| If you are searching for a marriage certificate, there | | | | If you know where the marriage took place and are |
| are some things you need to know. | | | | willing to search old records, this may be a good way |
| - First, not everyone can get a copy of a marriage | | | | to dig up old marriage records that are not entered in |
| certificate. | | | | computer databases. It can be a real hit or miss |
| - Second, there are several ways to find one. | | | | proposition to dig up these old records, and sometimes |
| - Third, it can be very difficult to track down | | | | you will do better checking old newspapers for the |
| certificates if you don’t have complete and | | | | printing of Banns or public notices of a wedding. |
| accurate information. | | | | To be effective in this kind of search you must be |
| With that in mind, here are three ways you can track | | | | certain where the marriage took place. In many small |
| down a marriage certificate, be it your own or | | | | towns around the country, church records and local |
| someone else’s. | | | | newspaper notices may be the only way to establish |
| Apply to the State for Your Marriage Certificate | | | | a marriage took place. Using the information in old |
| Each state has a database that allows you to request | | | | family bibles is the best place to start, but expect this |
| vital records. The catch is that some states keep | | | | kind of search to be time consuming and often |
| marriage licenses and certificates at the state | | | | unsuccessful. |
| clerk’s office, and others keep them with the | | | | Use an Online Search Service |
| county clerk. | | | | If you don’t need to possess a certified copy of a |
| In either case, you will need to know the names of the | | | | marriage certificate, the best way to verify that a |
| bride and groom, as well as the bride’s maiden | | | | marriage took place is to use an online search |
| name. You will need to know where the marriage | | | | service. These companies have accessed the public |
| took place and on what date. | | | | databases around the country and compiled the |
| If you have that information, you will need to send | | | | information in one place. |
| along a letter explaining your need for the document. | | | | You just need to enter the data you have and let the |
| If you are searching for your own certificate or that of | | | | search engine pull up likely matches. You won’t |
| a close relative, there is usually no problem in obtaining | | | | need all the data the state wants, which makes it |
| a copy. If you are not a close relative though, the | | | | easier, You can do this at any time of the day and |
| decision really falls to the discretion of the clerk replying | | | | night, making it much more convenient. For speed |
| to your request. In a genealogical search, there may | | | | and efficiency, nothing is as effective as letting a |
| be more leeway for your request, but no clerk will | | | | search service find marriage certificate information for |
| entertain idle curiosity. | | | | you. |
| Search through Old Records Yourself | | | | |