| Marriage License Records are an essential | | | | people through a Public Marriage Records Search. |
| resource of public information for future | | | | It typically includes the personal particulars of the |
| reference and studies. The most common | | | | couple, their parents and witnesses plus the name |
| examples of their use are in providing information | | | | of the officiant of the marriage ceremony. The |
| on family history and genealogy studies, as official | | | | main documents that will be produced are the |
| documents in legal proceedings such as Marriage | | | | license and certificate. They will be needed for |
| Records Search, identity and inheritance and | | | | any legal matter that pertains to the event. |
| checking up the marital background of prospective | | | | There will usually be three copies of marriage |
| spouse or partner. | | | | license. They are distributed to the couple, |
| It was not easy to get hold of such documents | | | | solemnization official and the local government |
| back in the old days because they were pretty | | | | which is responsible for maintaining their files. |
| much handled manually. People had to go to the | | | | Although the information on the marriage license is |
| local government office and search through piles | | | | readily available online, only their certified |
| of folders for them and they were mostly | | | | hard-copies are recognized for official use. There |
| professional investigators or government officials. | | | | may be variations on this practice from one state |
| With the advancement of technology, online | | | | to another as public records fall under the |
| marriage records have become a norm and any | | | | jurisdiction of individual states. |
| lay-member of the public can easily access them | | | | Of all the different ways to retrieve the |
| over the internet. | | | | information, online marriage records are the most |
| Free Marriage Records are public information. | | | | popular because it's convenient and discreet. |
| Along with the other 3 categories, namely | | | | However, not all government agencies provide |
| divorce, birth and death, they form the principal | | | | this channel but most if not all commercial record |
| vital records in most state departments tasked | | | | providers offer it. On top of that, their databases |
| with this public service. The FOIA (Freedom of | | | | are generally nationwide as opposed to those of |
| Information Act, 1966) stipulates the right of any | | | | state repositories which are not linked which that |
| individual to freely retrieve and view this | | | | can get quite onerous when the search extends |
| information so long as procedures are followed. | | | | beyond state lines. |
| You can obtain a great deal of information about | | | | |