How to Find United States Marriage Records: Difference between revisions

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| valign="top" align="left" |  
| valign="top" align="left" |  
*[[How to Find Alabama Marriage Records|Alabama]] 
*[[How to Find Alabama Marriage Records|Alabama]]
*[[How to Find Alaska Marriage Records|Alaska]] 
*[[How to Find Alaska Marriage Records|Alaska]]
*[[How to Find Arizona Marriage Records|Arizona]] 
*[[How to Find Arizona Marriage Records|Arizona]]
*[[How to Find Arkansas Marriage Records|Arkansas]] 
*[[How to Find Arkansas Marriage Records|Arkansas]]
*[[How to Find California Marriage Records|California]] 
*[[How to Find California Marriage Records|California]]
*[[How to Find Colorado Marriage Records|Colorado]] 
*[[How to Find Colorado Marriage Records|Colorado]]
*[[How to Find Connecticut Marriage Records|Connecticut]] 
*[[How to Find Connecticut Marriage Records|Connecticut]]
*[[How to Find Delaware Marriage Records|Delaware]] 
*[[How to Find Delaware Marriage Records|Delaware]]
*[[How to Find District of Columbia Marriage Records|District of Columbia]] 
*[[How to Find District of Columbia Marriage Records|District of Columbia]]
*[[How to Find Florida Marriage Records|Florida]] 
*[[How to Find Florida Marriage Records|Florida]]
*[[How to Find Georgia Marriage Records|Georgia]] 
*[[How to Find Georgia Marriage Records|Georgia]]
*[[How to Find Hawaii Marriage Records|Hawaii]] 
*[[How to Find Hawaii Marriage Records|Hawaii]]
*[[How to Find Idaho Marriage Records|Idaho]] 
*[[How to Find Idaho Marriage Records|Idaho]]
*[[How to Find Illinois Marriage Records|Illinois]] 
*[[How to Find Illinois Marriage Records|Illinois]]
*[[How to Find Indiana Marriage Records|Indiana]] 
*[[How to Find Indiana Marriage Records|Indiana]]
*[[How to Find Iowa Marriage Records|Iowa]] 
*[[How to Find Iowa Marriage Records|Iowa]]
*[[How to Find Kansas Marriage Records|Kansas]]
*[[How to Find Kansas Marriage Records|Kansas]]


| valign="top" align="left" |  
| valign="top" align="left" |  
*[[How to Find Kentucky Marriage Records|Kentucky]] 
*[[How to Find Kentucky Marriage Records|Kentucky]]
*[[How to Find Louisiana Marriage Records|Louisiana]] 
*[[How to Find Louisiana Marriage Records|Louisiana]]
*[[How to Find Maine Marriage Records|Maine]] 
*[[How to Find Maine Marriage Records|Maine]]
*[[How to Find Maryland Marriage Records|Maryland]] 
*[[How to Find Maryland Marriage Records|Maryland]]
*[[How to Find Massachusetts Marriage Records|Massachusetts]] 
*[[How to Find Massachusetts Marriage Records|Massachusetts]]
*[[How to Find Michigan Marriage Records|Michigan]]  
*[[How to Find Michigan Marriage Records|Michigan]]  
*[[How to Find Minnesota Marriage Records|Minnesota]] 
*[[How to Find Minnesota Marriage Records|Minnesota]]
*[[How to Find Mississippi Marriage Records|Mississippi]] 
*[[How to Find Mississippi Marriage Records|Mississippi]]
*[[How to Find Missouri Marriage Records|Missouri]] 
*[[How to Find Missouri Marriage Records|Missouri]]
*[[How to Find Montana Marriage Records|Montana]] 
*[[How to Find Montana Marriage Records|Montana]]
*[[How to Find Nebraska Marriage Records|Nebraska]] 
*[[How to Find Nebraska Marriage Records|Nebraska]]
*[[How to Find Nevada Marriage Records|Nevada]] 
*[[How to Find Nevada Marriage Records|Nevada]]
*[[How to Find New Hampshire Marriage Records|New Hampshire]] 
*[[How to Find New Hampshire Marriage Records|New Hampshire]]
*[[How to Find New Jersey Marriage Records|New Jersey]] 
*[[How to Find New Jersey Marriage Records|New Jersey]]
*[[How to Find New Mexico Marriage Records|New Mexico]] 
*[[How to Find New Mexico Marriage Records|New Mexico]]
*[[How to Find New York Marriage Records|New York]] 
*[[How to Find New York Marriage Records|New York]]
*[[How to Find North Carolina Marriage Records|North Carolina]]<br>
*[[How to Find North Carolina Marriage Records|North Carolina]]<br>


| valign="top" align="left" | &nbsp;
| valign="top" align="left" |  
*[[How to Find North Dakota Marriage Records|North Dakota]]&nbsp;
*[[How to Find North Dakota Marriage Records|North Dakota]]
*[[How to Find Ohio Marriage Records|Ohio]]&nbsp;
*[[How to Find Ohio Marriage Records|Ohio]]
*[[How to Find Oklahoma Marriage Records|Oklahoma]]&nbsp;
*[[How to Find Oklahoma Marriage Records|Oklahoma]]
*[[How to Find Oregon Marriage Records|Oregon]]&nbsp;
*[[How to Find Oregon Marriage Records|Oregon]]
*[[How to Find Pennsylvania Marriage Records|Pennsylvania]]&nbsp;
*[[How to Find Pennsylvania Marriage Records|Pennsylvania]]
*[[How to Find Rhode Island Marriage Records|Rhode Island]]&nbsp;
*[[How to Find Rhode Island Marriage Records|Rhode Island]]
*[[How to Find South Carolina Marriage Records|South Carolina]]&nbsp;
*[[How to Find South Carolina Marriage Records|South Carolina]]
*[[How to Find South Dakota Marriage Records|South Dakota]]&nbsp;
*[[How to Find South Dakota Marriage Records|South Dakota]]
*[[How to Find Tennessee Marriage Records|Tennessee]]&nbsp;
*[[How to Find Tennessee Marriage Records|Tennessee]]
*[[How to Find Texas Marriage Records|Texas]]&nbsp;
*[[How to Find Texas Marriage Records|Texas]]
*[[How to Find Utah Marriage Records|Utah]]&nbsp;
*[[How to Find Utah Marriage Records|Utah]]
*[[How to Find Vermont Marriage Records|Vermont]]&nbsp;
*[[How to Find Vermont Marriage Records|Vermont]]
*[[How to Find Virginia Marriage Records|Virginia]]&nbsp;
*[[How to Find Virginia Marriage Records|Virginia]]
*[[How to Find Washington Marriage Records|Washington]]&nbsp;
*[[How to Find Washington Marriage Records|Washington]]
*[[How to Find West Virginia Marriage Records|West Virginia]]&nbsp;
*[[How to Find West Virginia Marriage Records|West Virginia]]
*[[How to Find Wisconsin Marriage Records|Wisconsin]]&nbsp;
*[[How to Find Wisconsin Marriage Records|Wisconsin]]
*[[How to Find Wyoming Marriage Records|Wyoming]]<br>
*[[How to Find Wyoming Marriage Records|Wyoming]]<br>


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| width="25%" | <center>'''Y'''es or '''M'''aybe '''⇒'''</center>
| width="25%" | <center>'''Y'''es or '''M'''aybe '''⇒'''</center>
| width="3%" |&nbsp;'''Y'''
| width="3%" | '''Y'''
| width="3%" |&nbsp;'''M'''
| width="3%" | '''M'''
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| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFE3B8" | Date of Marriage or License
| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFE3B8" | Date of Marriage or License
| width="3%" | {{Green check}}   
| width="3%" | {{Green check}}   
| width="3%" | &nbsp;
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| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFEDA3" | Names of Bride and Groom
| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFEDA3" | Names of Bride and Groom
| width="3%" | {{Green check}}  
| width="3%" | {{Green check}}  
| width="3%" | &nbsp;
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| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFE3B8" | Ages  
| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFE3B8" | Ages  
| width="3%" | {{Green check}}
| width="3%" | {{Green check}}
| width="3%" | &nbsp;
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| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFEDA3" | Birth Places  
| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFEDA3" | Birth Places  
| width="3%" | {{Green check}}  
| width="3%" | {{Green check}}  
| width="3%" | &nbsp;
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| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFE3B8" | Residences  
| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFE3B8" | Residences  
| width="3%" | {{Green check}}  
| width="3%" | {{Green check}}  
| width="3%" | &nbsp;
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| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFEDA3" | Names of Parents
| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFEDA3" | Names of Parents
| width="3%" | &nbsp;
| width="3%" |
| width="3%" | {{Green check}}  
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| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFE3B8" | Husband's Occupation
| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFE3B8" | Husband's Occupation
| width="3%" | &nbsp;
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| width="3%" | {{Green check}}   
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| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFEDA3" | Witnesses
| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFEDA3" | Witnesses
| width="3%" | {{Green check}}   
| width="3%" | {{Green check}}   
| width="3%" | &nbsp;
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| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFE3B8" | Minister or Officiator
| width="25%" bgcolor="#FFE3B8" | Minister or Officiator
| width="3%" | {{Green check}}   
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| width="3%" | &nbsp;
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Latest revision as of 16:52, 17 October 2023

Start Here: Where Did the Marriage Occur?[edit | edit source]

To find a marriage record, choose the state where the marriage occurred:

What if you don't know the state? — Go to How to Estimate Marriage Information

Tips about Searching United States Marriage Records[edit | edit source]

Marriage Records reveal
Yes or Maybe ⇒
 Y M
Date of Marriage or License Green check.png
Names of Bride and Groom Green check.png
Ages Green check.png
Birth Places Green check.png
Residences Green check.png
Names of Parents Green check.png
Husband's Occupation Green check.png
Witnesses Green check.png
Minister or Officiator Green check.png
  • Some couples were married in locations away from their home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. See the wiki page Gretna Greens.
  • Most marriages are recorded on the county level.
  • Most counties began recording marriages when the county was formed.
  • Many counties forward marriage records to state agencies.
  • Marriages recorded by state-level agencies vary widely by date and availability.
  • Some marriages may only be found in church records.
Tip
 Search all types of documents that exist for a marriage, since information on them will vary.

Frequently Asked Questions about United States Marriage Records[edit | edit source]

How do I find my ancestor’s marriage record?

  1. Use the Finding US Marriage Records wiki page
  2. Check online indexes and digital images
  3. Check repositories, such as archives and libraries (FS Library)
  4. Obtain certificate from the government agency ($$)


Why would I want to search for a marriage record?

  • May give the exact date and place where the couple was married
  • May indicate date and/or place of birth for bride and groom
  • May list names and birthplaces of the bride’s and groom’s parents


What information does a marriage record include?
State and county officials followed different laws when gathering marriage information. Usually the following was included:

  • Names of the bride and groom
  • Where the bride and groom were married.

Some records also contain:

  • Bride and groom's age at the time of marriage
  • Residence of the bride and groom
  • Birth date and/or place of the bride and groom
  • Names of parents
  • Birthplaces of parents
  • Occupation
  • Marital status of bride and groom--single, widowed, divorced

More information about US Marriage Records can be found on United States Vital Records wiki page.

Questions to Ask About Marriage Records[edit | edit source]

  • Are records available for the dates when I would expect my ancestor to be getting married?
  • Is the marriage database complete? Does it include all counties in the state?
  • Does the marriage database contain images to the records which I can see online?
  • Is the marriage database an index only? Will I need to order a film to see the original marriage record?
  • Have I looked beyond the marriage date and names of the bride and groom for more family information that the record may contain?
  • Is there more than one type of marriage record in the county? Does an additional county marriage record contain more information about my family?

Learn more about U.S. Marriage Records

v • d• e
Links to United States-related articles
Topics
States
Territories
Major
Repositories
Migration
Routes
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