How to Find Broward County Marriage Records on FamilySearch

How to Find Broward County Marriage Records on FamilySearch

This guide will walk you through the process of locating Broward County, Florida marriage records directly on FamilySearch.org.

Step 1: Access FamilySearch and the Search Page

• Go to FamilySearch.org in your web browser.
• Click "Sign In" in the top right corner if you have an account (recommended for full access to all features), or you can proceed as a guest for many public records.
• From the main menu bar at the top of the page, click on the word "Search".
• From the dropdown menu that appears, select "Records". This action will take you to the Search Historical Records page.

Step 2: Utilize the "Find a Collection" Search

• On the "Search Historical Records" page, locate the "Find a Collection" search bar, usually found on the right side of the page. This is a powerful tool for targeting specific record sets.
• Type "Broward County Florida marriages" or simply "Florida marriages" into the search bar.
• Press Enter or click the search icon.
• Review the list of collections that appear. Look for relevant titles such as "Florida Marriages, 1837-1974" or "Florida, County Marriage Records, 1837-1974". The exact collection name may vary slightly.
• Click on the title of the most relevant collection to open its dedicated search interface.

Step 3: Search Within the Specific Collection

• Once you are on the specific collection page (e.g., "Florida Marriages, 1837-1974"), you will see fields designed for entering search criteria.
• Enter the First Name and Last Name of the groom or bride you are researching.
• If known, you can also add a Spouse's Name to narrow the results further.
• In the "Place" field, type "Broward, Florida, United States". This is crucial for limiting your search to Broward County records.
• Add any known Event Year or a range of years (e.g., "1925-1935") to refine your search.
• Click the "Search" button to view your results.

Step 4: Review Search Results and Browse Images

• Carefully examine the search results. Each result typically provides a summary of the record.
• Click on an individual's name to view the full record details. Look for a small camera or filmstrip icon next to the record if available. Clicking this icon will allow you to view the original document image, which often contains more details than the indexed entry alone.
• If a direct search within the collection does not yield results, or if the collection is not fully indexed, look for a "Browse through [Number] images" link on the collection's main page.
• Click this link to manually navigate through the digitized images. You will typically select the state (Florida), then the county (Broward), and then browse by record type, year, or index as prompted. This method requires patience but can be very effective for finding records not yet indexed.