There are several reasons you may want an old marriage license. You may need one to provide proof of relationship for a legal matter, or you may be trying to establish your lineage for a genealogy project. Marriages are considered legally binding contracts and are therefore recorded by states or counties as matters of law. In most cases, you'll need to contact the vital records department, which records births, deaths, marriages and divorces.
Step 1
Gather as much information as possible regarding the marriage. This may include the date of marriage, where the marriage took place, by whom the marriage was performed, the bride's maiden name, and the name of the groom.
Step 2
Contact the vital records department in the state in which the marriage occurred. They will tell you whether it is available via the state vital records office or if you'll need to contact a county, town or city vital records office in order to obtain a copy of the marriage license.
Step 3
Inquire as to whether the marriage license in question is a matter of public or private record. The vital records office will know based upon the date of the marriage. In some states, all marriage licenses are a matter of public record, while others require a number of years to have passed before they become public. For example, in New York, marriage licenses are public after 50 years; in Maine, 100 years must have passed.
Step 4
Appear in person at the vital records office to request a copy of the marriage license. Alternatively, you can mail the required forms or fees, or complete a request via the vital records website, if available.
Step 5
Be prepared to provide proof that you are permitted by law to access the marriage license if it is a matter of private record. Different states and counties may have different requirements, but in most cases the bride and groom and any of their legal descendants are legally permitted access to the record. In some states, a licensed genealogist may also obtain marriage licenses that are private.
Step 6
Pay the necessary fee in the required form. Some vital records offices will not accept personal checks or credit or debit cards, so bring cash if you are requesting the record in person. If you are mailing in the request or submitting a records request via a website, read all directions carefully to ensure you are sending in the proper form of payment. Some states, including Georgia, accept only money orders or certified checks as payment.
Tips and Warnings
- If you think you may need more than one copy of the marriage license, requesting duplicates at the same time will save processing fees.
