When two people get married, a record of it is created. While this may be the case, that doesn’t always mean that everyone can see that record. For this reason, it’s important to ask the question, “Are marriage records public?”
The answer to that question is that it varies. We wish we could give you a simple answer, but whether or not marriage records are public comes down to when someone was married, where they were married, and even if they’re still alive.
For these reasons, make sure you stick around for the full answer in our guide.
What Are Marriage Records?
Marriage records are a collection of legal documents associated with a wedding. At the basic level, they indicate that someone is married, but marriage licenses and certificates may also be available if you do a deeper dive.
Typically, these records are created when spouses apply for a marriage license and when they get married.
Are Marriage Records Public?
Yes and no. Marriage records may not be available to the public until after a specific waiting period. For example, some states keep the records private for 50 years. Therefore, it’s important to understand how your state handles marriage records before you begin your search.
Now, there are some exceptions. If the spouses are deceased, for example, the records may become publicly available. Also, if the couple gets divorced, the records may become available through the court system.
Therefore, whether or not marriage records are public depends on the specific case.
Are Divorce Records Public?
Yes, divorce records are public. This might sound strange because marriage records aren’t always available, but you’ll find that divorce records are often publicly available.
Divorce records are available because divorces have to go through the court system in order for that process to happen. However, some information may also be kept private, like details about children.
How to Find Public Marriage Records
To search for public marriage records, you have a handful of options. The best method is to use a dedicated online public record search tool. However, you can also leverage search engines and county offices. Learn more about each option below.
Information.com
If you want to find public marriage records, one of the best ways to begin your search is with Information.com’s public record search. With this tool, all you need to do is enter someone’s first and last name to begin the search process.
The public record search tool will comb through billions of records until a match is found. Once a match is found, you can view all available public records associated with someone’s profile. If there are marriage records to be found, Information.com will help you source them. The best part is that you can find marriage certificates, licenses, and much more with this tool.
Search Engines
For high-profile marriages, you shouldn’t have any issues finding out the basics with Bing, Google, or other search engines. While this may be the case, you can’t always do a deep dive with them. Instead, you’ll usually just find out if someone is married, where they got married, and whether or not they’re going through a divorce.
What’s more, search engines aren’t effective for searches that aren’t high-profile. For example, less famous people may not show up in the top results (unless they have a wedding website), so you may need to run a more advanced search.
County Offices
Another great way to find public records is to leverage a county office. These are offices, like the county clerk’s office, where two people go for a marriage license. Therefore, the town might be able to provide information about it for you. The town where the wedding occurred may also house these records in their county office, so keep this in mind.
If a marriage occurred at a courthouse somewhere, the same rules apply. Of course, information is limited unless you’re a spouse, family member, or have a legal interest in the documents.
Are Marriage Records Public? The Verdict
So, are marriage records public? Ultimately, yes, marriage records tend to be public, at least, at the basic level. You’ll have no problem finding out that someone is married if you know where to look and leverage the right tools.
That said, some records, like marriage licenses and certificates, may not be available to the public unless a certain amount of time has passed. Therefore, whether or not marriage records are public often comes down to state laws.
