How to Get a Copy of Your Marriage Certificate

This article was written by Jennifer Mueller, JD. Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006.

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Whether you need it to change your name or for other legal reasons, or just want one for your personal files, getting a copy of your U.S. marriage certificate is as easy as requesting one from the vital records office of the state where you got married. There are several different ways to request a copy, all of which may be available in many states.

Getting Your Copy in Person

The CDC includes a list of where to write for vital records of every U.S. state and territory at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm.

• For example, all county offices and the central state office in Georgia have public walk-in hours, however, some county offices may be closed on certain days of the week or certain times of the day. [3] X Research source

• Not all of the information typically will be required, but you should include as much of it as you know for quicker and more accurate processing of your request. [4] X Research source

• You may be charged an additional fee if you need a certified copy. #Get your copy. In some counties you may be able to get your copy the day you request it. In others, the certificate will be mailed to you within a few days of your request.
• The turnaround time for your request also may depend on when your marriage took place, as older records may not be digitized and may be more difficult to search. [6] X Research source

Ordering Your Copy Online

Find out if you can use VitalChek. Most states use the VitalChek service, which allows for secure online processing of official vital records such as marriage certificates. [7] X Research source

• You should include as much detail as you know, even if it is not required. Including more details can help ensure that you get the right document. #Pay any required fees. In many cases there will be an additional fee for using VitalChek apart from whatever fee is required by the state or county vital records office.
• VitalChek accepts all major credit cards.

• The benefits of paying for a private service such as UPS include the ability to track your document and make sure it is delivered by a certain date.

Ordering Using Phone or Mail

• In some states, mailed vital records requests are only processed in the central office, usually in the state's capital.
• For example, if you want to request a copy of a Georgia marriage license in person, you would go to the vital records registrar in the county where you were married. If you wanted to mail your request, however, you would mail it to the central office in Atlanta. [8] X Research source
• Similarly, Cook County Illinois has six different locations where you can request a marriage certificate in person, but only one address to submit a request by mail.

• If you're ordering a copy of your marriage certificate over the phone, you should be prepared to give the customer service representative who answers the phone the same information as you would include on the request form, such as the names of the bride and groom and the date and location of the marriage.

Get a request form. You may be able to download and print a request form online. If not, write a letter to the appropriate address that states you are requesting a copy of your marriage certificate and provides important information such as the names of the bride and groom and the date and location of the marriage. [9] X Research source #Make photocopies of identification, if required. Some states only allow spouses or other specific relatives to receive a copy of a marriage certificate, and thus require proof of your identity before they will process your request and mail the certificate. [10] X Research source

• You may be able to get additional copies at a reduced rate. Some states may charge extra for a certified, apostille, or exemplified copy. If you need such a copy, you should contact the vital records office before you make your request to make sure you are requesting it properly and have included all the necessary fees.
• Your fee typically will be around $15 depending on the state and county. [11] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source

• Some states such as California require you to include a sworn statement signed in front of a notary public under penalty of perjury. [13] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source

Mail your request. Once you've finished your request, make copies of it and then mail it along with the fee and any other documents to the mailing address of the state vital records office. [14] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source

• The date of the marriage may impact the length of time it takes to process your request. Older records may not be digitized or may be housed in a warehouse location. [15] X Research source