Virginia Free Marriage Records

By Claire Dowell


In the Commonwealth of Virginia, marital records are open for public viewing, but only after the documents have reached the fifty year statute of limitation. Virginia marriage records, like any other vital document, are sacred and private. This is why in the Old Dominion State, only the next of kin or the couple whose names appear on the document can have complete access to their own marital records. Any interested third party must first obtain the couple's consent before they are granted access to the files in question.

The state's Department of Health oversees the Office of Vital Records, which is the main keeper of all vital records of Virginia. Aside from managing these records, the office is also tasked with the dissemination of the vital records - and this does not only cover marriage records, but birth certificates, divorce dossiers, marriage licenses and death reports as well. The Vital Records Office is the main agency responsible for regulating important public records for the Virginians. This is the state's answer to the Freedom of Information Act that gives all individuals with the right requirements and credentials the right to obtain these vital dossiers anytime they need to.

County registrars and the Clerk of Court work together with the Vital Records and Health Statistics Divisions. Therefore, residents can also obtain copies of marriage records, especially since they manage a comprehensive database. So if the record you are looking for is not available or found in the state office, you should consider searching for it through the county office - specifically in the county where the marriage happened. Virginia has a total of 95 counties, so it is important to know in which county the event really took place. The state's website has list of each state and their requirements, including the fee and contact information for every office.

If you want complete access to older vital documents, the Archives Division in the Library of Virginia has an extensive collection of surviving records of birth, death, and marriage in the state. The marital reports that can be viewed in the library include documents filed prior to 1936. Albeit, the county offices keep marriage certificates dating back to January of 1853, the Archives Division may just be able to provide you with additional information that can be helpful for your research.

Although government and state offices have long been providing the public the means to obtain access to vital records, the idea of using the advancements presented by digital technology is a welcome development. Gathering information through the Internet has become a major thing nowadays, especially since it is convenient and offers more than the usual. With just a click of the mouse, you can get practically every public data you need. But then, no matter how powerful Google has become in the online world, searching for someone's complete background is not as easy as entering a keyword in the search bar. Getting the help of a reliable and experienced online record provider is still essential.

These days, there are a number of online record providers that avid researchers frequently rely upon for up-to-date and comprehensive background information. For a diminutive one-time fee, you will have unlimited access to the site's services and database of marriage license records, divorce decrees, birth certificates, and death reports. And with a nationwide coverage, you won't even have to find other source to access records from other states. You will have a person's complete family history in a matter of minutes, all done from the comfort of your home or office.




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