Marriage Records: Types and Where to Look

The two kinds of marriage records mandated by US civil laws are the marriage license and the marriage register.

Marriage Records: Marriage License

The marriage license is basically a permit the state issues to its citizens, which allows them to be married. Before the marriage ceremony, the couple must apply with the appropriate civil authority. This public official is normally a Clerk of the county, town or district where the marriage will take place.

The data in a marriage license usually includes the following:

- Names of couple

- Ages / birthdays

- Home addresses

- Races

- Professions

- Info on parents (names, sometimes birthplaces)

The marriage license should be presented to the person who will officiate the marriage.

In the US, it doesn't take very long to get a marriage license (waiting period ranges from 0 to six days). Some countries, like Brazil, have a waiting period of two months!

Although blood tests are no longer required in most US states, some areas may still require it. Expiration dates for marriage licenses also vary.

Marriage Records: Marriage Register

The marriage register is a record book kept by the Clerk. After the marriage ceremony is completed, the marriage license should be fully signed by the couple, witnesses, and official/s.

Then, the marriage license should be given back to the Clerk who issued the license form. The Clerk then records the info in the marriage register.

The data in a marriage license usually includes the following:

- Names of Couple

- Marriage place and date

- Name of person who officiated

The marriage register is the surest proof that a marriage did take place. By itself, the marriage license is not sufficient evidence, as couples sometimes applied for it but never pushed through with the actual ceremony.

What happens after an entry is made in the register is that the couple or the official files for a Certified Copy of Marriage License, as proof that a marriage indeed took place.

Marriage records also include marriage certificates, which are the documents that are usually framed.

Marriage Records: Difficulties With Access

Marriage records are available for inspection to the general public. Any difficulty with access will probably come from the fact that Internet access may be restricted in some areas.

Although some statewide indexes are searchable online, some may require you to write the Clerk in the county or district where the marriage took place.

Also, older marriage records may not be kept at any state-level archive.

Most US states didn't start keeping vital records until the close of the 19^th century. The first state to implement statewide record keeping was New Hampshire in 1640. The last was Colorado, which started its state vital records only in 1968.

The kind of information contained in older marriage records may vary widely, with older ones tending to be less descriptive.

Aside from town or county registries, possible places to look for older marriage records are:

- Church or clergyman's books

- Baptismal records (to which marriage records were sometimes attached as baptisms were occasionally regarded as more important)

- Historical societies or archives

- Town or county libraries

Further information about the marriage certificate can be found at RecordsSiteReviews’ Marriage Records page.