Most U.S. states consider marriage license information to be public record and will supply the details to any party who asks. Though the information each agency provides may be different, most will supply you with the spouses' names, former names, birth dates and former marriages. The record should also include the name of the person who officiated at the wedding ceremony and the names of any witnesses. Each state maintains its marriage records in its own way; some maintain records at a state level while others maintain records at a local or county level.
Step 1
Determine the appropriate agency to contact. Most states maintain records in their state Department of Health, but many have other state or local agencies that maintain the vital records. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains the contact information of each state's vital records department.
Step 2
Contact the appropriate agency within the state that the marriage was conducted. If the spouses have relocated since marrying, you must contact the agency in the state they married, not the state in which they currently reside.
Step 3
Provide the names of the spouses, location of the marriage or any other information the agency needs to look up the record. Most agencies will not provide the information over the phone and will send you a form to make your request in writing.
Step 4
Fill out the form as completely as possible, including all required information. Though most states will provide marriage license information to anyone who requests it, many still require you to share your relationship with the parties and the reason for your request.
Step 5
Submit the form along with an application fee if required to the agency from which you requested the form. The fee varies among states and counties, but is generally between $10 and $25.
Tips and Warnings
- The date of the marriage may affect which agency has the marriage records. If you are unsure of the precise date of marriage, contact all the agencies within the state that maintain marriage records. Even if a state agency has no record of a particular marriage, a county agency may.
