Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Florida Marriage Records Search

As With other states, marriage records in Florida are considered as public records. Along with birth, death, and divorce, they form the vital records under the Department of Health of Florida. Being public records, Florida marriage records are accessible by anyone as long as procedures are followed. From checking out a prospective spouse or partner to family tree and genealogy studies, they are one of the most widely searched public records not only in Florida but also nationwide.

In line with the standard structure across the country, Florida marriage records come under the jurisdiction of the state of Florida. Those dated June 6, 1927 and after are uploaded and maintained at the state repository in the Office of Vital Statistics located at Jacksonville which reports into the Florida Department of Health. Florida marriage records prior to that date are only obtainable from the Clerk of Court of that particular county where the marriage license was issued, with some known to be from as early as 1822.

There are an estimated 5 million marriage records on file at the Office of Vital Statistics of Florida. They can be requested through phone, fax, by mail or in person. Fees are required and they can be enquired at the respective agencies or viewed at their websites online. Every search is charged even if the requested record is not found in which case an official 'not found' statement will be provided. It must be noted that it does not strictly mean that no such marriage records exist when that happens. They may possibly be present but are classified as confidential marriage records or other categories that render them non-public. However, this is more of an exception rather than the rule.

Individual state records are not linked and that applies to Florida marriage records. Florida marriage records of former Florida residents will not show up in a marriage record search in another state and vice-versa. For people who have resided in multiple states, marriage record searches would have to be conducted for each of those states in order to cover their marital history fully but breezing through it online is a far, far cry from what people used to have to go through during the pre-internet era.

With the advent of the internet, online search has by far become the predominant mode of researching marriage records over the traditional on-site option. The foremost reasons for its popularity are:

1. Privacy and discretion - you can research people in secret.
2. Convenience - it can be conducted anywhere since only a PC with internet access is required.
3. Vast options - wide range of information sources readily found online.
4. Immediacy - instant and 24/7.

There are basically two versions of online marriage record searches: free-of-charge and fee-based. The former is usually offered in the form of teaser information or as enticement toward an underlying patronage or subscription. Their overall standards will fulfill nothing more than broad research. The latter is the one that's necessary for official and other serious purposes and even so, finding the right commercial record provider can be tricky. Fortunately, online shopping is no-sweat so source around a little before signing up.If you are in the market for Florida Marriage Records, visit us at Florida Marriage Records Online Search for specialist information about them. Also learn about marriage records over different states nationwide and Florida's other public records.

Article Source:
Florida Marriage Records

Monday, November 24, 2008

Public Marriage Records Database

There are various reasons why people would want to obtain copies of public marriage records. For some people, it is so that they can learn about their family history. For others, it is because they need a copy of their marriage records as they are going to be filing for divorce. Yet for most, it is a matter of precautionary measure before advancing a romantic relationship especially when tying the knot is on the horizon.

In the old days, when it came to getting hold of a copy of your marriage records, you would need to visit your local public office where such information was retained. However, such searches can be carried out online over the internet these days. It will end up saving you time and money. We look at a few ways and practices of retrieving records of marriage by commercial information providers and lay them out to determine which one may well best serve your needs.

A useful format employed by many online record providers starts with the entry of the full name and age of the subject whose public marriage records the search is for in the search box. The search button is then clicked to initiate the check and a list of names will appear on the screen. Their respective geographical locations or states will show up alongside the names and you simply select the one that corresponds to the one you are after. In order to obtain their marriage records, you will first have to get a background check of the person carried out for which you will be charged a fee. Each search will obtain the state marriage records for only a particular state as these records are under state jurisdiction. Along with the marriage details however, you will also be provided with information of their current address, any property liens, criminal records if any, the value of their home and any legal judgment made against them in small claims courts.

Another operating model of providing records commercially online is through direct links to hundreds of government agencies in the US which are tasked with the function. The databases of such information brokers are created by pulling public records from these agencies. When you place an order with one of these sites, your request is then passed on to the appropriate agency for them to process and then ship a hard copy of the document you require to you. You have the choice of either getting the information forwarded by regular mail or pay an additional fee and have it delivered within two days by courier. Having it delivered by courier means that you can actually track where your order is and to ensure that it reaches you safely and on time.

Although they may seem quite old-fashioned, there are those who offer a completely different service from the other two we have mentioned above. When an order is made with such providers, one of their researchers will be dispatched to the appropriate marriage records office to obtain the document that you need. Depending on what office the researcher has to visit, the fee will be charged accordingly.

As for obtaining free marriage records, there are more than a few places online where this can be done. However, you will only be provided with basic information such as the person's name, age, place of birth, occupation and residential address. Of course, it will also show the time and place of marriage, who witnessed it, who conducted the ceremony and their parents' details, but nothing more.

If you are researching Public Marriage Records, we can point you to the most credible source. Visit us at State Marriage Records to pick our insights and tips.

Article Source:
Public Marriage Records