How to Apply for Marriage Certificates

Request a marriage certificate from the vital records agency in your state.

An individual can apply for a marriage certificate for a variety of purposes, such as to have proof of a legal relationship or to document family history. A marriage certificate is a different type of document from a marriage license. The Connecticut Department of Health explains that the state issues marriage licenses to couples before they marry and presents marriage certificates as records of marriages that have already occurred. To obtain a marriage certificate, an individual must submit a request to the agency recording vital events within the state.

Things You'll Need

• Information about the marriage, such as names, date and location

Instructions

1. Refer to the list of state vital records agencies provided by the National Center for Statistics or another U.S. government source (see Resources). Identify the state or local agency that maintains vital records for the place where the marriage occurred. Make note of the agency's mailing address and contact information.

2. Use the official form to request a marriage certificate, if provided by the vital records agency serving the relevant U.S. state. Follow the written format recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention if your state does not offer a standardized application form. Fill in all requested information, such as the spouses' full names, marriage date and location of marriage.

3. Confirm that you qualify to request a copy of the marriage certificate, if your state limits who has access to each record. Provide proof of your identity and relationship to the married couple if you must meet any state requirements regarding who can obtain copies of a particular marriage record. Explain the purpose for which you need the marriage certificate. Provide a mailing address where you would like the agency to send the marriage certificate copy.

4. Attach a certified check or money order to pay any processing fees to apply for a marriage certificate. Mail your signed, completed paperwork and payment to the appropriate state or local agency maintaining vital records.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow procedures to apply for a marriage license, rather than a marriage certificate, if you are planning your upcoming wedding.

• Some states may limit who can freely access marriage records --- for example, California offers a "confidential marriage" option for which only the two spouses themselves can access the marriage certificate unless another party obtains a court order.

• Some states will omit certain pieces of information from the marriage certificate copy unless the requesting party is one of the spouses --- for example, Connecticut redacts Social Security numbers.

• As fees and application procedures vary from state to state and change over time, applicants should confirm the most up-to-date information with the state or local government agency handling vital records before submitting any application materials or payments.

References

• Connecticut Department of Public Health: State Office of Vital Records - Marriage License and Certificate
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Where to Write for Vital Records: Application Guidelines
• California Department of Public Health: How To Obtain Certified Copies Of Marriage and Divorce Records
• North Carolina Vital Records Unit: Application for North Carolina Death, Marriage or Divorce Record

Resources

• National Center for Health Statistics: Where to Write for Vital Records