When you need a copy of a marriage certificate, lookup services are available online.  There are two basic ways to dig up these records, either through a government website or through a search service.  Each has advantages, and both work, but sometimes one is preferable to the other.

The State’s Vital Records
To find a marriage certificate with the state, you need the following things.

1. The date of the marriage
2. The location of the marriage
3. The full name of the groom
4. The bride’s maiden name
5. Identification proving your connection to the document
6. A credit card to pay the fee.

If you lack any of the first five pieces, the search can be pointless.  Although marriage licenses are considered public documents, many states have heightened concern over privacy and won’t release copies of marriage certificates without proof of relationship.  They may be willing to provide a verbal verification of the marriage though.

You can apply online for the certificate and expect to hear back from the state in short order.  It may take a few weeks to receive a certified copy depending upon the backlog and the priority set by the state.

Search Services for a Marriage Certificate
Search services are much easier when it comes to acquiring this kind of information.  They can use fewer parameters, such as a name and location, without requiring the whole list.  Maiden names, for example, are typically lost fairly quickly from family records.  You will need to do a bit of the work yourself narrowing down a list of potential matches, but the results are just as accurate.

If you lack any of the data that the States request, then a search service is definitely your best bet.  Utilize marriage certificate lookups online for a better chance of finding long lost documents.  You can do it from the comfort of your own home at any time of the day or night.  Isn’t the internet wonderful?

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