How to Find Free Marriage Records on FamilySearch.org

This guide will walk you through the process of finding free marriage records on FamilySearch.org, a vital resource for family historians.

How to Find Free Marriage Records on FamilySearch.org

1. Go to FamilySearch.org and Log In

• Navigate your web browser to FamilySearch.org.
• Click "Sign In" located in the top right corner of the page.
• Enter your username and password, then click "Sign In" again. If you don't have an account, click "Free Account" and follow the prompts to create one – it's completely free and unlocks all of FamilySearch's features!

2. Access the Search Records Page

• Once you are signed in, hover your mouse over "Search" in the main menu bar at the top of the page.
• From the dropdown menu that appears, click on "Records". This will take you to the main historical records search interface.

3. Enter Your Search Criteria

You'll now see a search form where you can input details about the marriage you're looking for:

• First Names: Enter the first name(s) of one or both spouses.
• Last Names: Enter the last name(s) of one or both spouses.
• Event Type: In the "Event Type" dropdown menu, select "Marriage".
• Place: Start typing the location where the marriage might have occurred (e.g., "Ohio, United States", "London, England", "York County, Pennsylvania"). FamilySearch will suggest places as you type; select the most accurate geographical location from the suggestions.
• Date Range: Enter a specific year or a range of years for the marriage (e.g., "1880" or "1875-1885").
• Once you've entered your information, click the blue "Search" button.

4. Review and Refine Your Results

• FamilySearch will display a list of potential matches based on your criteria.
• Carefully examine the entries for names, event types (marriage), and locations/dates that align with your ancestor's information.
• On the left-hand side of the results page, you'll find options to further refine your search. You can adjust the date range, modify the place, add a spouse's name, or even include parents' names if known. This is crucial for narrowing down broad searches.

5. View the Record and Image

• When you locate a promising record in the results list, click on the entry. This will take you to a summary page containing the indexed details of the record.
• Look for a small camera icon (often labeled "View Image") or a document icon ("View Document") next to the record summary.
• Click on this icon to view the original digitized image of the marriage record. This is a critical step, as original records frequently contain more valuable information (like parents' names, witnesses, or exact dates) than what was initially indexed.
• Carefully examine the image for all marriage details, including the full names of spouses, the exact date, the precise location, names of parents, witnesses, and any other relevant genealogical clues.

6. Explore Other Search Options (If Needed)

• If a direct "Records" search doesn't yield the results you need, don't give up! FamilySearch offers other powerful tools.
• Under the "Search" menu, consider using the "Catalog". Here, you can search by place (e.g., a specific county or state) and then browse available record collections, such as "marriage records" for that locality. This is highly effective if you know the precise geographic area.
• Another option is "Images", also found under the "Search" menu. This allows you to browse unindexed records by geographical location, which can be invaluable for finding records that haven't been transcribed or made searchable by name yet.