How to Find and Order Certified Copies of Marriage Certificates



If you are looking for certified copies of marriage certificates, it may be helpful to know you can get them on the Internet. It’s true — the Internet is a fantastic resource for obtaining a variety of information, including vital records. Of course, you could contact your local or state Department of Vital Records as well. When you contact Vital Records, the process is usually to write for the copies you need. You will also need to enclose a check or money order for the cost of the record. The cost for vital records depends on your state of residence. Different states charge different fees for vital records. As you can see, you will need to deal with the hassle of mailing the information and money off before you can receive your certificate copy.

When you obtain a vital record like a marriage certificate online, the process goes a lot more quickly. You are able to fill out and submit the application right on your computer. Normally, you can pay for the record using any major credit card. There may be additional fees which apply when you get your record or records online. Some states offer websites where vital records can be requested, others do not. There are also sites like VitalChek and VitalRec where you can request marital records from a variety of states.

If you are looking for marriage records of your ancestors for the purposes of putting together a family tree or researching your genealogical history, you may not even need to pay. Sites like Ancestry and RootsWeb offer free searches for these records. You might also be able to find the information you are seeking at your local library or municipal building. Of course, this may involve going through a great deal of records before you find what you are looking for. When you use the web, you are most often able to get the information you need a lot more quickly. For many people, it is worth the cost to obtain vital records online.