California Marriage Index

California Marriage Records show marriage license applications and marriages by county, name and date. Public marriage records in California are maintained by the California Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records. Confidential marriage records are only available through the particular county office which issued the marriage license while divorce records can only be retrieved through the Superior Court of the county where the divorce decree was passed. Because of the California Public Records Act, all public records in the state are accessible by any member of the public for view and copy.

Free California marriage records can be viewed at county offices across the state and online at various responsible government websites. This information can be very useful for general research purposes. Sometimes, however, a more official or formal set of marriage records is necessary. In California, the Office of Vital Records can release public marriage records and Certificates of Record for divorces. Certified copies can be ordered only from the county and that would require a fee.

Not unlike all other states, California marriage records can be retrieved directly by DIY (do-it-yourself) or through third-party companies. Each serves its purpose and the choice is a matter of individual preference and fit. By and large, the former method saves on financial cost and may even be free-of-charge whereas the latter is employed when it is for a relatively more serious or legal purpose.

In California, all public records can be viewed at Public Health county offices. They can also be requested via email. The California Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records lists all of the pamphlets, forms and fees necessary to obtain official copies of marriage and divorce records. Unfortunately, obtaining marriage records on your own can sometimes be a lengthy and onerous process. The California Office of Vital Statistics estimates a backlog of six months when processing requests for public marriage records of California and recommends that people go directly to county offices to view records and request copies of them. Respective counties have different forms, fees and processes to retrieve this information.

Several companies can help you expedite the process of accessing and viewing state public records. They can surely help you order and receive certified copies of marriage records in a much more expeditious manner than people generally can on their own. With information that you supply, these companies can directly fill out forms and make requests for you straight from different counties as their network and infrastructure are in place for it.

Commercial public record brokers are presumptively experienced and professional when it comes to public records. They are well-versed in forms, fees and state laws and generally charge reasonable rates to help you get your desired information smoothly and quickly. They also develop and maintain live databases so people can view instant marriage records for free, in some cases.

There are now an estimated 36 million people in California and records have been kept since 1850. As a result, there are quite a few million California marriage records in existence. Locating the one that you seek precisely can therefore be quite a challenge. It's probably best to engage professional service if time and integrity of information is of the essence.

Marriage records are handled differently from state to state. Visit us at State Marriage Records for pointers and information on California Marriage Records. We are seasoned specialists in public records.

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California Marriage Index

Florida Marriage Records

As with other states, marriage records in Florida are considered as public records. Along with birth, death, and divorce, they form the vital records under the Department of Health of Florida. Being public records, Florida Marriage Records are accessible by anyone as long as procedures are followed. From checking out a prospective spouse or partner to family tree and genealogy studies, they are one of the most widely searched public records not only in Florida but also nationwide.

In line with the standard structure across the country, Florida Marriage Records come under the jurisdiction of the state of Florida. Those dated June 6, 1927 and after are uploaded and maintained at the state repository in the Office of Vital Statistics located at Jacksonville which reports into the Florida Department of Health. Florida marriage records prior to that date are only obtainable from the Clerk of Court of that particular county where the marriage license was issued, with some known to be from as early as 1822.

There are an estimated 5 million marriage records on file at the Office of Vital Statistics of Florida. They can be requested through phone, fax, by mail or in person. Fees are required and they can be enquired at the respective agencies or viewed at their websites online. Every search is charged even if the requested record is not found in which case an official ‘not found’ statement will be provided. It must be noted that it does not strictly mean that no such marriage records exist when that happens. They may possibly be present but are classified as confidential marriage records or other categories that render them non-public. However, this is more of an exception rather than the rule.

Individual state records are not linked and that applies to Florida marriage records. Florida marriage records of former Florida residents will not show up in a marriage record search in another state and vice-versa. For people who have resided in multiple states, marriage record searches would have to be conducted for each of those states in order to cover their marital history fully but breezing through it online is a far, far cry from what people used to have to go through during the pre-internet era.

With the advent of the internet, online search has by far become the predominant mode of researching marriage records over the traditional on-site option. The foremost reasons for its popularity are:
1. Privacy and discretion – you can research people in secret.
2. Convenience - it can be conducted anywhere since only a PC with internet access is required.
3. Vast options – wide range of information sources readily found online.
4. Immediacy – instant and 24/7.

There are basically two versions of online marriage record searches: Free Marriage Records and fee-based. The former is usually offered in the form of teaser information or as enticement toward an underlying patronage or subscription. Their overall standards will fulfill nothing more than broad research. The latter is the one that’s necessary for official and other serious purposes and even so, finding the right commercial record provider can be tricky. Fortunately, online shopping is no-sweat so source around a little before signing up.