A marriage is marked by a wedding ceremony, which is a happy and sacred event in someone's life. This is a time for two individuals to come together as one, sharing goals and exchanging promises. Due to the sanctity and relevance of a marriage, important documents are created and marriage records are stored in the state repository.

Many people these days have a reason to search for marriage records. They can verify someone's wedding date or reveal a woman's maiden name. In addition, you will also be able to learn about a person's current marital status or learn information about their spouse.

The average marriage records contain basic facts, such as the names of the people who were wed, the date of the wedding, the location where the wedding took place, the name of the person who solemnized the wedding, as well as the names of the witnesses and others who may have been in attendance when the event occurred.

In the past, the only people who had access to marriage records were the government and law enforcement officers who used the information to track down individuals of interest, such as criminals. However, marriage records, as well as a wide array of other records, have become available to the public. This is partially due to the power of the Internet. These days, anyone is able who is able to access the Internet has the power to gain access to marriage records via that record registries online.

Unless a marriage is listed as closed, the records are open for review by the public. However, it is important to keep in mind that the procedures, requirements and expense in obtaining marriage records may vary from one state to the next. It is typical for the person requesting the file to be required to visit the office of the clerk recorder in the location where the marriage took place.

The next step you will have to take to obtain marriage records is to complete an application. You will need to know a few important details in order to gain access to the records that you need, such as the complete names of the couple that were married and the year the wedding took place.

Once the marriage records that you seek have been pulled, you will have the opportunity to either look over the paperwork on the spot at no cost, or you may want to request a copy of the marriage certificate, which will cost you a small fee. Keep in mind that marriage records are open to the public and everyone has the right to examine them.