How to Get a Free Copy of a Marriage License

There are times you might need a copy of your marriage license.

There are many reasons you might need to obtain a marriage license. You may be going through a divorce or need to prove you are married to your spouse for insurance reasons. A marriage license is a public record, so it is maintained and archived by the county in which it was filed. There are a number of ways to get a free copy.

Instructions

1. Gather all of the relevant information required for your request. You'll need the full names of both spouses, including the wife's maiden name. You'll need to know the county in which the license was filed. You should also know the date of the marriage. If you aren't completely sure about this information, just get as close as you can.

2. Visit the family court clerk's office in the county in which the couple lives if the couple is involved in a divorce or a child custody case. Request to see the file of the case records. This is likely a matter of public record, depending on the case. You may have to fill out a form to request this information or show a state-issued identification card. This file contains a copy of the couple's marriage license. Ask the clerk if you can make a quick free copy of the license.

3. Attend the couple's wedding ceremony. Many couples sign the marriage license the day before or the day of their wedding. If you attend the wedding ceremony, you can ask the couple to make a free copy of the license on the church photocopier. You need to do this on the day of the ceremony because the wedding official usually signs the document and drops it off at a county office the next day.

4. Copy your marriage license on your home scanner and print it out.

5. Research whether free copies of marriage licenses are granted at the county Office of Vital Statistics or a similar office. This is the office where marriage licenses are kept. You must fill out a form that identifies the bride, groom and wedding date. Many counties require fees for such license copies, but some supply them for free.

Tips & Warnings

• It's usually cheaper to ask for duplicate copies of your marriage certificate when you file the certificate at the wedding as opposed to requesting a new one later. Some counties offer a free duplicate copy if you ask for it at this time.

• For official uses, like filing for divorce, only official copies of your marriage certificate will do.