Guide to Mississippi Marriage Records

Mississippi marriage records serve as official proof that two people are legally married in the state. They typically contain important information, such as the names of the bride and groom, the date and time of the marriage ceremony, the name of the officiant, and the names of the witnesses. Mississippi law refers to the record sent to the state as the Statistical Record of Marriage.

It is important to differentiate between the common types of marriage documentation. A marriage license is the document that authorizes a couple to marry and is obtained before the ceremony. A marriage certificate is the document that signifies that the marriage has occurred and is available only after the ceremony takes place. The marriage record is the comprehensive, official file kept by the state or county that ties all of these documents together for long-term storage.

There are many reasons for searching marriage records. They can be used for legal purposes, such as serving as proof of a name change or evidence of marital status when settling inheritance matters after a spouse's death. Additionally, marriage records provide researchers interested in genealogy with essential facts and evidence.

Types of Marriage Records in Mississippi

Marriage records in Mississippi can be obtained in the following forms:

Marriage Certificates

A marriage certificate is a legal document that establishes that a marriage took place and was properly registered. The marriage certificate contains information about both spouses, including full names, the marriage date, the county where the marriage took place, and the name of the officiant.

A certified copy of the marriage certificate may be required when dealing with government agencies or private financial institutions. For example, it may be needed to apply for a passport or change the name on a driver’s license. It may also be required to obtain health insurance through a spouse.

In Mississippi, copies of marriage certificates can be obtained at the Mississippi State Department of Health Vital Records office or from the circuit clerk's office in the county where the marriage certificate was filed.

Marriage Licenses

The marriage license is the legal document that permits a marriage to take place. It is acquired before the ceremony and is converted into a marriage certificate only after being signed by the officiant.

A Mississippi marriage license is issued by county circuit clerks and can be used anytime after its issuance.

Are Marriage Records Public in Mississippi?

While anyone can search a marriage index to access basic details about marriages held in the state, obtaining an official certified copy of a Mississippi marriage record is only available to individuals with a legitimate and tangible interest. Hence, only the spouses named on the record, an immediate family member, or a legally authorized representative can request a formal copy of a certified marriage record.

Older marriage records maintained in state archives are open to the public for genealogical research. Note that the records of marriages held between July 1, 1938, and December 31, 1941, are maintained by the circuit clerks in the county where the marriage license was issued. However, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), through its Office of Vital Records, maintains records of marriages that occurred from January 1, 1926, through June 30, 1938, and from January 1, 1942, to the present.

What Information Is Included in a Marriage Record?

The details that may be found on a Mississippi marriage record vary depending on the age of the record and the form of recordkeeping used when the events were documented.

A Mississippi Statistical Record of Marriage may include information such as the following:

• Full names of both spouses
• Surnames used before a first marriage
• Ages and dates of birth
• State or country of birth
• Residence information
• County where the marriage license was issued
• Date the license was issued
• Record book and page information
• Date and place of the marriage ceremony
• Signatures of the spouses
• Name and signature of the person who performed the ceremony
• Title of the officiant

Note that not all information collected for statistical purposes appears on a certified copy. Details such as Social Security numbers and information on previous marriages and education do not appear on certified copies of marriage records.

How to Find Marriage Records in Mississippi

Step 1: Identify the Marriage Details

You can initiate the search using relevant details such as the full names of both partners, the year of marriage, and the county or city of marriage. Also, obtain information on where the marriage license was issued. A standard MSDH search covers five years.

Step 2: Find the Record Custodian

Depending on when the event was documented, the custodian may be the MSDH's Office of Vital Records or the circuit clerk. Older or historical records can be obtained from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH).

Step 3: Choose How to Search

The MSDH accepts requests for copies of marriage records by mail and in person. The agency also allows ordering by phone and online through VitalChek, a third-party company taking orders on behalf of Mississippi Vital Records. Note that VitalChek’s fees are added to the standard processing fee charged for obtaining marriage records by the state.

Since counties have different procedures, it is recommended that you visit the website of the appropriate clerk's office to confirm procedures for obtaining county-held records. Many county offices accept mail and in-person requests. Others may also have online systems for users to access certain records.

Step 4: Submit a Record Request

To obtain a state-certified copy of the Mississippi marriage record, the marriage file application must be completed, and you must indicate and prove your relationship with the spouse named on the record. Acceptable identification must also be submitted.

The standard application fee is $17, which includes search costs and the issuance of one copy of the certificate if found. Each additional copy of the same record obtained at the same time costs $6.

According to MSDH, it usually takes 7-10 days to process marriage record requests after the application is received.

How to Get a Certified Marriage Certificate in Mississippi

To obtain a certified Mississippi marriage record from MSDH, state law requires that you have a legitimate and tangible interest in the record. Persons recognized under the law to have such interests include spouses, parents, siblings, grandparents, children, grandchildren, and qualified legal representatives. Aside from these people, other requesters must present a court order or evidence of a direct interest in the record.

Furthermore, you must complete the Mississippi Application for Certified Statistical Marriage Record. A photocopy of an acceptable photo ID is typically required, such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport, military ID, tribal ID, or permanent resident card. However, if the applicant does not hold an ID, the state allows two combinations of alternative documents.

The fee for a certified marriage certificate is $17 for the search and the first certified copy; each additional copy costs $6 if requested at the same time.

Requests can be submitted by mail or at the Ridgeland office. Online requests are conducted via VitalChek and also incur vendor fees. The processing time for standard applications takes up to 10 business days upon receipt of the application.

Note that a certified marriage record is needed if an official document proving the marriage is required by an agency.

How to Get a Marriage License in Mississippi

Under Mississippi law, couples can apply for marriage licenses with the circuit clerk in any jurisdiction within the state, without being Mississippi residents or applying in their county of residence.

An applicant usually needs to appear in person with the other person and provide proof of their identity and age. For purposes of issuing marriage licenses, counties in the state accept passports, state ID cards, driver's licenses, birth certificates, or other legal documents as proof of identity and age, as prescribed by Mississippi law.

According to Section 93-1-5 of the Mississippi Code, a male at least 17 and a female at least 15 are of legal age to marry, although those under 21 must obtain their parents' permission. Under certain circumstances, judges can issue marriage licenses to applicants who do not meet the minimum ages. There is no waiting period before the marriage license can be used in Mississippi.

A marriage license in Mississippi generally costs between $21 and $38, depending on the county where you apply. However, most circuit clerk offices charge $36 or $37. Once issued, the license remains valid and does not expire.

However, obtaining a marriage license is not the only requirement for getting married in Mississippi. It is required that a marriage held in the state be performed by an authorized person. Authorized officiants include ordained ministers, rabbis, and other qualifying religious leaders; certain judges, including justice court judges within their counties; and members of county boards of supervisors within their counties.

After the marriage has been performed, the officiant must complete and sign the ceremony section of the Statistical Record of Marriage and submit it to the circuit clerk within five days of the marriage ceremony. No witnesses are legally required to attend your ceremony or sign the marriage document in Mississippi.

Who Can Request Marriage Records?

Mississippi protects marriage records, allowing only specific people to order official copies. A certified copy of a state marriage certificate can be requested by:

• The spouses named on the record
• Immediate family members (parents, grandparents, siblings, children, or grandchildren)
• Legal guardians (must provide physical guardianship court papers)
• Authorized legal representatives or attorneys acting on behalf of the family
• Government agencies requiring the document for official duties

Anyone who is not in a category listed above must provide a certified court order signed by a judge to obtain a certified marriage record.

Free and Online Marriage Record Searches

Although the MSDH provides an online ordering service for marriage records, this service is only available for official records and is not a free public name search.

However, older marriage records may be searched online for free. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) maintains a statewide Soundex index of pre-1926 marriage records compiled from county records. The index covers 1801-1925 and generally includes details such as the names of the bride and groom, the date, the county, the officiant, and the county record book and page.

For broader searches, historical and genealogy platforms like FamilySearch also offer free access to digitized indexes of older Mississippi marriages, typically covering records up to the early 20th century.

Free marriage record searches generally reveal only basic details, such as the spouses' names, dates, and the county of filing. Individuals who need actual physical proof for a legal name change or other administrative purpose must pay the state or county fee to obtain an official certified copy.

If you are unsure about the county of filing or event date when performing a marriage record search, consider requesting a broader search through the MSDH Vital Records office.

Common Law Marriage in Mississippi

Mississippi no longer recognizes common-law marriages established in the state. Although a couple may have lived together for several years, shared a home, and held themselves out as married to their family and friends, Mississippi will not recognize their union without a marriage license and a legal ceremony.

However, under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution, a common-law marriage legally recognized in a state that recognizes common-law marriages will be recognized in Mississippi if a couple relocates to the Magnolia State.

Since domestic common-law marriages are not recognized in the state, requesters cannot find any record of such unions in county clerk offices or the state vital statistics office.

How to Correct an Error on a Marriage Record

Marriage records sometimes contain errors, such as misspelled names, incorrect dates, or other information not entered correctly during the documentation process. In this situation, a spouse named on the marriage record or an authorized legal representative of either spouse may request a formal correction.

The amendment process for marriage records is handled by the MSDH Vital Records Amendments Unit. Depending on the type of error, the office may require supporting documentation, an affidavit, or a court order before correcting a record. Supporting documentation usually includes a birth certificate, passport, or prior legal document that shows the correct details. Since circuit clerks are responsible for marriage licensing and the original county record, they may be involved in the record correction process.

According to the fee schedule published by the MSDH, an amendment request attracts a $28 fee. Standard amendment requests are typically processed in 7-10 business days, while complex requests, such as those seeking a court order, often take longer.

Marriage Records and Name Changes

Marriage records are relevant when one spouse intends to take a new last name after marriage. This is because a marriage document provides proof of the connection between a prior name and the chosen current one. This proof is typically requested by government agencies when updating their records with a new name.

For instance, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety accepts a marriage certificate as one of the legal documents that may be used to change a name on a Mississippi driver's license or ID card.

Additionally, individuals submitting a name change request to the Social Security Administration (SSA) after marriage will need a certified copy of their marriage certificate to complete the process.

Changing the name recorded in a government database after marriage is different from amending the marriage record itself. A valid marriage record usually contains the names and relevant information as documented at the time of the marriage. These actions require a separate process. The details on a marriage record will remain the same unless the spouse named on the record requests a correction from the MSDH Vital Records Amendments Unit or a county circuit clerk.

Marriage Records for Genealogy and Family History

Mississippi marriage records are particularly valuable for genealogical research, as county records predate the state’s official records by decades. This state started keeping marriage records statewide in 1926.

Prior to that, marriage records existed only at the county level. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) has microfilm copies of the old county records; however, its holdings vary by county.

Another useful resource to find older marriage records is the Marriages Prior to the 1926 Soundex, which covers marriages from 1801 to 1925. This archive was created from county court records and is arranged in alphabetical order by groom’s surname. Each entry may include the names of the groom and bride, the date of marriage, the county of marriage, the officiant, and the book and page on which the marriage record can be found.

Finding the record by spouse’s name is usually the easiest. If the county of marriage is known, the search can be narrowed using the MDAH county microfilm catalog. Having the approximate date of a marriage event can also be valuable since names may be spelled differently in older marriage indexes.

For records from 1926, researchers may contact the MSDH, although eligibility rules still apply. In such cases, genealogy must be stated as the purpose, and the applicant's relationship to the subject of the record must be provided. Note that the MSDH states that genealogy requests are provided on plain paper, not as certified copies.

Frequently Asked Questions