Are Marriage Records Public? How To See Marriage Records Free

Are marriage records public? Marriage records are often considered public records, but it can be tricky when someone wants to know how to see marriage records free.

Although finding a free records search is slightly more difficult than the paid options available, it is possible to search these records at completely no cost.

The first thing to do, if you need to find marriage records (or find out if someone is married), is to perform a matrimonial background investigation, also called a pre-wedding background review.

Keep in mind that no matter the method used, certain state laws can prevent some records of marriage from being found.

How Do I Look Up Marriage Records?

Before embarking on a search for someone’s marriage records, you’ll need to know are marriage records public in each state.

Checking marriage records in the United States is far more difficult than many records that are normally considered public. Unlike most court records such as tax or criminal records, marriage records are not always considered public information.

Each state and even county will have different laws regarding if marriage records are public, which agency maintains the marriage records, and who has access to the records. This poses several major problems when it comes to trying to figure out if someone is married.

Court and Vital Records Search

Normally, there are two main methods for locating public records. The first is to go through the agency in charge of the record and make a records request. For example, those interested in learning about a specific individual’s criminal history information only need to contact the court where any criminal proceedings would have taken place and make a request with the court clerk using the name of the individual.

For a small fee, all relevant court documents would be given to the individual that requested the documents provided that none of them were sealed or expunged. However, for marriage certificates, vital records agencies generally hold those documents.

Each state’s laws about whether or not marriage records are public are different. This means that should an individual make a request using the name of the individual, even if that individual was married and the marriage license was filed at that courthouse, there is a strong possibility that these documents will not be returned.

If the state that the marriage would have taken place in is known, then going the court records search approach is probably the most reliable. Be sure to check the marriage record laws in your state first, to avoid paying money for a search that yields no results, the court clerk will be able to share information on what records are public in your state.

Use the list below to search for state vital records to get started.

Background Check Service

Since going directly through the courts is unreliable when it comes to marriage records, many individuals may think of going through a private background check service. Many background check services offer to find marriage and divorce records for a fee. Often, when these searches are performed and no results are returned, many people will come to the conclusion that that is because no marriage license exists. However, this is not always the truth.

Private background check services won’t have access to more information than the average person unless they are FCRA certified and consent and an SSN are provided.³ The majority of these services will only ask for a first and last name because they do not legally have access to these private databases and are only searching public databases.

In the case of marriage licenses the same court databases will be searched, once again resulting in no documents being returned.

Although the results can be unreliable, performing a free search is a solid option as there is little to be lost if no results are returned. Many background check services will offer free trials or single searches for free. Keep in mind that if no results are found regarding someone’s marriage status this doesn’t guarantee that they are not married because they may have been married in a state with non-public marriage licenses.

Marriage Records Using Vital Records

Another option that may seem appealing is searching through vital records for evidence of a marriage. Although marriage licenses are filed with the courts, marriage, and divorce records are also considered vital records. The exact agency in charge of vital records in each state varies but it is usually the state health department or a similar agency.

Unfortunately, vital records are not a great source of marriage record information. In general marriage and divorce, vital records can only be requested by those named in the marriage or divorce and in some cases the adult children of the named parties.

Confidential Marriage License

Another thing to consider when trying to locate a marriage record is that some states offer what are known as confidential marriage licenses. Despite being associated with a California law used by famous people, several states that normally make marriage licenses public information will allow individuals to file a confidential marriage license.

This is exactly as it sounds, the marriage is kept secret and the records of it will only be accessible by those involved in the marriage.

How To Find Out If Someone Is Married

Most people asking “are marriage records public,” may be frustrated to find how many different laws can make this question difficult to answer.

Although going through official records to find out if someone is married can be a frustrating endeavor, there are other indirect methods that may be worth a try. This can be especially useful for those who are trying to find out more information about someone they met online or in other situations where the person could potentially be lying about their identity.

One method that can be effective is performing a social media profile investigation on someone. These days many people will have secret social media accounts that they keep separate from their main social accounts.

Many private background check services specialize in locating social media profiles that are private or otherwise hidden. Locating these social media accounts can shed light on any discrepancies and some offer free trials for background screening reports.

How To Check Marriage Records for Free

Using a private background check to check marriage records for free is likely the best course of action for most people. This will give individuals the best chance of uncovering marriage licenses from anywhere in the country, as opposed to going through court records which will only have records for that particular court.

Find Public Marriage Records (Are Marriage Records Public From the Last Century?)

Although current marriage licenses may be difficult to locate if not impossible, Individuals who are trying to find historical marriage information will have different options available. In most states marriage, divorce, and other vital records are considered public information if the records themselves are old enough.

The cut-off date will vary depending on the state; some states will allow access to vital records that occurred before 1950 or before 1900 in some cases. This can be useful for individuals who are trying to find information on deceased relatives or other similar pursuits.

Various agencies will be in charge of maintaining historical records, such as the State Historical Society or even the Department of Health. For example in Kansas, vital records can be requested from before 1911 through the Kansas Historical Society.¹

How To Get a Copy of Marriage Certificate

Many people are interested in knowing, are marriage records public, because they need to obtain a copy of a marriage certificate.

Obtaining a copy of a marriage certificate is an extremely easy process in most states, assuming the individual requesting the copy is one of the parties involved in the marriage. Although a marriage license and a marriage certificate are two different documents (A license being issued to the couple by the courts and the certificate being a document that acts as the vital record for a marriage) They both fall under the privacy laws that make marriages confidential information in many states.

A marriage certificate is usually considered a vital record and should be held by each state’s vital records office, usually the Department of Health. Each state will have slightly different methods to request a copy but for the most part, the following steps should work in almost all states.

Step 1: Access the Vital Records Office Website

Most vital records offices will have their own website that will have information on how to request different kinds of records.

Example: To find information on vital records requests in Colorado, simply access the website of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.²

Step 2: Submit a Records Request

In most cases, simply following the onscreen prompts will allow individuals to make vital records requests completely online. This will either be done by entering basic contact and payment information with the records office, or by entering the same information with a third-party records provider such as Vitalchek.

Are Divorce Records Public?

Divorce records will follow the same laws as marriage records; in some states they are public and in others, they are not. Generally, the states that do not consider marriage licenses and information to be public, will also include divorce records as well.

If wondering how to uncover divorce dates without fees, simply use the same methods used to find marriage records such as court records or a private background check service.

Finding public records is relatively easy when it comes to things like criminal records or tax records. However many states view marriage license records as being confidential and will only allow involved parties to request the information. Although the answer to the question, are marriage records public, is often ‘no,” there are still a few other ways to find marriage information.

Frequently Asked Questions About Are Marriage Records Public