Kentucky Marriage Records

Marriage records are documents that provide proof of voluntary marriage between two people and contain details of said marriages. These records are created at different stages of the marriage process, such as intent to marry and legal registration, to serve various legal purposes. In specific cases where the validity of a marriage needs to be established, marriage records serve as legal proof. Marriage records will usually include the following information:

• The spouses’ names
• The location of the marriage ceremony
• The day the marriage took place
• The name of the official who oversaw the marriage
• Details of individuals who witnessed the marriage.

Before civil registration became prevalent, churches played a key role in preserving marriage records in Kentucky. However, in more recent times, two bodies in Kentucky preserve marriage records: the Office of Vital Statistics and the Offices of Kentucky County Clerks. The Office of Vital Statistics possesses marriage records dating back to June 1958. They are managed alongside other Kentucky family court records and civil court records, which are essential for genealogical research. However, a person looking for marriage records before 1958 would have to contact the county clerk where the marriage license was issued. In some cases, personal records or other forms of written evidence may be used to verify a marriage when official records are unavailable.

What Types of Marriage Records Are Available in Kentucky?

Multiple types of marriage records containing different information are available in Kentucky. Two common examples are marriage certificates and licenses. Each type contains specific marriage information, such as the names of the couple, dates, and official registration details. These records are typically maintained in written form to ensure legal validity.

Kentucky Marriage Certificate

A marriage certificate indicates that a voluntary marriage has occurred between two people. It is a document that is awarded upon completion of a marriage ceremony. It is irrefutable proof of marriage. A marriage certificate will typically contain the following information.

• Names of spouses
• Location of the marriage ceremony
• Date of the marriage ceremony
• Name of the official who oversaw the marriage

Marriage certificates are publicly available and, therefore, can be accessed by the public. However, only authorized persons can receive a certified copy of a marriage certificate. An authorized person includes:

• A party whose name is on the certificate.
• Immediate family members of the spouses (parents, siblings, and children).
• Legal representatives of the parties.
• Authorized government officials.

Kentucky Marriage License

A marriage license is a document issued by a county to spouses-to-be that permits marriage. Any couple wishing to marry in Kentucky must obtain a marriage license before the marriage ceremony. If they do not, the marriage will be seen as void. Parties can get a license from the Offices of Kentucky County Clerks.

Marriage licenses are only valid for thirty days; recipients must conduct the marriage ceremony within that time.

Note: Marriage licenses can only be awarded to parties over 18, although the state makes provisions for people under 18 to acquire marriage licenses. Individuals aged 17 must make an order by the District Court available to the County Clerk before applying for a marriage license.

Are Kentucky Marriage Records Public?

Yes, Kentucky marriage records are public and can be accessed by interested individuals. They will be available to anyone with enough information to conduct a record search. Access to some marriage records may be limited depending on the date of the record or the type of record requested. The following details will be needed to search:

• Full names of spouses, including the bride’s maiden name.
• Date of the marriage.
• County where the marriage license was issued.

However, only authorized persons may access certified copies of marriage records. These persons include spouses whose names appear on the document, immediate family members, and legal representatives.

Note: Marriage records are more difficult to find than other public records because they contain personal information of the parties, and their maintenance is critical if alterations are to be made. Therefore, they may not be readily accessible through government sources or public third-party websites.

How to Find Marriage Records in Kentucky

Two bodies are responsible for keeping and maintaining marriage records in Kentucky—the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (OVS) and the county clerk’s office that issued the marriage license. Interested members of the public can contact either office to conduct a marriage search.

For the Office of Vital Statistics, interested parties can visit the office’s website or go to the physical address at:

Office of Vital Statistics
Cabinet of Health and Family Services
275 East Main Street, 1E-A
Frankfort, KY 40621

The following information is needed for someone to complete a marriage record search:

• The record case number
• The full name of the parties involved
• The particular documents they require;
• The filing and marriage dates
• Their contact information, such as their phone number or email address, in case any inquiries about the requested data arise.

To refine search results, users may need to enter full names, dates of birth, and marriage dates into the search fields. If the exact marriage date is unknown, users can specify a date range to help locate the correct record.

Only authorized persons may access certified copies, while marriage records are available to the public. An authorized person could be:

• A spouse whose name is on the document.
• An immediate family member includes a father, mother, brothers, sisters, and children.
• An Attorney.
• An official of the government. This could be law enforcement.

Some records are available as digitized images, allowing users to view scanned copies of original documents. County clerks are required to send marriage returns to the state office of vital records to ensure proper documentation at the state level.

Note: Marriage records are not proof that someone is still married. To know if someone is still married, someone can look at divorce records in the state. Divorce records are kept and maintained in the same way as marriage records.

How to Get a Marriage License in Kentucky

While marriage certificates prove two people are married, marriage licenses permit them to marry. No marriage ceremony can be conducted without a marriage license. Spouses-to-be can take the following steps to obtain a marriage license:

• Visit the county clerk where you want to get married.
• Fill out the marriage license application form at the county clerk's office. The form can also be completed online, but should still be brought to the clerk's office. The following information should be included in an application form:

1. Each applicant's name and address.
2. Date of birth and current age of each applicant.
3. Place of birth of each applicant. If the applicant was born in Kentucky, they should provide the county; if they were born in another state, they should provide the state.
4. Provide the names of each applicant's parents. For mothers, please provide first and maiden names.
5. Current marital status of each applicant
6. Number of previous marriages of each applicant
7. Occupation of each applicant
8. Race of each applicant
9. Relationship between applicants (if applicable; first and second cousins cannot marry in KY)
10. Proposed date of marriage

• Both spouses must bring a means of identification, such as a driver's license, ID card, or international passport.
• Pay the $50 licensing fee.
• The license will be issued once the application has been submitted along with the necessary identification and payment of the application fee.
• Kentucky residents may have to wait around 30 days to receive their marriage license.

Applicants aged 17 must provide a court order from a District Court to apply for a marriage license in their county.

Note: A marriage license is only valid for 30 days in Kentucky. Therefore, the marriage ceremony must take place within that time unless another marriage license is required.

Who Can Obtain Marriage Records in Kentucky?

While Kentucky residents can access marriage records, only authorized persons can obtain certified copies. Authorized persons include:

• The party whose name is in the marriage certificate, license, or affidavit.
• Immediate family members of the spouses-to-be. This includes fathers, mothers, children, and siblings.
• Legal representatives of the proposed spouses.
• Authorized government officials, such as law enforcement.

Can You Lookup Online Marriage Records For Free in Kentucky?

Yes, you can look up marriage records online for free. For instance, you can visit the Office of Vital Statistics' website or the county clerk's website to request a marriage record. You may need to pay extra fees to request a certified copy.

You can also utilize third-party websites to look for marriage records online for free in Kentucky. Third-party websites are very convenient since interested persons can access them from home. They are also time-saving as they tend to respond quickly than government websites. Lastly, searching on third-party websites is more flexible. You can use details such as names, dates, and locations to search for marriage records.

Note: Some third-party websites may come with a fee despite being convenient.

Is Kentucky a Common Law State for Marriage?

A common law marriage is a situation where two people cohabitate, present, and act like a typical couple without obtaining a marriage license or conducting a ceremony. While Kentucky does not recognize or allow common-law marriages, it recognizes common-law marriages that occur in a state where such marriages are valid.

However, some Kentucky cities offer couples benefits in a domestic partnership. These benefits are called domestic partner benefits and are for cohabiting partners who do not want to get married. These benefits typically include:

• Health benefits like health insurance coverage and dental benefits
• Life insurance benefits
• Death benefits
• Parental rights to dependent children or a domestic partner's child
• Sick leave and family member medical leave
• Bereavement leave

Berea, Covington, and Louisville are the three cities that offer residents domestic partner benefits. Couples in these cities are eligible if they have stayed in the same residence for a year and are financially interdependent.