Utah Marriage Records

Civil registration of marriage in Utah began in 1887 in response to the Edmunds-Tucker Act, a federal law aimed at curbing polygamy by requiring the formal documentation of marriages. Since then, county clerks across Utah have been responsible for documenting marriages consummated within their jurisdictions.

Utah marriage records refer to all documents that validate a union between two individuals. Recent data shows Utah has the 3rd highest marriage rate in the United States. At 11.2 marriages per 1,000 residents, Utah's marriage rate is over 44% above the national average, with 6.2 marriages per 1,000 people.

Utah marriage records encompass two key documents: Marriage licenses and Marriage Certificates.

• Marriage Licenses: A marriage license is a legal permit required before two individuals can marry. A marriage license issued by the county clerk confirms that both parties to the union are legally eligible to get married in Utah. Marriage licenses contain information about the intended couple, including their full names, current addresses, gender, birth dates, and the name they intend to use after the wedding. It also contains information about the document, such as the issue date, license number, and expiry date.
• Marriage Certificates: A marriage certificate is proof that the marriage was solemnized. After the wedding, the officiant signs the marriage license and returns it to the county clerk's office, where the license was procured. The county clerk records and files the record, creating the marriage certificate. Marriage certificates contain the couple's details, the officiant's information, the issuing officer's information and signature, and security features, such as a raised, embossed seal that validates the legitimacy of the document.

Marriage certificates in Utah may be certified or original copies. The certified copy of the marriage certificate is an official, legally binding document issued by Utah authorities. It includes a raised seal and the signature of the custodian. The certified marriage record is an exact replica of the original marriage certificate. It is valid for all legal purposes.

The Regular copies of a marriage record, called informational copies of marriage certificates, are non-legal duplicates of the marriage documents printed on plain paper. They contain the same information as the certified copies but lack the official seals. They are ideal for personal reference and genealogical researchers.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in Utah?

You can look up Utah marriage records from the following agencies:

• The Utah Department of Health and Human Services Office of Vital Records and Statistics provides access to marriage certificates from 1978 to 2010.
• All marriage licenses and marriage certificates before 1978 and after 2010 are available at the county clerk's office.

Generally, you can purchase copies of Utah marriage records from the State Office of Records and Vital Statistics by completing the Certificate Request Form. Mail the completed form and supporting documents to:

You may order marriage certificates issued between 1978-2010 at the Utah Local Health Department in the county where the marriage license was issued. You may use the state application form or obtain an application form at the office.

Record seekers may obtain certified copies of marriage certificates issued before 1978 and after 2010 and marriage licenses by contacting the appropriate county clerk's office, usually where the marriage license was issued. The application forms are available on their website and at their office. In addition, all marriage records are available online through a third-party service provider approved by the Utah Department of Health. Also, Utah marriage records older than 75 years are accessible at the Utah State Archives.

Generally, all requests for marriage records may include the following:

• The couple's full names
• The exact marriage date
• A copy of a valid government-issued photo ID
• The fees

Are Marriage Records Public in Utah?

Utah marriage records are classified as vital records. They are not open to the public. Per state law, access to Utah marriage records is restricted for a predetermined period, usually 75 years. During that period, only persons with a direct, legal, or familial relationship to the record holder may obtain certified copies of the document. Generally, only the couple, immediate family members, legal representatives, or persons with a court order may view and obtain certified copies of marriage certificates in Utah.

How Much Do Utah Marriage Records Cost?

The state Vital Records office and local health departments charge $18 for the first certified copy of the marriage certificate ordered and $10 for each additional copy. The office offers expedited processing for an additional $15.

Each county sets its fee to process marriage certificate requests. Generally, expect to pay between $5 to $10 for the document.

It takes 3 weeks for the Utah Vital Records office to process mail requests for marriage records. Expedited processing for marriage records varies with processing times under 2 weeks. The local county health departments and the county clerk's offices typically process in-person requests for marriage certificates on the same day.

Is It Possible to Make Your Marriage Records Confidential in Utah?

No. Utah does not allow couples to obtain confidential marriage licenses, which would restrict the marriage records from everyone but the couple. Although marriage records are closed to the public in Utah, some eligible persons may still access the document. Instead, all marriage licenses and certificates issued in Utah are considered open records, but availability to the public is at a future date. Similarly, Utah law has no provision for sealing marriage records.

How Do I Verify the Authenticity of Utah Marriage Records?

Ensuring your marriage record is authentic is essential as your marriage records serve various legal, personal, and administrative purposes. Whether you are applying for visas, claiming spousal benefits, adding a spouse to health or life insurance policies, establishing your legal right to a deceased estate, or tracing family history, ensuring your marriage documentation is legitimate and recognized is crucial.

To this end, you may verify the authenticity of your marriage records at the Utah Vital Records office, your local health department, or the county clerk's office in the county where the marriage license was purchased.

Authenticated marriage records in Utah have features that guarantee their genuineness while preventing duplicity. To this end, authenticated marriage certificates in Utah are signed and embossed with the official seal of the issuing clerk. It has a unique identification number and is typically printed on watermarked paper to prevent forgery.

Some counties in Utah use electronic marriage certificates with encrypted codes embedded in the document. The code links to a government database, allowing for instant verification online. These digital records make it harder to forge the document.

Can I Find Utah Marriage Records Online for Free?

While current marriage records are usually available from governmental sources and only accessible to eligible persons for a fee, there are alternative resources you may utilize to access many Utah marriage records online for free.

FamilySearch.org is a nonprofit genealogy platform that offers free access to billions of historical records, including a vast collection of Utah marriage records. You can find marriage applications, licenses, and certificates from local courthouses from 1871-1941 on the platform.

Ancestry.com provides extensive genealogical data. Although full access to the platform requires a subscription, several Utah marriage record indexes are available at no cost. You can find thousands of select marriage indexes registered in Utah from 1887-1985.

PublicRecords.us is a reliable online platform that aggregates public records from various online government sources to bring you a robust database of vital records, including Utah marriage records. You can access current and historical marriage record information.

What Is Required to Get a Utah Marriage License?

Persons planning to get married in Utah must meet state requirements and provide the county clerk with the necessary documentation, including:

• Both parties must be at the county clerk's office at the time of application.
• Be at least 18 years old to get married. Persons aged 16 or 17 may get married if they have obtained signed parental consent and have obtained approval from the juvenile court.
• Provide your Social Security number.
• A copy of a valid government-issued photo ID.
• A death certificate or divorce decree for previously married couples.
• The marriage license fee.

Marriage license fees differ by county. Expect to pay between $40 and $60 to obtain the document. There is no waiting period. Couples may get married immediately after they receive the license. Utah marriage licenses are valid for 35 days from the issue date. If the couple does not get married within that window, they have to obtain a new license.

Can You Amend Marriage Records in Utah?

You may amend the following errors on your marriage license and certificates in Utah:

• Misspellings of names
• Incorrect dates
• Wrong place of marriage
• Clerical errors made during data entry
• Changing a spouse's name
• Altering the date or location of marriage beyond a clerical error

While minor errors are correctable via an affidavit, major changes that alter the original information significantly require a court order to amend the marriage record.

Amending Utah Marriage License

All amendments for Utah marriage licenses must be filed with the county clerk where the marriage license was issued. To correct your marriage license before the wedding, file an error-correction request, available at the county clerk's office, stating the incorrect data and the correct information.

Both parties may notarize the form. Include documents to support the correct information and submit the request to the county clerk's office. There are no fees to correct a marriage license before the wedding. If the marriage license was obtained digitally, submit the request for amendment online.

Amending Utah Marriage Certificate

To amend your marriage certificate, obtain an Affidavit to Amend Records form from the county clerk's office where the marriage license was issued. Gather supporting documents, such as hospital records or court orders, to support the change. Include a valid government-issued photo ID. Submit the amendment request by mail or in person and pay the fees. It costs $10 to amend marriage records in Utah.