How to Find New Jersey Marriage Records

How To Find U.S. Marriage Records How To Find New Jersey Marriage Records

Finding New Jersey Marriage Records

• Statewide registration of marriages began in 1848; earlier records have been collected from other sources.
• Records before 1912 are kept at the New Jersey State Archives.
• From 1913 to the present, marriage records are kept at the New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics.
• Records from 1848 to the present are also kept by the local registrars for individual counties; however, many local pre-1910 records have not survived.

Next Step: When did the marriage occur?	Marriage Records Choose a time period: Before 1848 1848 thru 1912 1913 to Present Marriage year unknown

Learn more about U.S. Marriage Records Marriages Before 1848 Statewide registration of marriages began in 1848; earlier records have been collected from other sources. Records before 1912 are kept at the New Jersey State Archives. Marriage Indexes and Digital Images Database Name - Index and Image Link or links to access database # of records FamilySearch, Marriages, 1682-1956 On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years; due to contract restrictions, images from some counties may not be viewed. 300,071 If you do not locate the marriage in the above, try: Database Name-Index Only Link or links to access database # of records NJ State Archives, Marriage Index, 1665-1799 1665-1799 at New Jersey State Archives; free index; $ to order copies. 23,064 Ancestry, Marriages, 1665-1800 Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers $, Use your own Ancestry subscription 27,582 FamilySearch, Marriage Index, 1678-1985 On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years; due to privacy laws, recent records may not be displayed. 802,437 Ancestry, Marriages, 1683-1802 Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers $, Use your own Ancestry subscription 26,952 Ancestry, Marriages, 1684-1895 Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers $, Use your own Ancestry subscription 48,711 Can't access Ancestry? Visit your local Family History Center or your local public library. No marriage record for your ancestor? Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases above, 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 Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year Marriages 1848 thru 1912 Statewide registration of marriages began in 1848 Records before 1912 are kept at the New Jersey State Archives Records from 1848 to the present are also kept by the Local Registrars for individual counties; however, many local pre-1910 records have not survived STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information in Index Marriage Indexes and Digital Images Database Name - Index and Image Link or links to access database # of records FamilySearch, Marriages, 1682-1956 On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years; due to contract restrictions, images from some counties may not be viewed. 300,071 If you do not locate the marriage in the above, try: Database Name-Index Only Link or links to access database # of records NJ State Archives, Marriage Index, 1848-1878 1848-1878 at New Jersey State Archives; free index; marriages filed with the Secretary of State from May 1848 through 31 May 1878. 294,534 FamilySearch, Marriage Index, 1678-1985 On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years; due to privacy laws, recent records may not be displayed. 802,437 Ancestry, Marriages, 1684-1895 Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers $, Use your own Ancestry subscription 48,711 Can't access Ancestry? Visit your local Family History Center or your local public library. No marriage record for your ancestor? Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. Search other records with marriage information. STEP TWO: Obtain the Record 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 county registrar or the New Jersey State Archives. 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 county registrar or the New Jersey State Archives. OR View a copy of a marriage record on microfilm at a Family Search Center: 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 1913 to Present STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information in Index Marriage Indexes and Digital Images Database Name - Index and Image Link or links to access database # of records FamilySearch, Marriages, 1682-1956 On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years; due to contract restrictions, images from some counties may not be viewed. 300,071 If you do not locate the marriage in the above, try: Database Name-Index Only Link or links to access database # of records FamilySearch, Marriage Index, 1678-1985 On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years; due to privacy laws, recent records may not be displayed. 802,437 Can't access Ancestry? Visit your local Family History Center or your local public library. No marriage record for your ancestor? Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. Search other records with marriage information. STEP TWO: Obtain the Record PART A: You know the exact date and place of marriage from your records or the above indexes. Marriage records may be requested from the New Jersey Department of Health OR the County Registrar where the marriage occurred. For genealogical purposes, the marriage must have taken place more than 50 years ago and both parties must be deceased. Otherwise, proof of relationship is required to obtain the record. To Order Marriage Certificates Local County Registrar New Jersey Department of Health 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 an additional fee May be more expensive than ordering from the county PART B: You don't know the exact date or place of marriage If you know the county of marriage, you can request a search for the marriage date for a fee from the Local County Registrar and the New Jersey Department of Health. If you don't know the date or county of marriage, you can try searching for marriage information in other records. Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year Wiki Articles Learn more about U.S. marriage records How to find U.S. birth records How to find U.S. marriage records How to find U.S. death records United States Record Selection Table United States, How to Use Marriage Records United States Marriage Records United States Vital Records U.S. Vital Records Overview Locating United States Vital Records