Marriage Licenses - How to obtain a copy in the United States
A marriage certificate or license is a document that provides proof of a marriage, typically issued to the newlyweds a few weeks after they file for the certificate in a county office. Most states require both spouses, the person who officiated the marriage and one or two witnesses to sign the marriage certificate; often this is done just after the ceremony.
Copies of marriage certificates and licenses are generally available at Vital Records offices at the state level but often only at the county and city level where the marriage license was issued. Access to marriage records differs by state; some states offer certified marriage records (which can be used for legal purposes) while others only offer verification of a marriage. Also some states are "open records" states which allow access to anyone while others have more stringent access rights.
Below are general tips and hints for obtaining marriage certificates in the United States.
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Try to limit it to one request per letter. Multiple requests per letter may lead to confusion.
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Always enclose a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE) and payment, if requested.
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Some states may require requestor's driver's license number and the state which issued it.
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Please provide the following information in your request for a marriage certificate:
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Date of request
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Full name of husband (last name in caps)
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Full name of wife (maiden name in caps)
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Date of marriage
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Place of marriage (city or town, county, state)
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Requestor's relationship to parties
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The purpose for which the record is needed
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Requestor's name & address
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Requestor's driver's license number & state (some counties require it)
