The public is granted access to the document because they are deemed as public documents but there are certain protocols that need to be followed to get them. Of course, the bride and groom hold the right to access their own marriage document. Their legal representatives can access them too if necessary. The only time a person can get access to another person's documents is when he or she has the consent of the court, as such in the case of someone investigating the marital status of a potential spouse.
To start a search you need to secure first the proper request form at the state's Department of Health or at a clerk of Superior Court. Next, fill out the form with the vital details that it requires such as the groom's full name, the bride's maiden name, their respective dates of birth, their address, when and where the marriage took place, why you want to obtain the records and your relationship to the bride or groom. Do not forget to present a proof of identity upon submission of request. Double check the details that you are providing because they are vital to the success or failure of your search. In addition, if the custodian of the record you want to obtain does not find your reason to be valid, they have the right to accept your request.
Each certified copy of a marriage record costs $30 and $15 for extra copies. If you send your request via phone or Internet, it will take 5-7 business days to complete the search process. If you send it via mail, the process takes at least 2 weeks and can take as long as 8 weeks. If you want to get the records sooner, you can opt for a rush handling for $45 per copy. All fees are non-refundable once paid, regardless of the outcome of the search.
Marriage records can also be obtained by doing an online search through service providers. There are service providers that are authorized by the government to maintain and provide the records to the public. There are several authorized service providers out there but, unfortunately, not all of them are reliable sources. Before you decide which service provider to conduct your search on, run a background check on them and the find out if they have a reputation of being a reliable source.
Online service providers are categorized into two kinds: fee-based service providers and providers that allow a Free Marriage Records Search. Both can get you the basic details of a marriage record. The difference is that fee-based service providers can get you an in-depth version of marriage records for a certain fee. If you are lucky, you might even get your hands on the confidential pieces of information.
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