A marriage certificate is a marriage record filled out or completed after a wedding ceremony. Marriage certificates can be official government documents or decorative forms a church or minister provides. An official government-issued marriage certificate verifies that a marriage has taken place.
Marriage certificates, unlike marriage licenses, prove that a marriage ceremony occurred. In some cases, an official marriage certificate may appear on the same document as the marriage license. Marriage certificates provide less information than other marriage records, such as a marriage license, but depending on time and location, they may include the following:
- Bride's name (maiden name)
- Bride's age
- Groom's name
- Groom's age
- Marriage date
- Marriage place
- Name of officiant
- Names of witnesses
- Names of government entities/officials where the certificate was filed
An official marriage certificate may be required to prove a marriage for benefits (such as a pension or insurance). In genealogy, an ancestral marriage certificate may be used to establish descendancy to gain membership in a lineage society.
Aside from proving a marriage date and place, marriage certificates can be searched by the groom's surname, leading to the bride's maiden name in cases where that name is unknown. However, even though the bride's maiden name should be on the certificate, it is possible a mistake was made, and instead of her maiden surname, the married name of her previous husband is listed.
A decorative marriage certificate can include photos of the bride and groom and various decorative elements. These marriage certificates were meant to be framed or used as a keepsake. It is a decorative piece for most purposes, not proof of marriage.
Where to Find Marriage Certificates
Marriage certificates are government documents and will be found in the government office where marriages are recorded or where they archive records. There can be restrictions due to privacy. Restrictions may include redacting some information, limiting who can access the record, and when it can be accessed (for example, after 50 years). Consult the appropriate government agency's website for that location. Keep in mind that marriage records are accessed in the location where the marriage occurred (for example, the county or state).
Some marriage certificates can be found online through government-sponsored or genealogy websites. Genealogy websites may be limited to a marriage index. In that case, you'll want to note the information in the index and order the actual certificate from the government agency that houses it.
As you search for a marriage certificate, remember that the couple may not have married where they lived. Crossing county, state, or country boundaries may be something a couple did to marry in Gretna Green (named for a place in Scotland). Gretna Greens are locations where couples elope to avoid questions about age, relationships, waiting periods, or medical tests. Gretna Greens helps the couple get married quickly. If you cannot find a marriage certificate in the location you expect to see it, learn more about nearby Gretna Greens to help you narrow down possible locations.
See also
Explore more about engagement announcements
- The newspapersrecords collection at MyHeritage includes information about historical events, engagements, marriages, divorces, births, deaths, moves, business, naturalizations, court cases, and more.
- The marriage & divorce records collection at MyHeritage. This collection represents one of the key primary sources for family information, typically being issued the same day as a marriage takes place. In some cases, religious-based marriage documents exist too, but the civil record of the marriage has always been required.
- Birth, Marriage, and Death at MyHeritage - sometimes referenced to as vital records are invaluable to your genealogy search. Since they were typically recorded around the time of the event they are often considered more accurate than other types of records. These records include information like the event date and place, parents' names, occupation and residence.
- Church Records at MyHeritage contain the names of congregation members, and possibly even records of baptisms, christenings, marriages, and deaths and burials.
- Marriage Records: Everything You Need to Know on the MyHeritage Blog
- Ask The Expert – Marriage Records on MyHeritage at MyHeritage Knowledge Base
- Vital Records: How to Find Birth, Marriage & Death Records at MyHeritage Knowledge Base