Saturday, November 29, 2008

Florida 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 Records Search

Sunday, November 2, 2008

state marriage records search

State marriage records are the top ranked public records that are extensively researched by a lot of people. There are many reasons why people search for them. These records also serve various official and legal purposes. For example, one major reason for searching State Marriage Records is to verify people's marital history. They are also used to substantiate a name change by a new wife. Additionally, these records are recognized documents to support medical and insurance benefits, social security matters, joint tax returns, adoption, immigration and many more. Certified copies of state marriage records are acceptable as proof of identity and status when claiming privileges, rights, marital assets, inheritance and even royalty.

At a basic level, the information contained in state marriage records includes the particulars of the couple, their parents, witnesses and the conducting official of the ceremony and when and where it took place. Where there were multiple marriages, records of all of them will be produced as long as they were transpired within the state for which the search is conducted. Information from other related categories of public records are often included in the search results of marriage record certifications.

State marriage records are now a prerequisite when applying for a marriage license. This is to ascertain the eligibility of both the prospective bride and groom. It is partly for this reason that marriage record searches have really caught on in recent years. Whatever actual intent or purpose it's aimed at, it has proven to be a very handy matrimonial due diligence. After all, deceitful marriages invariably lead to divorce.

Without exception, state marriage records come under the jurisdiction of the state. Because of this, there are variations from state to state in accordance to the differences in the individual state laws governing marriage. However, state marriage records are typically maintained or archived at state repositories and county offices and courthouses. Many commercial information providers maintain huge databases of marriage records of all the states. In this way, they become very convenient for people searching the marriage records of people who have resided in multiple states.

There are basically two versions of public marriage records - paid or free. They are normally retrievable both on and offline. Not surprisingly, the online option is much more widely employed. Also, the paid version is by far in greater demand than the free one because in all practicality, they provide the professional standards that are inevitably required in official or legal circumstances and eventually so even for private and personal pursuits.

Commercial record providers are found in abundance on the internet. Log onto any of the major search engines and you will be spoilt for choice. The industry is immensely competitive so the leading players especially are notably of very high quality and caliber. There are also several review sites to point the way. They evaluate and rate the prominent record providers in the market accompanied by the data of their findings. Their recommendations are usually spot-on and it pays to go with them if you are unable to conduct your own assessment.

Marriage records are handled differently from state to state. Visit us at Public Marriage Records for pointers and information on Free Marriage Records. We are seasoned specialists in public records.