage from your records

Order a copy of a marriage record for a fee from the circuit clerk.

OR

Order a copy of a marriage record for a fee from the Mississippi State Department of Health office.

To Order Marriage Certificates
From County of Marriage		From MS State Dept. of Health office
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use	Offers a search of the state index for free	May be more expensive than ordering from the county