How to Find Virginia Marriage Records: Difference between revisions

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:<span style="font-size:120%">'''Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's marriage record:'''</span><br>|
{{Block indent|1=<span style="font-size:120%">'''Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's marriage record:'''</span><br>||2=1}}


:<span style="font-size:120%">'''Marriage Records'''</span>
{{Block indent|1=<span style="font-size:120%">'''Marriage Records'''</span>|2=1}}
:<span style="font-size:120%">Choose a time period: </span>  
{{Block indent|1=<span style="font-size:120%">Choose a time period: </span> |2=1}}
:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Virginia Marriage Records#Marriages_Before_1853|Before 1853]]''' </span>
{{Block indent|1=*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Virginia Marriage Records#Marriages_Before_1853|Before 1853]]''' </span>|2=1}}
:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Virginia Marriage Records#Marriages_from_1853_to_Present|1853 to Present]]''' </span>
{{Block indent|1=*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Virginia Marriage Records#Marriages_from_1853_to_Present|1853 to Present]]''' </span>|2=1}}
:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Estimate United States Marriage Information|Marriage year unknown]]'''</span>
{{Block indent|1=*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Estimate United States Marriage Information|Marriage year unknown]]'''</span>|2=1}}


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|Some county marriage records may be available on microfilm at your local [https://www.familysearch.org/centers/locations/?c= Family Search Center]. If you '''know the county and approximate date''' where the marriage took place, use the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog] to see what is available.  
|Some county marriage records may be available on microfilm at your local [https://www.familysearch.org/centers/locations/?c= Family Search Center]. If you '''know the county and approximate date''' where the marriage took place, use the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog] to see what is available.  


:*Search the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog] by county.
{{Block indent|*Search the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog] by county.}}
:*Select the topic Vital Records. Look for records authored by the county clerk.
{{Block indent|*Select the topic Vital Records. Look for records authored by the county clerk.}}
:*Some microfilms may be available to view at a local Family Search Center.
{{Block indent|*Some microfilms may be available to view at a local Family Search Center.}}


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<br> '''PART B: You don't know the exact date or place of marriage'''  
<br> '''PART B: You don't know the exact date or place of marriage'''  


:*If you '''do know the county or independent city of marriage,''' you can request a search for a fee from the [http://www.courts.state.va.us/courts/circuit.html county clerk].
{{Block indent|*If you '''do know the county or independent city of marriage,''' you can request a search for a fee from the [http://www.courts.state.va.us/courts/circuit.html county clerk].}}
:*If you '''don't know the date or county''' of marriage, you can also try searching for marriage information in [[Substitute Records for United States Marriage Information|other records.]]
{{Block indent|*If you '''don't know the date or county''' of marriage, you can also try searching for marriage information in [[Substitute Records for United States Marriage Information|other records.]]}}
<center>[[How to Find Virginia Marriage Records#Finding_Virginia_Marriage_Records|Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year]]</center> <center><br></center>  
<center>[[How to Find Virginia Marriage Records#Finding_Virginia_Marriage_Records|Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year]]</center> <center><br></center>  
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==Wiki Articles==
==Wiki Articles==


:*[[How to Find United States Marriage Records#Tips_about_Searching_United_States_Marriage_Records|Learn more about U.S. marriage records]]
{{Block indent|*[[How to Find United States Marriage Records#Tips_about_Searching_United_States_Marriage_Records|Learn more about U.S. marriage records]]}}
:*[[How to Find United States Birth Records|How to find U.S. birth records]]
{{Block indent|*[[How to Find United States Birth Records|How to find U.S. birth records]]}}
:*[[How to Find United States Marriage Records|How to find U.S. marriage records]]
{{Block indent|*[[How to Find United States Marriage Records|How to find U.S. marriage records]]}}
:*[[How to Find United States Death Records|How to find U.S. death records]]
{{Block indent|*[[How to Find United States Death Records|How to find U.S. death records]]}}
:*[[United States Record Finder|United States Record Finder]]
{{Block indent|*[[United States Record Finder|United States Record Finder]]}}
:*[[United States, How to Use Marriage Records|United States, How to Use Marriage Records]]
{{Block indent|*[[United States, How to Use Marriage Records|United States, How to Use Marriage Records]]}}
:*[[United States Marriage Records|United States Marriage Records]]
{{Block indent|*[[United States Marriage Records|United States Marriage Records]]}}
:*[[United States Vital Records|United States Vital Records]]
{{Block indent|*[[United States Vital Records|United States Vital Records]]}}
:*[[U.S. Vital Records Overview|U.S. Vital Records Overview]]
{{Block indent|*[[U.S. Vital Records Overview|U.S. Vital Records Overview]]}}
:*[[Locating United States Vital Records|Locating United States Vital Records]]
{{Block indent|*[[Locating United States Vital Records|Locating United States Vital Records]]}}


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 16:32, 19 August 2025

Finding Virginia Marriage Records[edit | edit source]

  • 1660 - Colonial government required church officials to record all marriages in church registers (few colonial records survive)
  • 1780 - Law required ministers report all marriages to county clerk
  • 1853 - State law required clerk of the court in the county or independent city to issue marriage licenses and keep marriage records
  • Gretna Greens. When an eloping Virginia couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places like Manassas, Prince William, Virginia, or Howard County, Maryland, or Mount Airy, Surry, North Carolina, or Pike County, Kentucky.[1]
  • Marriage records are restricted for 25 years from the time the event occurred. Only family members may obtain these records.



Tip: More marriage information is usually found on the marriage license application or the marriage register. Less information is found on the marriage certificate.

Next Step: When did the marriage occur? [edit | edit source]
Marriage Records
Choose a time period:

Learn more about U.S. Marriage Records

Marriages Before 1853[edit | edit source]

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

STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information[edit | edit source]
Try these databases.
Marriage information is taken from substitute records such as church records.
Database Name Link or links to access database # of records
Various Counties, Marriage Bonds, 1706-1901 on FamilySearch - index & images
Findmypast, United States Marriages, 1660-1959 On Findmypast ($) index
Ancestry, Marriages, 1660-1800 Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers $, Use your own Ancestry subscription 88,130
Ancestry, Marriages, 1700-1850 Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers $, Use your own Ancestry subscription 33,706
Ancestry, Marriage bonds, 1700s-1824 Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers $, Use your own Ancestry subscription 4,496
Ancestry, Marriages, 1740-1850 Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers $, Use your own Ancestry subscription 337,520
FamilySearch, Marriages, 1771-1943 Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1943, index & images. 37,040
FamilySearch, Marriages, 1785-1940 On FamilySearch, free, incomplete. Also at MyHeritage.com ($). view coverage table
FamilySearch, Marriages, 1853-1935 Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935, index.
Ancestry, Marriages, 1851-1929 Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers $, Use your own Ancestry subscription 29,984
Library of Virginia, Marriages, 1719-1898 On Library of Virginia, free, incomplete, county coverage Undisclosed
FamilySearch, Select Marriages, 1700-1799 On FamilySearch, free, incomplete index Undisclosed
Can't access Ancestry? Visit your local FamilySearch 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.

If you did not find your ancestor in the above indexes, 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 from 1853 to Present[edit | edit source]

STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information[edit | edit source]
Try these databases.
Marriage information is taken from substitute records such as church records.
Database Name Link or links to access database # of records
Findmypast, United States Marriages, 1660-1959 On Findmypast ($) index
FamilySearch, Marriages, 1785-1940 On FamilySearch, free, incomplete, view coverage table 1,219,044
Ancestry, Marriages, 1851-1929 Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers $, Use your own Ancestry subscription 29,984
FamilySearch, Marriages, 1853-1935 Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935, index.
Ancestry, Marriages, 1853-1935 *1853-1935 $, Use your own Ancestry subscription, Index and images
Ancestry, Virginia, Marriage Records, 1936-2014 Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers $, Use your own Ancestry subscription 9,445,507
Library of Virginia, Marriages, 1719-1898 On Library of Virginia, free, incomplete, county coverage Undisclosed
Can't access Ancestry? Visit your local FamilySearch 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.

If you did not find your ancestor in the above indexes, try searching for marriage information in other records.

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


Tip: More marriage information is usually found on the marriage license application or the marriage register. Less information is found on the marriage certificate.


PART A: You know the approximate or exact date and place of marriage from your records or the above indexes

With date and place of marriage,
order a copy of the marriage from one of the following:
Option A: Marriage Records on Microfilm Some county marriage records may be available on microfilm at your local Family Search Center. If you know the county and approximate date where the marriage took place, use the FamilySearch Catalog to see what is available.
*Search the FamilySearch Catalog by county.
*Select the topic Vital Records. Look for records authored by the county clerk.
*Some microfilms may be available to view at a local Family Search Center.
Option B:
Order from the County or City

Order the marriage record for a fee from the county court clerk in the county the marriage took place.

Option C:
Order from the State of Virginia

Order the marriage record for a fee from the Virginia Office of Vital Records.


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

*If you do know the county or independent city of marriage, you can request a search for a fee from the county clerk.
*If you don't know the date or county of marriage, you can also try searching for marriage information in other records.
Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

Wiki Articles[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Arlene H. Eakle, "Have you searched and searched for a marriage without finding it?" in Genealogy Blog at http://www.arleneeakle.com/wordpress/2007/02/19/have-you-searched-and-searched-for-the-marriage-without-finding-it/ (accessed 8 January 2011).
v • d• e
Links to Virginia-related articles (see also West Virginia-related articles)
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Major
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Migration
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