How to Get a Marriage Certificate
A marriage certificate is not the same thing as the license that is obtained by two people to get married. The certificate is the copy that is filed in the county and state that the marriage took place in. If the certificate is for your own marriage it is very easy to obtain. If you are seeking documents for geneaology purposes, the task can become more involved. It can be very time consuming, but a few steps will get you on the right track.
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Things You'll Need
- Knowledge of the state and county the marriage took place in
- Basic information about the people on the certificate
Instructions
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If the certificate is for yourself it is a very easy task. Give the county that you got married in time to get the paperwork filed. This will usually take a few days to a couple weeks, depending on their speed. Go to the County Clerk's office and request the certified copy. You may need identification, depending on the state and county laws. You will also be charged a fee. Each county charges different fees, so you may want to call ahead. Some may require cash, while others may take a check.
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If you are searching for certificates for geneaology purposes, it may require a little more work. You will need to know the date, place, and full names of the family members on the certificate. You may also need to prove your relationship to these people, so you may need your own birth certificate, or at least identification. Have all of this information first. Some states will only issue certificates to family members if the people on the certificate are deceased.
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Once you have all of your information gathered, you can proceed to the County Clerk's Office where the original license was issued. If the county office is not local to you, you may have to call them on the phone, or resort to the Internet.
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There are many sources on the Internet to help you obtain marriage certificates, death certificates and other documents. First, try logging into the county office you are looking for. Several states and counties now have files archived for Internet purchases. Try geneaology sites as well. If you are searching for old certificates, these geneology sites may be able to help you.
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Getting your own certificate takes only a matter of days. Searching for older certificates can be time consuming and frustrating. Follow the steps one by one and continue to gather and keep all of the information in a folder. You never know when the information fits together and you'll find the exact link you are looking for.
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