Marriage records are essential for genealogy research, providing valuable information such as names, ages, and parents' details of individuals. They can be found through various sources, including courthouses and online databases, but knowing the approximate marriage date and location helps narrow down the search. Utilizing reputable websites can simplify the process of obtaining comprehensive marriage records.

1. What are Marriage Records?

2. Marriage records are the gateway to a plethora of
useful information, particularly when performing
genealogy research. Many times, they can open the
door to a great deal of information about a particular
person or couple. For example, you may be able to
learn the maiden name of the bride, thereby
presenting a whole new clue into your ancestors!
Genealogy research involves a lot of hard work and just
as much time, but it can be quite exciting and highly
rewarding.

3. There are, of course, other times when you
may want to secure marriage records on a
certain couple or individual. Indeed, marriage
records can provide intriguing information
about individuals, both living and deceased.

4. The Value of Finding Marriage
Records
If you want to start filling out your family tree, then
begin with a search for marriage records. You may be
able to find out a great deal of information about both
the bride and groom, including: their full names, their
ages at the time of their marriage application, their
residences and occupations at the time of the marriage
application, and their parents’ names and addresses.
For individuals performing genealogy research, this
information can prove truly invaluable!

5. Where to Find Marriage Records
Marriage records can vary, depending on the time and
place of the wedding. They may include a formal license or
certificate, or they may be kept by the church in which the
couple was married.
With that said, there may be many resources through
which you can obtain marriage records. You may start your
search by looking through newspaper
announcements, through church directories and records, or
through local or state courthouses. However, most of these
searches require that you have a good understanding of the
approximate date of the marriage record, as well as a
general location of where the marriage record was applied.

6. Taking your Search Online
However, if you don’t know these
details, and you are armed only with the
bride and groom’s names and the county
or state in which they applied for the
marriage record, you may need to take
your search online.

7. If you know the names of the bride and
groom and the general location of where
the marriage took place, then you can
search through county clerk records, public
access records, county court records, state
public records, civil records and state
records.

8. However, for the sake of time (and to ease
frustration and a lot of legwork), there are a
number of great websites that may help you
perform searches for marriage records. Many of
these websites allow you to perform a
comprehensive search of all the above
mentioned sources – all while seated in the
comfort of your own home.
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9. There are many state, city and county records that
are kept online, so you may begin your search there.
However, if you want to perform a more comprehensive
search, you may want to use a marriage records website.
Many times, these websites, for a nominal fee or
subscription, will allow you to search for any number of
records, including marriage records. Make sure that the
website you are using is reputable before beginning your
search, as there are just as many websites that provide
false or inaccurate information.

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