Marriage Certificate Information
Marriage certificates contain useful information about the proof of a legalized marriage. The information contained on marriage certificates is useful to banking institutions, government agencies or individuals doing genealogical searches. You may request a marriage certificate from the city, town or state where the marriage took place. However, municipalities and states have varying rules regarding marriage certificate disclosure. Hawaii, Wisconsin and Connecticut provide a representative sampling of these rules.
Other People Are Reading
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Misconceptions
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The Hawaii State Department of Health differentiates a marriage license from a certificate by saying that a marriage license is required to get married, but a marriage certificate proves that a marriage took place. The Connecticut Department of Public Health offers further clarity by stating that "once registered, the marriage license becomes a vital record and is referred to as a marriage certificate. This differentiation indicates that the original marriage license is a private document. On the other hand, the marriage certificate, registered with its official signatures, is a public document.
Features
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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services states that the information on a marriage certificate may vary depending on the year it was issued. Common information found on a marriage certificate includes the partners' names, partners' ages, officiate, date and location of marriage, race and certification seal.
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Initial Copy
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The state of Hawaii handles marriage certificates similarly to many other states. The Hawaii State Department of Health summarizes the procedure for newly married couples obtaining a marriage certificate as having the marriage officiate file the marriage license with the Department of Health and awaiting arrival of the marriage certificate in the mail. The cost of this initial copy of the marriage certificate is usually covered by the marriage license fee.
Applicant Requirements
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The Hawaii State Department of Health only issues vital records, like a marriage certificate, to applicants it deems have a direct and tangible interest in the record. It lists examples of such applicants as the person on the certificate (referred to as the registrant), a registrant's relative or legal guardian, or a former spouse seeking alimony.This is not a standard requirement in all states. In fact, the Connecticut Department of Public Health states that anyone may have access to a marriage certificate.
Applying
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Applying for a marriage certificate requires submitting an application and paying a fee. The fee may vary from state. For example, a marriage certificate request from the state of Hawaii costs $10, while the fee for the state of Connecticut is $20. There may be additional fees for requests made by the Internet, rush requests or multiple copies. Some states, like Wisconsin, do not accept Internet requests, as stated by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
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References
- Hawaii State Department of Health: About Marriage Licenses
- Connecticut Department of Public Health: State Office of Vital Records - Marriage License and Certificate
- Hawaii State Department of Health: Who is Eligible to Apply for Certified Copies of Vital Records
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services: Request for a Marriage Certificate
Resources
- Photo Credit marriage image by Sonar from Fotolia.com
