Written by Background Check Repair
Background Checks | November 28, 2022
Table of Contents
There are several ways to conduct a free marriage license records search, but some ways are better than others.
Since marriage records can be somewhat ‘private,’ understanding state law about how a marriage license search can be used is crucial for keeping the search legal.
A marriage is a legal contract that binds two people together, and a marriage record is a document that proves the marriage occurred. Local authorities, religious institutions, or the government preserve this record or document for a variety of reasons.
Older records are usually stored in state archives, while the most recent ones can be found in various states’ Departments of Vital Statistics agencies and other health databases.
In order to find U.S. marriage records legally, anyone can simply use a free, name based background check tool.
This guide explains the free marriage license records search options available that comply with privacy regulations.
In the US, State laws require that these records be kept and maintained in civil records. In the US and many places over the world, marriage is a public covenant, and the people recording it do it in a variety of ways.
The clerk of the county, town, or district where the marriage occurred is the one responsible for storing this record.
Marriage records can either show intention to marry or records of the marriage ceremony. Records that indicate intent to marry include:
Traditionally, banns are announced in front of a congregation, and intentions are the notices that local civil authorities present and post in a public place for a specific period. These records are stored by the town clerk or minister in registers.
This bond is given to the official or minister who will perform the ceremony then it will be presented to the county or town clerk. These documents were standard in the mid-1800s in the Middle-Atlantic and southern states.
Licenses and applications contain the most information, including but not limited to: residence, ages, and names of the two parties. The parties present the license to the officiant of the marriage, who will then return it to the town or county clerk.
Several records document a marriage ceremony and these are the records that are used in a marriage background check, premarital background check and other level 1 and level 2 background checks. It’s most likely that the couple will marry not long after they have announced their intention. A marriage can be conducted by:
Records that document a marriage include:
An interested party can get marriage records in three ways: through the CDC, Clerk of Court, or online.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention4(CDC) provides various platforms through which interested parties can access marriage records as well as other vital records.1 The CDC platform is very user-friendly and contains a list of all the states. The interested party only needs to look into the state that they require.
The CDC charges a fee ranging from $10 to $25, depending on the type of document you are looking for. Once the interested party has chosen the state, the website will provide a summary of the documents available and the fees involved.
The CDC also provides information on marriages that occur abroad. If an interested party wants to find information on marriage records of citizens of the US that happened outside the country, they should look through the CDC website or submit a request to the address provided.
An interested party can also acquire a certified copy of a divorce decree or marriage license through the Clerk of Court in the county where the divorce or marriage was issued. However, if the party does not know the county where the marriage was conducted, they may perform a different search. For example, in the state of Indiana, the party will search on the following platforms:
If the individual goes to the court where the marriage was issued, they can read the whole marriage records for free. However, the Clerk of Courts will charge a specific fee for certified copies or duplicates of marriage certificates.
Criminal records, Arrest warrants, and divorce records are also other records that the clerk of courts will provide.2
Most courthouses have online platforms where an interested party can request marriage records. Some of these platforms are free, while others require a fee to search. Additionally, they will charge a fee for handing out hard copies, and the interested party will be solely responsible for any shipping expenses.
Besides the CDC and online courthouse platforms, there are several ways through which interested parties can obtain free marriage license records online. These methods include:
These offices issue marriage license records as well as copies of certified marriage details to anyone authorized by the law. It’s important to note that though most vital records offices perform this service, some offices like the Office of Vital Records in Minnesota do not have records of marriages.
Additionally, each state has a website containing marriage indexes or records available to the public. However, though marriage records are public information, the court will limit the protect the person’s private information.
Several companies out there are willing to obtain vital records from the state for an individual at a certain fee. Some even do it for free. Moreover, a few states outsource the distribution of vital records to third parties as they do not have the resources to accommodate the thousands of document requests they receive regularly.
The advantage of third-party websites is that they do all the leg work, and the interested party will not need to contact or visit state agencies. The search results are determined by the amount of information provided.
Anyone who knows the names of the spouses, date, and county where the marriage took place can view marriage records for free at the courthouse clerk’s office. Even so, most states do not consider certified marriage records as public records; therefore, this information may not be provided to everyone.
Anyone requesting certified marriage records such as a marriage certificate should either be a party to the marriage or authorized by the law. The authorized people include but are not limited to:
Certified marriage records are often restricted, but this is not always the case.3 A few state governments do not have any limitations on who can access these records. If the interested party provides enough information to facilitate the marriage license search and pay the appropriate fee, they can get a certified copy of the marriage record.
A certified marriage record is a legal proof that two people are married, and it’s needed for various occasions. Many social and legal benefits come with being married, which require proof of the marriage. They include:
A certified marriage record is required when a person who just got married wants to alter their last name to the spouse’s name on their social security card, ID cards, banks, and tax documents.
The government will only recognize marriage as legitimate if the parties provide a certificate of marriage. This is even more crucial for financial investigations like purchasing property, filing taxes, and filing for loans.
When filing immigration documents, a certified marriage certificate is essential. This is especially true for those who want to apply for a green card for marriage in the Citizenship and Immigration Service8 office.
Lastly, parties will need certified marriage records when they apply for letters of administration. These documents grant a spouse individual rights to the property of their deceased partner.
In the US, anyone who wants to change their name after marriage should first get a court order or marriage certificate. The next step is to inform the US Department of State and the Social security Administration of the name change.
The party will then have to apply for updated identification documents such as state-issued identification and driver’s license. Lastly, the party will have to inform all relevant agencies, including financial institutions, places of work, and utility providers.
Marriage records costs vary according to the information needed, the platform used for the search, and the location where the marriage record is stored. Interested parties will find the fees displayed on the online platforms when requesting these documents.
A few online platforms will ask the interested party to register and pay a subscription fee and then provide any online public record for free. Most states have statistics organizations and departments and centralized marriage records that offer easy access.
The best way to find the cost of procuring a certified or uncertified copy of a marriage record is to contact the state vital records office. In most cases, the certified copies of marriage records are the ones that require the most expense. Any additional copies or uncertified copies are usually very cheap, or sometimes they are even free.
An interested party will need to provide some or all of the information below to conduct a free marriage license record search:
In several states, requesters must complete request forms and pay the necessary fees to obtain marriage records. The forms vary from state to state, each requiring specific information.
The following table will provide links to public marriage records across various states and where to conduct marriage license searches.
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Alabama? Alabama CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Alabama? Marriage Certificates | Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Alaska? Alaska CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Alaska? Division of Public Health |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Arizona? Arizona CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Arizona? Arizona Marriage Records Search |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Arkansas? Arkansas CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Arkansas? The administrative office of the courts |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records California? California CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search California? Superior Court |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Colorado? Colorado CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Colorado? Searching Vital Records | Department of Public Health & Environment |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Connecticut? Connecticut CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Connecticut? Marriage and Civil Union Certificates |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Delaware? Delaware CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search, Delaware? Certificates – Guides to Services – State of Delaware |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Florida? Florida CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search in Florida? Marriage | Florida Department of Health |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Georgia? Georgia CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Georgia? Georgia Marriage Records Search |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Hawaii? Hawaii CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Hawaii? Vital Records | Marriage and Civil Union Licenses |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Idaho? Idaho CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Idaho? Marriage | The Official Website of the State of Idaho |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Illinois? Illinois CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Illinois? Marriage Records |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Indiana? Indiana CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search, Indiana? Health: Vital Records: Marriages |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Iowa? Iowa CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Iowa? Vital Records – Home |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Kansas? Kansas CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Kansas? KS Courts – Marriage License Application FAQs |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Kentucky? Kentucky CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Kentucky? Marriage and Divorce Certificates – Cabinet for Health and Family Services |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Louisiana? Louisiana CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Louisiana? Louisiana Marriage Records Search |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Maine? Maine CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Maine? Residents: Getting Married in Maine |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Maryland? Maryland CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search, Maryland? Marriage License Information | Maryland Courts |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Massachusetts? Massachusetts CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Massachusetts? Registry of Vital Records and Statistics | Mass.gov |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Michigan? Michigan CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Michigan? Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Minnesota? Minnesota CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Minnesota? Marriage certificates and divorce decrees – Minnesota Dept. of Health |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Mississippi? Mississippi CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Mississippi? Marriage Records – Mississippi State Department of Health |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Missouri? Missouri CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Missouri? MO.gov » Marriage & Divorce |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Montana? Montana CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search in Montana? contacts |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Nebraska? Nebraska CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Nebraska? Marriage Registration Partners |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Nevada? Nevada CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Nevada? Records NV |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records New Hampshire? New Hampshire CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search New Hampshire? NH-SOS – Vital Records Administration |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records New Jersey? New Jersey CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search New Jersey? Department of Health | Vital Statistics | Marriage License |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records New Mexico? New Mexico CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search New Mexico? New Mexico Marriage Records Search |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records New York? New York City CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search New York? Marriage Records – City Clerk |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records North Carolina? North Carolina CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search North Carolina? Marriage | North Carolina Judicial Branch |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records North Dakota? North Dakota CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search North Dakota? Certified Copies of Marriage Records | Department of Health |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Ohio? Ohio CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Ohio? Franklin County Probate Court – Marriage |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Oklahoma? Oklahoma CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Oklahoma? Marriage Records Search – Oklahoma County, OK (Marriage Licenses & Certificates) |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Oregon? Oregon CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Oregon? Oregon Health Authority : How to Register Marriage Records |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Pennsylvania? Vital Records |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Rhode Island? Rhode Island CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Rhode Island? Birth, Death & Marriage Record Copies: Department of Health |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records South Carolina? South Carolina CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search South Carolina? Marriage Certificates | SCDHEC |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records South Dakota? South Dakota CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search South Dakota? Office of Vital Records – SD Dept. of Health |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Tennessee? Tennessee CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Tennessee? How do I find marriage records? | Tennessee Secretary of State Search Marriage Lookup |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Texas? Texas CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Texas? Marriage License Search | County Clerk |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Utah? Utah CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Utah? Marriage License Search | Utah County Clerk/Auditor |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Vermont? Vermont CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Vermont? Vital Records & Population Data | Vermont Department of Health |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Virginia? Virginia CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Virginia? Bedford Circuit Court: Marriage License Information |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Washington? Washington CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Washington? Ordering a Marriage or Divorce Record | Washington State Department of Health |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records West Virginia? West Virginia CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search West Virginia? West Virginia Marriage Records Search |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Wisconsin? Wisconsin CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Wisconsin? Requesting a Vital Record | Wisconsin Department of Health Services |
| Where Do I Find Public Marriage Records Wyoming? Wyoming CDC | Where Do I Conduct Marriage License Search Wyoming? How To Get An Official Wyoming Marriage or Divorce Certificate |
The best place to find out if someone is divorced or married free is in the court clerks’ office in the county where the marriage or divorce took place. Additionally, interested parties can search through county libraries that have records of this information. However, the party will have to pay a fee to obtain a copy of this record.
Marriage license records are documents available to the general public in the US. One can use a variety of methods to obtain this information. However, the legal way to get a free marriage license records to search is through the county clerk’s office where the marriage took place, and it’s important to note that you will be charged if you want to leave with a copy of the marriage record.
A marriage record identification/filing number refers to the number used to record the marriage license when filed by the court clerk in the county where the marriage occurred.
You can conduct a marriage license search by visiting the CDC website, going to the specific state where the marriage was performed, filling out the form provided, and paying the fee required. The results will be provided momentarily.
Alternatively, you can visit the office of the clerk of the court where the marriage was issued, provide the necessary information, and you can go through the marriage record.
You can visit the county clerkâs office (where the marriage occurred) and obtain these records at a small office.
GenWed refers to a genealogical research database that is free and contains an online directory of marriage records in the United States.
1Vital Records, Nd. California Department of Public Health. Retrieved on August 13, 2020, from <https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Divorce-Mail.aspx>
2Are Divorce Records Public? Nd. DivorceNet. Retrieved on August 16, 2022, from <https://www.divorcenet.com/resources/are-divorce-records-public.html>
3Texas Vital Records. (2022). Texas Vital Records. Retrieved June 03, 2022, from <https://www.texas.gov/texas-vital-records/>
4Where to Write for Vital Records. (2022). Centers for Disease Control And Prevention. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from <https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/foreign.htm>
5Marriage License Public Lookup (beta). (2022). mycourts.IN.gov. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from <https://publicaccess.courts.in.gov/mlpl/>
6Indiana Marriages Through 1850. (2022). Indiana State Library. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from <https://digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/search.aspx?index=3>
7Indiana Marriages 1958-2021. (2022). Indiana State Library. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from <https://digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/search.aspx?index=2>
8United States Government. (2022). Marriage and Marital Union for Naturalization. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from <https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-g-chapter-2>
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it