How to Find Kentucky Marriage Records
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US Vital Records How to Find United States Marriages Kentucky Vital Records Kentucky Marriages
Finding Kentucky Marriage Records
- Marriages are kept by the county clerk for each county and begin at the creation of the county
- 1958 - county clerks began sending copies to the state
Next Step: When did the marriage occur? |
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Learn more about U.S. Marriage Records
Marriages Before 1958
- Marriages are kept by the county clerk for each county and begin at the creation of the county
- University of Kentucky Marriage Index for 1973-1993
- Rootsweb Kentucky Marriage Records, 1973-2000.
- Kentucky Marriage Records Abstracts ($)
- Kentucky, Marriages, 1785-1979 Index only.
- Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954 Index and images.
- Northern Kentucky Marriages, 1795-1850 ($)
- Kentucky Marriages, 1797-1865 Abstracts ($)
- Kentucky Marriages, 1802-1850 Abstracts ($)
- Kentucky Marriages, 1851-1900 Abstracts ($)
- Kentucky, Marriage Records, 1852-1914 Index and images ($)
- Kentucky, Marriage Index, 1973-1999 ($)
- Kentucky, Wills, Deeds, and Marriages, 1700-1909 (Published 1929), ($), index.
If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for marriage information in other records.
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, 1797-1954 | On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years | 184,092 | |
| Ancestry, Marriages, 1852-1914 | Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers | $, Use your own Ancestry subscription | 230,792 |
| If you do not locate the marriage in the above, try: | |||
| Database Name-Index Only | Link or links to access database | # of records | |
| FamilySearch, Marriages, 1785-1979 | On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years | 1,532,533 | |
| Ancestry, Marriages, 1795-1850 | Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers | $, Use your own Ancestry subscription | 7,970 |
| Ancestry, Marriages, 1802-1850 | Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers | $, Use your own Ancestry subscription | 72,640 |
| Ancestry, Marriages, 1851-1900 | Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers | $, Use your own Ancestry subscription | 307,737 |
| 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. |
STEP TWO: Obtain the Record
If you did not find your ancestor in the databases above, 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 clerk.
- 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 clerk.
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 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.
- For a small fee, order the microfilm to view at a local FamilySearch Center.
Marriages 1958 to Present
Online marriage indexes are incomplete for the years 1958 to the present, but are very good for the years 1973 to 2000.
STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information in Index
| Marriage Indexes | |||
| Database Name-Index Only | Link or links to access database | # of records | |
| FamilySearch, Marriages, 1785-1979 | On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years | 1,532,533 | |
| RootsWeb, Marriages, 1973-2000 | On RootsWeb; free | 1,213,864 | |
| Ancestry, Marriages, 1973-1999 | Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers | $, Use your own Ancestry subscription | 2,342,097 |
| Univ. of KY, Marriages, 1973-1993 | On University of Kentucky website; free; date is given in a code: MM/DD/YY | Undisclosed | |
STEP TWO: Obtain the Record
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 clerk or the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics.
- 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
- A copy of a marriage record may be ordered for a fee from the county clerk.
OR
- A copy of a marriage record may be ordered for a fee from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics.
| To Order Marriage Certificates | |||
| From County where Marriage occurred | Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics | ||
| Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons |
| May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state | County websites can be more difficult to use | Expedited service on VitalChek | May be more expensive than ordering from the county |
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