The Genealogist

Tips For Finding And Obtaining Marriage Certificates

By Jerry Glynn

There are many reasons that people wish to obtain marriage certificates, either of their own marriage, or the marriage of someone else. Most requests are for genealogical purposes, or come about as the result of adopted adult children wishing to identify and or locate their birth parents. Some people may also want to obtain a duplicate copy of their marriage certificate in order to prove the legal status of their union, although in this case, a certified copy of their marriage license may be a better option.

In any case, it is easier; for the most part to obtain marriage certificates than it is to obtain birth certificates or death certificates. In most states, a copy of a certificate of marriage can be purchased by anyone who requests one, irregardless of their relationship to the persons listed on the certificate. Of course, this is not an official, legal certificate, but for genealogy purposes, it works just as well. You will need to provide the full legal names of the married couple and the approximate date of the marriage , however.

Obtaining a certified copy of a marriage license is a slightly different process. This document bears the official seal of the county where the marriage took place, and is legal proof of the union. In some cases, a couple may have elected to apply for a confidential marriage license, and in that case, only the persons whose names appear on the certificate may request a copy of the certificate or an official copy of the marriage license. Otherwise, in most states, anyone can obtain a certified copy.

If you are trying to obtain a copy of a marriage certificate for someone else, it is important to know their full legal birth name and the approximate year when the marriage took place. Clerks offices charge a fee for searching, which in most cases is non refundable, even if no matching records are found, so it is good to have as much information as possible. Offices vary when it comes to how far the records go back, but in general, most have records from the 1920s onward, and some have later records as well.

There are also companies that specialize in locating marriage certificates for you, for a fee. These services can save you a lot of time, and some of them even let you place an order online. Again, just make sure that you take the time to gather as much information about the couple who appear on the certificate as possible. This will make your search, and your chances of locating a record of the marriage, much easier and much better.

About The Author

Express Birth Records is a privately owned company created to assist the public in ordering certified copies of vital records such as Birth Certificates, Death Certificates, Marriage Certificates and Divorce Certificates. For more information on obtaining these vital records visit \”http://www.expressbirthrecords.com\”

How To Find Birth Certificates Online

By Terry Parker

Many people regularly obtain birth certificates online, which is understandable when you consider that birth certificates are one of the primary ways of establishing identity and are necessary for obtaining passports, driver\’s licenses, and much more. These documents are known as vital records and include information such as the birth name, the date and time of birth, the sex of the child, the place and or location of birth, the names and occupations of the parents of the child, the birth weight and length of the child, the date of birth registration, the name of the informant registering the birth, and a birth registration number.

There are many services that can help you locate a birth certificate online, provided that you meet certain criteria, which varies by state. I n California, for example, applicants must be an immediate family member or have a demonstrated legal right to obtain a copy of the birth certificate in question. If you, or the person whose records you are requesting, were adopted or had a legal name change other than a marriage, you may only obtain a birth certificate through the State of California Birth Records office. Regulations also vary by city and county.

In Virginia, in order to obtain birth certificates online, you must meet the same requirements as California applicants, but you must also include a faxed copy of your state issued driver\’s license or photo ID. New York applicants must also fax in a copy of their photo ID, and must also be sure to use their own credit card with the same billing address as the address found on their ID. These examples illustrate just how important it is to familiarize yourself with the specific rules and regulations of the state that you are requesting records from.

There are many companies that specialize in locating birth certificates for a small fee, but again, there are still rules and regulations in effect as to who has the authority to access and obtain them. For genealogy purposes, some states allow anyone to obtain the birth records of individuals who have been deceased for seventy five years or more. The good news is that with a little research and information, birth certificates can be obtained for almost anyone. Finding birth certificates online can provide definitive proof of parentage, place of birth, clues to family history, and in many cases, can provide applicants with peace of mind as well.

About The Author

If you need assistance in finding vital records like birth certificates online, the author recommends visiting the website

Looking Into Genealogy Records

By Benjamin Brook

Tracing a family tree may at first, seem like a simple idea, however; most people discover it is not as easy as they first thought. Many begin their pursuit by talking with relatives. This is the first step, and it makes the most sense. Many will find, that people have faulty memories and the information that they think is correct may not be.

Although family members are the best initial step, and they can certainly give good insights into family lore and names of potential ancestors, after getting basic information it may be time to try and find documentation of family connections and this is when many begin looking into outside sources to find genealogy records.

Where To Begin Looking

For many, they begin their search with the internet to find genealogy records. The internet has many resources, and some of these do cost a membership fee. Be sure to carefully inspect any sites that request a fee for their legitimacy. Genealogy records exist, but many have not been taken from their original text and put on web-sites.

Genealogy records are generally documents that include things like marriage certificates, death certificates, and birth certificates. There are also tax records and land deeds that can be found. Often, records for specific regions are kept in court houses in that area. Because some people may be searching for genealogy records from several centuries ago, it can be difficult to locate the actual paperwork.

Keep in mind that between natural disasters, fire and even the Civil War, paperwork can be lost or destroyed. This makes the process of looking for genealogy records even more difficult. There are some places that contain genealogy records that may only be on micro film too. Often by making phone calls to courthouses a person can help narrow the focus of where genealogy records are kept.

The Mormon Church also has a genealogy resource to share. They have genealogy records and census information that may come in handy when trying to make a family tree. They do have an on-line resource that anyone can use and it gives good explanations on how to use their system and also contains tips on how to focus on an individual person to get the most information possible.

Libraries are another good source for information. Many contain old newspapers on file that can be searched through for general information that may lead to more definitive information about a relative. There are genealogy records, and over time and through research a person can find which ones are the best to use when researching a family tree.

About The Author

For more information about genealogy please visit my website
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