California Marriage Records

Marriage records or marriage licenses are the legal record of a wedding and its subsequent union. A marriage record contain the original unmarried names of both parties, their place of residence, the date, and also the county and state the marriage occurred in. This is why often marriage records are vital to almost all researchers as they not only provide information but also help unlock the path to other searches with information that is crucial and not easily obtainable Most notably, the brides maiden name. California does not hold marriage records for any period of time after they are created, so this information is available almost from the moment it is filed. Anyone can obtain an informational copy stating the names of the two people involved, the day, and the county in which they got married, but only the two people on the marriage license can obtain a certified or official copy. If you need to find out more about your family history or genealogy, marriage records are sometimes the most easily accessible and most reliable way to trace your ancestry through multiple generations. For quick, often free marriage records you can search online will reveal many records of possible value to your quest. Using the maiden name and possible background information about the bride's family is often essential to expanding your family tree.