Q&A

Where can I find marriage and divorce records?

Where can I find marriage and divorce records?

The Office of Vital Statistics (OVS) has on file marriage and divorce records from June 1958 to present day. To inquire about marriage or divorce records prior to June 1958, please call the county clerk in the county where the marriage license was issued or the circuit court clerk in the county where the divorce decree was granted.

Where can I get a certified divorce certificate?

Certified marriage or divorce certificates can be ordered and the required fee paid by phone, mail, Internet or by visiting the office. To inquire about marriage or divorce certificates prior to June 1958, please call the county clerk in the county where the marriage license was issued or that granted the divorce decree.

Where do you file for a marriage license?

Marriage licenses must be filed in order for your state to recognize your marriage. Typically, priests or officiants file the license for you with your local courthouse after your wedding, when both the bride and the groom, along with two witnesses, sign the marriage license.

Is it illegal to get a marriage license before a divorce?

A marriage is not considered legal if it is performed before the divorce or annulment from a previous marriage is finalized. Applying for a marriage license without providing all of the required information on a previous marriage or before a marriage is legally dissolved is illegal, and the new marriage license will not be valid.

How do I Find my Marriage and divorce records?

How to Find Marriage and Divorce Records. The Department of Health or the Bureau of Vital Statistics provides general information on marriage and divorce within the state. You can confirm the event occurred and the county where the record is filed. Original copies of marriage licenses and divorce decrees are filed in the county clerk’s office.

How can I view marriage records for free?

You can call the court or registrar’s office to find out. Counties that do offer online databases, like Volusia County in Florida, usually have a document describing how to use the searches. These are your best bet for finding marriage records for free online.

How do you search for marriage records?

Another way to search for marriage records is to check through genealogy websites. Family Search has an extensive database of historical and genealogical records. You can search for marriage records by name, place of the marriage, or relationship with another person.

Are divorce records public?

Divorce records are public unless they are “sealed” by the court because of sensitive information that they contain. If records have been sealed then someone who wanted to see them would need a court order.