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What are Divorce Records?	Where Can I Get Divorce Records?
Are There Free Divorce Records?	What are Vital Records?
Where Can I Get Vital Records?	Are There Free Vital Records?
What are Birth Records?	Where Can I Get Birth Records?
Are There Free Birth Records?	What are Death Records?
Where Can I Get Death Records?	Are There Free Death Records?
What are Marriage Records?	Where Can I Get Marriage Records?
Are There Free Marriage Records?	What is “Searching for Living People?”
What Genealogy Communities Are Out There?	Who are Experts and What is the Expert Series?

What are Divorce Records?

In the United States, a couple can be legally married in any state, and any married couple can also arrange a legal divorce in any state. To begin the divorce process, one of the married individuals must file for divorce in the county courthouse in which he or she resides. By doing so, a permanent legal record is created. What is a Permanent Divorce Record? A divorce record is a legal document that legally dissolves a marriage. It is a court document, usually drawn up by attorneys, that states the reason for the divorce and all the settlement agreements. Through this document, a married couple can have full legal protection of each individual’s interests. All assets acquired during the marriage are split, and spousal support payments are calculated, as well as child support payments if there are minor children resulting from the marriage. Divorce processes differ from state to state. However, one person usually begins the process by filing a lawsuit and petitioning the court for the divorce. He or she then becomes the ‘Petitioner,’ while the other spouse becomes the ‘Respondent.’ With the help of a lawyer, the petitioner can state his or her demands from the divorce. The respondent usually has a certain time period to respond, and if no response is made, then the court will usually grant the divorce to the petitioner with all demands set forth. If the respondent wishes to contest the divorce, or dispute the proposed settlement agreement, then litigation is involved where the two sides must negotiate a mutual agreement. If no settlement can be made, then the divorce goes to trial, where a judge will make the final decisions. Once a final settlement made, the final divorce decree is created, filed, and signed by the county judge assigned to the case. This creates a public record of the terms of the divorce. What Is Included In a Divorce Record? The legal divorce record will have the following information: • Full legal names of the petitioner and respondent • The date that the divorce was filed • The location where the divorce was filed • The date the divorce became final Other information that may be included: • Credit card balance information from each individual • Other debt disclosures • Income tax returns • A list of all assets and how they are divided • Payment calculations and arrangements for spousal support and/or child support How Can Divorce Records Be Useful? Divorce records can usually be accessed by the public unless the decree has been sealed by court order. Legal divorce records can be useful in a number of ways. Here are just a few: • Verify that an individual is legally divorced • Verify whether an individual was previously married • Useful for helping to locate an individual • Uncover previous spousal abuse • Discover history of illegal acts Thanks to our current digital age, public records, such as a divorce records, can be easily searched and accessed with the help of a background check company. Or you can do the research yourself for much less money.

Where Can I Get Divorce Records?

There are a variety of reasons why you may need divorce records. Whether the record is your own, you are confirming a divorce of another individual, or conducting genealogy research, you can perform a search and oftentimes request divorce records if you have the right resources. Starting with the County Courthouse Divorce records are considered “vital records,” which also include birth, death, and marriage records. However, a divorce record is a legal document, and thus, you will usually be able to find them in the courthouse records in the county in which the divorce was finalized. If you know the exact county in which the divorce took place, you can contact that county courthouse clerk to find out the fees and procedure for requesting divorce records. Perform a simple online search with the county name and state to find a contact for that specific county. You will most likely find the contact information you need. If that doesn’t work, you can find a list of county courts and their contact information on each official state page. Simply type the URL: www.state.XX.us, where ‘XX’ is replaced by the actual state code. For instance, to bring up the official state website for South Dakota, enter www.state.SD.us. Official state websites have a variety of helpful information. Look for links to courts or state agencies to find the county you seek. If you do not know the county, all states have a central agency for vital records. You can contact this organization to have a search performed on the divorce record in which you are interested. A resource to contact all the states’ vital records departments is at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm. Information to Supply to the County Clerk When you find the county contact you are searching for, you will need to provide information to help the clerk search for the divorce record you need. You will usually be required to complete a form and include information such as the divorce file number, names of individuals, and a reason you are requesting the record. Since official divorce files contain private and sensitive information, many states only grant official copies to the individuals identified on the divorce decree. You may be able to simply confirm that a divorce record exists, however. Other states, however, consider divorce records public records, and anyone may obtain a copy. Online Resources to Access Divorce Records You also have many resources available online to search for divorce records. Many private agencies and businesses perform vital records searches. Most will charge a fee or provide only limited information for free. You can perform a free public record search for individuals at http://publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/. Enter the name of an individual, and this service will provide a list of potential matches. If you want further information, you can pay for their service to provide the records. You may also get valuable information from www.vitalchek.com, which is a LexisNexis company. LexisNexis is the most trusted global leader in information research. VitalChek provides easy directions and step-by-step instructions for ordering vital records, including divorce records. VitalChek also provides helpful guides to determine whether divorce records are public or ID-only in each state. Your search for divorce records can be successful. Use the resources provided here, or do a more specific search online to get the information you need.

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Divorce records can be particularly helpful for a number of reasons. Here are just a few: • You are a party of the divorce and need a copy for your records. • You need to verify whether an individual is divorced. • Check divorce records for previous criminal history, • You are performing genealogy research and need to find information on a family member. States that Provide Divorce Records to the Public Divorce records are legal documents found in county courts, therefore they are considered to be public records. However, can anyone access divorce records and can they be requested for free? The answer is: it depends. Although divorce records are court records, they are not always available to the general public, and they are not always available for free. Because divorce records often contain sensitive information about an individual, including income, criminal, and other private information disclosed during the divorce proceedings, the records are often released only to individuals involved, and only if they provide proper identification. However, some states do release records to any person who requests them. To get a better picture if divorce records are available to anyone and if there is a charge, you can visit http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm. Here you can find state vital records agencies and information on how to contact for search and payment information. “Free” Online Divorce Records However, if you wanted help obtaining divorce records, are there resources that explain how you can obtain a divorce record for free? Yes, there are online websites that do offer information on whether you can order divorce records for free. But be careful – most websites that promote “free” divorce records only perform free searches. If a record is found, you then must pay a fee for it. However, most websites that advertise free divorce or public records offer only limited information, such as confirmation that a divorce record exists for an individual in a specific county. This type of information may be all you need. To get more detailed information, you will generally be required to pay a fee for searches and copies of records. Many websites offer free genealogy records searches, and some will provide divorce records as well. At Archives.com, you can get a free 7-day trial and access over 1 billion records from all states. Archives.com not only conducts searches and provides record information on the individual you are looking for, but it also provides a host of other state, vital records, and genealogy resources for you to use in your search for divorce records. If you are doing research and need information about a specific divorce, look to the resources provided here. Free information is available if you have the right resource to access.

What are Vital Records?

Every important milestone in your life creates a record. Such events may be birth, marriage, divorce, and death, each having its own documented record kept on file in hospitals and courts. These are known as vital records, and they provide a legal documentation of these important events. Vital records are important in a number of ways. Below is a list of each vital record, what is included, and why they are useful. Birth Certificates A birth certificate gives a recorded document of the day, time, and location of an individual’s birth. If the birth occurred at a hospital or medical facility, the birth certificate is usually issued by that facility and certified by the attending physician. Otherwise, a standard birth certificate form can be easily obtained by the state registrar and certified by a doctor, midwife, doula, or other state-approved certifier. The typical U.S. birth certificate form has been standardized by the U.S. Public Health Service, but states are free to issue their own form. On the form, you will find the following: • Child’s Information – Including name, date and time of birth, sex, city and county of birth, and the specific place of birth (hospital, residence, etc.) • Certifier/Attendant – Must be an approved certifier by the state • Mother’s Information • Father’s Information • Other Demographic Information – Such as race, pregnancy history, marriage status of mother, etc. This document is important for a number of reasons. First, the document is kept in the registrar’s office in each state for important census information. Also, your certified copy of your birth certificate is used for: • A verifiable source of identification • Obtaining a driver’s license • Obtaining a passport • Obtaining a social security number • Documentation of a family history or genealogy search Marriage Certificate A marriage license, or marriage certificate, is also issued and kept at the state level. The certificate is a legal documentation of the marriage between two people recognized by the state as being eligible for marriage. A marriage certificate is signed by both parties of the marriage and an officiant, and it is also filed with a state government agency, which is usually a registrar or county clerk. The information includes the date and county that the marriage took place. Marriage certificates can be useful for: • Verifying a marital union • Verifying a family history • Obtaining spousal insurance Divorce Records Divorce records are legal documents usually written by attorneys and filed in county courts. These documents are vital for legalizing the dissolution of a marriage and stating specific duties by each spouse for dividing marital assets and paying child or spousal support. There is no standard form for a divorce document, since each divorce is unique to each married couple. Included will be the names of the parties, when and where the marriage took place, and the date the divorce was finalized in the court and signed by a judge. Divorce documents may also contain sensitive information such as tax records, income records, criminal records, and lists of assets. Divorce records can be used for: • Determining the divorce status of an individual • Revealing criminal history of an individual • Verifying family history for a genealogy search • Verifying the last known address of an individual Death Certificate Death certificates, like birth certificates, are also important for keeping public health and morbidity information on file. When a death occurs, a certificate of death is issued by a coroner, or other government official. The certificate explains the approximate date, time, location, and cause of death. Death certificates are important to be used for: • Verifying the death of an individual • Verifying family history or genealogy search • Use in estate probate • Verification of life insurance claim

Where Can I Get Vital Records?

Vital records are those documents that provide an important milestone or event in each of our lives. These records include legal certificates of your birth, marriage, death, and court documents of any divorces. Each of these vital records provides not only documentation of the event, but they are equally important in other ways after the event. People search for vital records for many reasons, including but certainly not limited to: • Verifying family history (genealogy) • Locating an individual • Background checks on individuals • Providing proof of a death for insurance purposes • Obtaining a driver’s license Where to Begin Your Search Searching for vital records can be a challenge. The good news is that if you know the state and county in which the event took place, you can contact that government agency, such as a county courthouse, registrar, or state office of vital statistics, and request access to these documents. Usually there is a small fee and forms to complete for the request. The bad news is that if you do not know the state or county, your search could take longer. State-Specific Searches Available Online Thankfully, there is more good news. In our current digital age with databases connected through a worldwide network of computers, you can still obtain vital records with diligent research and by using the right resources. State and county agencies can be contacted via the internet where you can make your request. A good place to start looking for the proper state vital records agency is by using the state-by-state resource provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm. Here you can click on the state you need and find specific offices for each vital record. Other Online Resources However, where do you go if you only have a name and not a clue where the vital event took place? There are many companies that provide a valuable service by searching for vital records. One resource is www.vitalchek.com, which is a company owned by LexisNexis, the world’s leading research organization. VitalChek offers you an easy, step-by-step process to order your vital record. At the end of your order, you simply pay the required agency fee, plus a single VitalChek order fee, and your document will be on the way. Another online resource for all vital records is www.archives.com. This resource is helpful for family searches and genealogy, and it has over 1 billion records accessible. In addition, you can browse collections of records, network with other family history buffs, and get expert vital record search advice. Archives.com does charge a reasonable subscription to access their records, but they also offer a free 7-day trial where you can try searching their databases with no payment obligation. Your vital records search, whether it is for yourself, a family member, or other individual, begins at your fingertips. Using these online resources can save you time, stress, and money, and get you the records or information you need.

Are There Free Vital Records?

Vital records are legal documents of important events, including birth, marriage, divorce, and death. These records are created not only to keep census and vital statistics for government agencies, but for individual uses, such as identification, background checks, verification of marital status, verification for a life insurance claim, and many more reasons. However, searching for and obtaining vital records can be a chore, and there is usually a fee involved in obtaining a certified copy from a government agency. Is there vital record information that is available for free? And where can you get free vital record information? Accessing Free Vital Records from Each State Since vital records are legal government documents, they must be requested through an official form, and a fee must be paid. Each state and government agency has its own procedure and fee schedule for vital records official copy requests. However, some states will provide limited free information online for those vital records that are deemed “public record.” Thankfully, tracking down the right agency to contact can be easy if you know where to look. If you know the specific agency you need, you can start by looking at the free resource located at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm. Here you can locate for free the specific agency for each vital record for every state in the U.S. Online Resources for Vital Records If you are searching a record for someone else, or don’t know the specific county or state agency, you can find online resources that provide helpful information. One online resource is Archives.com. At Archives.com you can search their collection of over 1.3 billion records, browse collections of records, network with other family history and genealogy buffs, and even find or ask expert advice. Although Archives.com does charge a subscription fee for the use of their vast database, you can access their records for no charge with a free 7-day trial. Use your free 7-day trial to search for your own records, your living relatives, or even your ancestors. If you find that the service is worthwhile, your subscription will automatically begin after 7 days if you do not cancel. Free Online Search Tools In the hunt for family tree ancestors or even living relatives, you do have other free resources and search engines. Another free search engine is at www.ancestorhunt.com. This free search engine can help you find records by using specific surnames or state, and it provides additional genealogy help. A search could turn up digital copies of your ancestors’ records, including property deeds, marriage bonds, and other certificates. Another popular genealogy site is www.rootsweb.com. Here you can upload your own family tree information and browse over 300,000 posted family trees and over 3 billion records. Still another helpful website that may help you find ancestors in your family tree search is the research site provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at www.familysearch.org. Your search for personal vital records or ancestry records doesn’t have to be a chore or cost you a lot of money. Try these free resources to get you started and with the right information you can get the records you need.

What are Birth Records?

Obtaining birth records for yourself, a loved one, or even an ancestor has never been easier, thanks to well-organized local and state databases and easy-to-use online databases. What’s in a Birth Record? A birth record can provide an individual with a plethora of information, including the person’s full name, his or her birth date, his or her place of birth, the name of his or her mother and father (as well as the mother’s maiden name), and even the physician who attended the birth. Birth records, which are usually widely available from as far back as the early 1900s (vital records typically were not compiled before that time), are generally issued by the state and local government in which the individual was born. Although each state has their own database for birth records (there is currently no nationwide database for birth records), and therefore their own search engines for birth records, the process of finding birth records is typically easy to complete. Why Birth Records are Useful Birth records can provide an individual with a plethora of valuable information on another individual. They can be very useful when researching an ancestor’s or relative’s birth for genealogy purposes. In addition, birth records can allow adopted individuals to find their birth parents, as well as provide individuals with a “primary source” record when searching for the location of another individual. How to Retrieve Birth Records As mentioned previously, birth records can typically be found through a state or local government’s vital records office. A simple visit to this office, along with a written request and a small fee, can produce the birth records for nearly any individual, provided you come armed with a certain amount of information on that individual. To find the address of your state or local vital records office, you can contact the National Center for Health Statistics by either calling them at (301) 458-4636 or by visiting www.cdc.gov/nchs. Once you arrive at your state or local vital records office, you will need the following information: • Full name of the person on which you are requesting the birth record • The sex of the individual • The parents’ names, including the mother’s maiden name • The city of birth • The reason for requesting the birth record The more information you have regarding the individual in question, the easier it is to locate the appropriate birth record. The vital records office will then likely request a small fee for performing your birth record search and for providing you with a copy of the birth record. The Convenience of Online Databases All states now have online databases for birth records as well. Thus, locating a birth record online through an easily searchable database is quite simple to accomplish. Although you must visit your local vital records office to retrieve an official paper copy of a birth record, you can use online search engines to gain valuable information on birth records for informational purposes. There are also many online searchable databases that allow individuals to search for birth records from other countries. Indeed, the internet has made the process of searching for birth records quite easy.

Where Can I Get Birth Records?

Birth records can prove to be highly useful tools for a number of reasons. You may have misplaced your birth record and need another copy to apply for a passport, for example. Or you may be looking for your birth parents. Finally, you may be interested in performing genealogy searches for your ancestors. Whatever the reason, obtaining birth records, either for yourself or for a relative, is a fairly simple process, given the conveniences of the internet. Your State or Local Vital Records Office Because there is no national database for birth records, you must go through your state or local vital records office to obtain an official, raised seal birth record. However, the process is a fairly straightforward one. Simply head to your state or local vital records office, armed with your checkbook and as much information as possible on the person’s birth record you are interested in obtaining. It makes the process much easier if you have some key information so that the vital records department can easily locate the birth record in question. It is important to recognize, however, that most states prohibit the release of a birth record unless you are the person listed on the birth record. The individuals that can obtain a birth record include: the spouse, power of attorney or legal representative of the person in question, the parent, sibling or stepparent of the person in question, the grandparent/grandchild of the person in question. Some of the information requested by the vital records office may include: first and last name, name of the individual’s parents, city in which the birth took place, and the individual’s birth date. It is not necessary to have all of this information; it just facilitates the process. The vital records office will ask you to fill out a form for the birth record request. Along with the completed form, they will likely ask for a small fee to produce an original birth record. Although birth records are vital records that are free to the public, the vital records office will request a fee to cover their administrative costs. Depending on the state in which you live, and depending on how busy the vital records office is, you may be able to receive your birth record that day. Otherwise, they will likely mail it to you. Birth Records Websites There are many birth records websites that allow you to accomplish the same thing, as they generally just do the legwork for you. Websites are ideal for ordering birth records, especially if the birth record in question is out of state. Websites that perform birth records searches often ask for key information in order to facilitate the process. Therefore, once again, the more information you provide, the easier it is to have a successful match. Websites work in different ways; some offer memberships, thereby allowing you to search many different people for a period of time (this is often ideal for genealogy purposes), while others simply charge a flat fee for performing the search and providing you with a copy of a birth record. Often times, many of the websites that perform these searches use state or local agencies to find the person in question. They can therefore often provide you with a raised seal birth certificate, sent directly to your home, in a matter of weeks.

Are There Free Birth Records?

There is no such thing as free birth records. For all the websites that claim they can provide you with a free birth record, look for the hidden fees and look for the catch! Birth records may be obtained for any number of reasons, and they are vital for receiving other documents, such as a driver license or a passport. Some employers ask for birth records when applying for a job, and birth records are a great resource when performing genealogy searches. Local Vital Records Office vs. Online Services Regardless of where you get your birth record, it will cost you money to do so. Your first stop may be your state or local vital records office. Although this may be your best option, particularly if you are in the same city or state of your birth, retrieving your birth records from a reputable website may be slightly more convenient. Many times, the vital records office of a state or local government is overburdened with a high number of requests for vital records. As a result, it may take some time to receive an original, raised seal copy of your birth record. The fees for obtaining a birth record is often less through your vital records office than online, but the convenience of receiving the birth record in a shorter length of time is often well worth the extra cost. Why Birth Records are Not Free Birth records, regardless of who obtains them, must be pulled from a state or local vital records office, and these offices always charge a small administrative fee to do so. Therefore, a company that says they can provide a free copy of your birth record is misrepresenting the truth. In fact, you will often find that they charge a number of related fees that end up costing you more than simply ordering the birth records on your own. However, there are many websites, such as www.archives.com, that take the proper channels to produce results. Often times, it is these websites that can help you locate loved ones or ancestors that may be incredibly difficult to do if you performed a search through your local vital records office. These websites facilitate process of performing genealogy searches and allow you to search for the birth records of loved ones from the comfort of your home. Reputable websites often have easy-to-use search tools that eliminate the hassle of coming up empty handed; instead, they offer full records access and easy retrieval of birth records. Best of all, these websites allow you to obtain all of the information you need in one comprehensive location. They can even provide you with links to other genealogy websites to retrieve all of the information necessary to complete a thorough, comprehensive search. Finally, websites such as Archives.com, through small fees and reasonably priced memberships, allow you to save searches and records, review past records and searches and maintain a personal collection for convenient viewing at any time. Searching birth records and performing genealogy searches has never been easier!

What are Death Records?

Obtaining a copy of a death record is a fairly simple and straightforward process. Death records must be obtained through your state or local vital records office, as there is currently no national database for retrieving such records. However, there are certain conditions that must be met before you can obtain a copy of a death record. Who can Obtain a Death Record? Most local and state vital records offices have clear rules on obtaining death records. In fact, most state agencies will only release a death record for an individual who can prove to be a direct-line descendant of the person in question. A direct-line descendant is the spouse, parent or child of the deceased. Other persons who are eligible to receive a copy of a death record are those who have documented lawful right or claim, a documented medical need, or a court order handed down from a state court. In order to request a copy of a death record, the person in question must provide proof of their relationship to the deceased. The vital records office will then likely request a photo ID, such as a passport or a driver’s licenses, as well as two other letters or statements that show the applicant’s current name and address. Often times, the vital records office will accept such documentation as a utility bill or letter from a governmental agency. Although each state will have its own set of rules regarding the release of death records, the above information is generally commonplace. Are There any Exceptions? For individuals interested in searching for death records for genealogy purposes, the process of obtaining a death record is not quite that complicated. However, most state and local vital records offices will only release death records if the individual has been deceased for at least 50 years (this time frame may vary slightly from state to state). At this point, you can receive death certificates for genealogy purposes. Most vital records offices will require that you request the death certificate in writing, and that you provide a good deal of information to facilitate the search. Be as accurate as possible when requesting the death certificate, and if you don’t know exact dates and locations, you can estimate. For example, if you don’t know the exact date of the individual’s death, you can provide a span of years to the vital records office to guide them in their search. Some of the information you may be asked to provide includes: the date of request, the full name of the deceased, the sex of the person, the date of death, the city and/or town of death, your relationship to the deceased, the purpose of your request, and your contact information. The vital records office will also ask you to pay a small fee to cover administrative costs. Online Resources There are many websites that may be able to help you in your search for death records. They can provide you with the proper information and can greatly facilitate the process so you can receive your death records in a reasonable amount of time.

Where Can I Get Death Records?

Death records, in general, may be obtained from the state or municipality in which the individual died. However, the process of obtaining a death record often involves a bit more legwork than simply requesting it. Death records provide a good deal of useful information about an individual’s death, including: the date of death, the place of death, and the name of the mother and father. Death records may also include the maiden name of the deceased’s mother. Regardless of why you are requesting a death record, it is important to understand that state and local governments are the only entities that issue death records; it is therefore often practical to head to the vital records office of the state or city in which the individual died. There are many resources for obtaining a death record; however, the conveniences of the Internet have allowed many individuals to obtain information on loved ones and ancestors that otherwise would have been quite difficult and time consuming to find. Vital Records Offices Most vital records offices accept walk-in requests; however, because most of these vital records offices are inundated with vital records requests, you may have to wait several weeks before they provide you with the death record in question. With that said, you may also obtain a copy of a death record through the vital records website of the state in question, and you may also send in a written request for the information. Social Security Death Index Another valuable search tool for death certificates is through the Social Security Death Index. Begun in 1935, this online database is quite comprehensive, and it may be particularly useful if you don’t know the state in which an individual died. This website, however, may ask a lot of information about the deceased, including the name, the date of birth, the date of death, the social security number, and the state or county of residence. The Social Security Death Index is a valuable search tool, as it contains over 80 million records of death that have been reported to the SSA. However, it is important to understand that the Social Security Death Index does not have information on all individuals. Online Searches There are a number of online archives, however, that can provide you with death records in a more convenient fashion. All reputable search engines will require a fee; however, these fees are typically very small, and the search can be completed from the comfort of your home. Perhaps the most convenient part of using an online archive database is that you can search for individuals who died in different states. In other words, instead of searching for ancestors using separate state websites, you can perform comprehensive searches from just one location. There are many websites that either provide links to the appropriate state’s website or utilize search engines of their own. Either way, they can be highly useful when searching for death records from nearly any time and place.

Are There Free Death Records?

Death records can provide us with a plethora of useful information for genealogy purposes, and they may prove to be useful when dealing with estates, wills and inheritances. There are many websites that claim to offer free death records and other vital records, but these websites are often riddled with related fees and expenses – many of which aren’t initially disclosed by the company. Look for Hidden Fees For example, a website that offers free death records may perform a small, initial search that locates the individual in question (this simplified search is easy to complete). Then, once the deceased individual is located, the website then takes you to a new website that asks you to pay for the service of finding a death record. Often times, these misleading websites charge more than other death records websites. The bottom line is that all state and local vital records offices around the country charge a fee for a death record request. This fee generally covers the administrative costs of searching for and printing death records. Therefore, a website cannot offer a free search for a death record when the vital records office from where they are obtaining the information is charging a fee for the service. Beware of Inaccurate Information If a website claims to offer free death records, it may very well provide you with misleading or inaccurate information on the person on which you are requesting the death record. For most individuals that rely on an accurate death record for genealogy or simply personal reasons, an inaccurate death record is completely useless. How to Facilitate your Search Of course, there are reputable resources online that can help you locate the death records you seek. Archives.com, for example, is a powerful, comprehensive resource that can connect you with the right records. While this is a paid service, you can utilize their free 7-day trial to evaluate the service and begin your search for death records. Your genealogy search has never been easier using the power of the Internet. Websites such as Archives.com are there to make the searching process easier, saving you time and effort. The excitement of the Internet and the many conveniences that come along with it have empowered many individuals to find loved ones and ancestors – all with the click of a button.

What are Marriage Records?

Marriage records are the gateway to a plethora of useful information, particularly when performing genealogy research. Many times, they can open the door to a great deal of information about a particular person or couple. For example, you may be able to learn the maiden name of the bride, thereby presenting a whole new clue into your ancestors! Genealogy research involves a lot of hard work and just as much time, but it can be quite exciting and highly rewarding. There are, of course, other times when you may want to secure marriage records on a certain couple or individual. Indeed, marriage records can provide intriguing information about individuals, both living and deceased. The Value of Finding Marriage Records If you want to start filling out your family tree, then begin with a search for marriage records. You may be able to find out a great deal of information about both the bride and groom, including: their full names, their ages at the time of their marriage application, their residences and occupations at the time of the marriage application, and their parents’ names and addresses. For individuals performing genealogy research, this information can prove truly invaluable! Where to Find Marriage Records Marriage records can vary, depending on the time and place of the wedding. They may include a formal license or certificate, or they may be kept by the church in which the couple was married. With that said, there may be many resources through which you can obtain marriage records. You may start your search by looking through newspaper announcements, through church directories and records, or through local or state courthouses. However, most of these searches require that you have a good understanding of the approximate date of the marriage record, as well as a general location of where the marriage record was applied. Taking your Search Online However, if you don’t know these details, and you are armed only with the bride and groom’s names and the county or state in which they applied for the marriage record, you may need to take your search online. If you know the names of the bride and groom and the general location of where the marriage took place, then you can search through county clerk records, public access records, county court records, state public records, civil records and state records. However, for the sake of time (and to ease frustration and a lot of legwork), there are a number of great websites that may help you perform searches for marriage records. Many of these websites allow you to perform a comprehensive search of all the above mentioned sources – all while seated in the comfort of your own home. There are many state, city and county records that are kept online, so you may begin your search there. However, if you want to perform a more comprehensive search, you may want to use a marriage records website. Many times, these websites, for a nominal fee or subscription, will allow you to search for any number of records, including marriage records. Make sure that the website you are using is reputable before beginning your search, as there are just as many websites that provide false or inaccurate information.

Where Can I Get Marriage Records?

Marriage records are documents that record an official, legal marriage. Many individuals search for marriage records when performing genealogy research, as marriage records can give you a plethora of information about your loved ones and ancestors. For example, marriage records may include the following information: the maiden name of the bride, the groom’s full name, the ages of both the bride and groom, the marriage date, the county and state in which the marriage application was applied, and the filing number of the marriage record. For individuals interested in genealogy, marriage records can open the door to a wealth of information, much of which can help them with their genealogy searches. Marriage records, in short, may open up many doors to more information about lost loved ones or ancestors! Where Can I Obtain Marriage Records? The most obvious place to start to obtain a copy of a marriage record is at your local courthouse. You may have to pay a nominal fee to receive a copy of marriage records, although in order to be successful at obtaining marriage records, you must already know the county and state in which the marriage application was applied. The bride’s maiden name is also very useful and will yield better search results. Finally, knowing a time span during which the marriage application was filed is also very useful. However, what do you do when you don’t know this information? Where to Turn When You Need More Information The best place to start your search is on the Internet. If you can perform a comprehensive search on the Internet to find some vital information about the couple you are interested in, then you will be better prepared to secure a copy of their marriage record. Many times, information on marriages is found in the unlikeliest of places. You may be able to glean some information on an individual’s marriage from their obituary, from local newspaper announcements or through church resources. The bottom line is that you may have to get quite creative when it comes to finding the information necessary to locate the marriage records of a certain individual. Marriage Records Websites There are many websites that allow you to search for marriage records online, and many feature easy-to-use search engines. Best of all, they allow you to perform your searches from the comfort of your home. However, there are just as many websites that provide false or inaccurate information, so make it a point to verify the validity of the website before paying money to retrieve marriage records. Most of the time, these websites require a certain amount of information before they can do a thorough search. Some of the information typically requested for marriage records websites include: the name of the bride and groom, their ages, and any other marriage details, such as the county and state in which the application was applied. Best of all, trusted marriage records websites pull their information from a variety of resources, including public and private resources.

Are There Free Marriage Records?

Marriage records fall under the realm of vital records, along with birth records and death records. They are a public record, and therefore, are available and free to the public. However, marriage records, which are under the state’s jurisdiction, are kept in large depositories that are generally maintained by the county clerk or county office. Because these depositories are maintained, you generally must pay a small fee to access marriage records. This fee, which generally is no more than $25, covers the administrative costs of researching and locating marriage records. Therefore, regarding the question of whether marriage records are free, the answer is both yes and no. Other Marriage Records Resources However, if you are merely searching for information about an individual’s marriage, and not the actual marriage certificate, you may be able to locate information through other sources, such as church records and newspaper announcements. Many individuals are also able to find important marriage information through an individual’s obituary. Taking Your Search to the Internet If you don’t know where to begin your search or if you are lacking key information that is generally necessary to request a marriage record, then you may want to take your search to the Internet. There are a great number of resources on the Web – some of them are free, and some of them require a small fee or subscription. If you head directly to the free marriage record websites, you may be quite disappointed with the quality of the information they provide. Many of these websites are also quite misleading, as they advertise free searches that, in reality, turn into quite expensive searches. For example, many of the free marriage records websites perform a small general search that yields very little information; then, if you want to go any further, they request costly fees. Where to Turn for Reputable Records On the other hand, there are a number of reputable websites that are designed to help individuals locate marriage records. These websites, such as www.archives.com, take the proper channels to produce results and therefore charge a fee to do so. Many times, this fee is to cover the cost of their searches, and it may also cover the cost of obtaining marriage records through the proper channels, such as the county clerk. And, of course, as mentioned before, even obtaining marriage records through your local courthouse will cost you a nominal fee. If you are interested in obtaining accurate, detailed information, consider using a reputable, trustworthy website, such as www.archives.com. Reputable websites often have easy-to-use search tools that eliminate the hassle of coming up empty handed; instead, they offer full records access and easy retrieval of marriage records. If you are searching for marriage records and need the most up-to-date and accurate information, then start with a free trial to www.archives.com. Reputable online resources can provide you with all the important information you seek – right from the comfort of your home.

What is “Searching for Living People?”

While performing family tree or genealogy searches, you may find yourself searching for a living relative. Or you may just want to find a long lost classmate, military friend, or perhaps even a childhood crush. Searching for living people has its own challenges and obstacles, but the process is also different from searching for dead ancestors. Finding Living People Thanks to the internet, searching for living people is much easier than it used to be even 10 or 15 years ago. Each year, thousands of people are successful at locating living folk. Most of the time, a search for a living person occurs in order to find a relative. Whether it is to find a close missing relative, such as siblings separated at a young age, or trying to find a cousin twice-removed, knowing your relatives and building a family tree can be quite satisfying. Resources for Searching for Living People When you search for living people, you have many more resources available to you. If you are building a family tree, a search for a dead relative can be difficult and time-consuming while you try to determine last place of residence and piece together other far removed relatives. Older vital records, such as birth certificates and marriage bonds, are more difficult to locate and verify. However, with many online resources, even searching for ancestors can be less difficult than if you had to travel from state to state and agency to agency looking for copies of vital records. Living people have the benefit of being connected online having records published on the internet. You can perform a simple search engine query such as Google or Yahoo! for your individual, using keywords that you know, such as the name, city, employer, etc. A Google search may turn up plenty of results to get you started on pinning down a living person. Also, if you do know the location of the person, you can use online directories, such as www.whitepages.com or dexknows.whitepages.com. These directories may be able to narrow down your search and even provide a phone number or address. Another great resource for finding lost schoolmates is through alumni associations, such as www.classmates.com, or even on www.facebook.com. Facebook provides a number of high school groups, as well as other group associations, that may be useful for you to find an old friend. In searching for your living person, you may have other clues that can help your search, such as hobbies or associations the person was involved with. You might start looking for possible associations through an association directory such as http://www.asaecenter.org/Directories/AssociationSearch.cfm. Here you can enter keywords such as “accounting” or “musician” and find potential associations for your person search. And don’t forget to look at the host of genealogy websites available that may be useful in finding living people. With the technology available in the 21st century, you can easily search and find living people from the comfort of your own couch. Happy hunting!

What Genealogy Communities Are Out There?

Thanks to the ease and information available through the ever-growing internet, people have become more interested in family histories and genealogy. Researching family roots and building a family tree have become popular hobbies. In today’s online age, family history enthusiasts have found that they are not alone. Genealogy groups and communities have sprung up and have helped thousands of genealogists come together for support and to share advice and tips. International Genealogy Communities The search for family history in the U.S. often leads to other countries from which ancestors emigrated. Many Americans find that in order to complete a family history chart, they must focus searches in Italy, Ireland, England, Japan, and even multiple countries throughout the world. To aid with international genealogy searches, there international genealogy communities that can provide much-needed help in finding the data, documents, or records you need. One good place to find an international community is at http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/InternationalPages.aspx. Religious or Nationality Communities The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is well known for continually researching, collecting, and updating genealogy records. They also are very accessible not only for church members, but to anyone looking for family history records. Their website is at www.familysearch.org. People of the Jewish faith have also found communities in which they can help each other complete family genealogy research. At www.jewishgenealogysearch.com or www.jewishgen.com, you can search through Jewish heritage records and databases, as well as obtain help and direction in performing your ancestry search. Local Genealogy Communities You can find other genealogy enthusiasts in your own community. Individuals who often perform genealogy searches have formed local groups where they can meet, share ideas, offer classes, and help each other complete their individual family trees. Many local genealogy communities are dedicated to searching local family histories, including county family and property history records, towns, and even state communities that help provide resources to genealogists. Genealogy Societies Genealogy societies are also available for those who want to become part of a larger community. Through societies, you can publish your own family history records, get involved with organized conferences and events, and even take courses as a society member. Societies such as the National Genealogy Society were formed to help preserve genealogy records, as well as provide education and training to members. Membership subscriptions to a genealogy society are usually very reasonable, and they provide great benefits, such as reduced price or free training, periodicals, and access to valuable databases. Commercial Genealogy Sites You can also become part of a community by joining popular genealogy websites. Websites like Archives.com, Genealogy.com, MyFamily.com, Ancestry.com, and other popular sites can put you in touch with other genealogy enthusiasts from around the world. In addition, you can get expert advice from professionals and have access to tools to help you build and save your family tree. Whether you are a genealogy enthusiast, hobbyist, or professional, joining a genealogy community can give you great benefits. Consider those mentioned here, or search the web for local groups or your genealogy focus.

Who are Experts and What is the Expert Series?

Have you ever considered taking a vacation to perform a genealogy research? Need help with adoption family history research? Want to learn how to search through and sort out census records? Then you could benefit from the Expert Series found at Archives.com at http://experts.archives.com. Benefiting from the Expert Series The Expert Series sponsored by Archives.com is a series of helpful and insightful articles written by experts in the field of genealogy. These articles provide helpful insights to performing your own research, learning new techniques, or even expanding your genealogy horizons by reading unrelated topics of interest. These series of articles are provided by Archives.com free of charge to anyone, not just members. That means you can use the expert articles series as a great resource for researching and expanding your own knowledge for free. New articles are posted every two weeks by a new guest expert, and the articles cover a range of new topics that will give you tips and lessons on performing genealogy research. Who Are The Experts? Guests who contribute articles to the expert series are chosen by the staff at Archives.com based on their education, experience, and specific expertise. Expert Series contributors are often those with undergraduate or advanced degrees in research, library sciences, or journalism. Many have certifications in genealogy from national organizations, such as the Board of Certification of Genealogists. Certified experts have taken classes and passed exams that qualify them as meeting high standards of genealogy research. Others are journalists, authors, legal researchers, librarians, lecturers, and even perform full-time genealogy research for clients. Although most Expert Series contributors are professionals in genealogy research, many are simply long-time genealogy researchers who have had years of experience in genealogy issues. Many of the experts have specific expertise, such as Frankie Davis, president of American Ancestors specializing in Native American genealogy, or Martin E. Hollick, author of “New Englanders in the 1600s: a Guide to Genealogy Research published between 1908 and 2005.” These are the people who know about the genealogy trade, are fully briefed in the most updated genealogy research methods, and have hurdled genealogy barriers. With their vast range of experience, these experts bring their enthusiasm for genealogy research to you. What Genealogy Topics Are Covered? The Expert Series covers a different topic every two weeks. You can find specialized topics, such as Native American Navajo roots, Civil War ancestry search, Scottish and Irish ancestry in the United States, and United Kingdom vital records search. General topics include how to get organized for genealogy research, searching US Census records, proper citing techniques, finding living relatives, and much more. Whether you are just beginning your genealogy research or have years of experience, you can benefit from the knowledge shared on the Expert Series. Perhaps your years of experience give you special expertise, or you have a topic in mind for the Expert Series. You, too, can present a query to Archives.com with you ideas and qualifications and become an expert yourself.