Mississippi Marriage Records

Mississippi started maintaining centralized marriage records at the state level on January 1, 1926. However, its coverage is split between two periods. From January 1, 1926, to June 30th, 1938, and from January 1, 1942, to the present. Marriage records between July 1, 1938, and December 31, 1941, were held at the county level.

Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the Mississippi marriage rate is slightly lower than the national average. The state reports a marriage rate of 5.5 marriages per 1,000 residents, 11% below the national average of 6.2 marriages per 1,000 people.

Mississippi marriage records are the documents that legally document marriages between two individuals in the state. These documents consist of the following:

• Marriage License: A marriage license is a permit issued by the county circuit clerk, authorizing two individuals named on the document to marry under state law. A marriage license is a pre-marriage document containing information on the couple, including full names, current addresses, birthdates, genders, and ages. The document also contains information on the license number and the issue date of the license.
• Marriage Certificate: A marriage certificate is a document serving as official proof that two individuals have been joined together in marriage. After the wedding, state law requires the officiant to sign the marriage license and return the same to the county clerk's office within 5 to 14 days, depending on the county. The county clerk then files and documents the marriage, creating the marriage certificate. Marriage certificates include information on the couple and the wedding, including the couple's names, marriage date, marriage location, parents' information, witness and officiant's signature, and the official signature of the issuing office.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in Mississippi?

You can look up marriage records in Mississippi from the following agencies:

• The Mississippi State Department of Health Bureau of Vital Records holds marriage records from January 1, 1926, to June 30, 1938, and from January 1, 1942, to the present.
• Marriage records before 1926 and between July 1, 1938, and December 31, 1941, are accessible at the county clerk's office.

You may order marriage certificates from the State Bureau of Vital Records by mail, online, or in person. Online requests for marriage records are available via a third-party service provider. In-person and mail requesters may complete the Application for Certified Mississippi Statistical Record of Marriage form. Mail the form to:

Persons requesting the document in person may visit:

To order marriage records at the county level, identify the specific county that holds the document. Visit the county clerk's office to obtain the marriage certificate request form. Some counties make the form available on their website. Complete the request form and mail or drop off the record request in person.

Generally, all requests for marriage certificates in Mississippi require the following:

• The couple's names
• The date of marriage
• The county where the marriage license was issued
• A copy of a valid government-issued ID
• Mailing address, irrespective of whether you order the document in person
• The fees

Are Marriage Records Public in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, marriage records are treated as public records under the Mississippi Public Records Act. There is no confidentiality period or age of record restrictions applied to marriage licenses or certificates in Mississippi. Therefore, any individual may inspect or obtain copies of marriage records from the county circuit clerk's office where the license was issued. However, although the state grants public access to marriage records, information accessible to the public is usually restricted to basic information, such as names, dates, and location, on the marriage document.

How Much Do Mississippi Marriage Records Cost?

Marriage certificates obtained from the Mississippi Bureau of Vital Records cost $17, with additional copies charged at $6, irrespective of whether the document was ordered by mail, in person, or online. The cost of marriage certificates at the county level varies. Expect to pay up to $15 to purchase the document and $5 for additional copies ordered at the same time.

The State Bureau of Vital Statistics processes record requests within 7-10 business days. At the county level, marriage record requests are processed within 2-4 weeks for mail requests; it differs by county, and same-day service if you order the record in person.

There is no expedited processing of marriage record requests from the Mississippi Bureau of Vital Records. However, persons who order the document online may get the document faster if they pay the expedited fee, ranging between $9 to $15, depending on their preferred shipping option. Online requests for Mississippi marriage certificates are processed within 3-5 business days.

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

Marriage records are treated as public records in Mississippi. Unlike states that permit individuals to procure confidential marriage licenses, which would make their marriage certificates closed to everyone but the couple, Mississippi law has no provision for confidential marriage records. Similarly, the state has no legal framework where a couple may petition the courts to seal their marriage records.

How Do I Verify the Authenticity of Mississippi Marriage Records?

Verifying the authenticity of your Mississippi marriage record is essential for various personal, legal, and professional purposes. Generally, individuals may confirm the legitimacy of their marriage documents when applying for immigration and travel documents, validating one's lineage, applying for joining tax returns and spousal deductions, verifying spousal entitlements in estate claims, accessing Social Security and retirement benefits, and processing name-change petitions.

Depending on when your marriage license was procured, you may verify the legitimacy of your Mississippi marriage records at the State Bureau of Vital Statistics or the specific county clerk's office where the marriage license was issued. Usually, authenticated marriage certificates contain security features that legally prove the document is valid. Generally, certified marriage certificates include the signature of the officiant, the date the certificate was filed, a raised or embossed seal, and a registrar's signature. In addition, certified copies of marriage certificates are printed on security paper with watermarks or tamper-resistant patterns to prevent easy duplication of the document.

Can I Find Mississippi Marriage Records Online for Free?

Yes, you can find Mississippi marriage records online for free through non-governmental sources.

FamilySearch.org provides direct access to the original register images of marriage records in Mississippi. You may access the statewide index of marriage records drawn from county register books, which include the couple's names, marriage dates, and county from 1800-1911.

Ancestry.com offers subscribers free access to collections of digitized images of Mississippi marriage certificates from 1776-1935. Its database comprises information on couples' names, marriage dates, and the county where the union was held.

PublicRecords.us aggregates marriage information from multiple government and publicly accessible databases to provide a comprehensive repository of marriage records in the U.S., including Mississippi marriage records. You may access spouses' names, marriage dates, and county locations from the database at no cost. Detailed access may require a minimal fee.

What Is Required to Get a Mississippi Marriage License?

Couples planning on getting married in Mississippi may submit appropriate documentation and fulfill legal requirements to obtain a marriage license in Mississippi, including:

• Both parties must be present at the county clerk's office to obtain the license
• Both parties must be 21 years or older to obtain the license. Persons under 21 require parental consent to get married.
• Both parties must present a valid government-issued photo ID
• A certified copy of a divorce decree or death certificate for previously married applicants
• Pay the marriage license fee

The cost of marriage licenses differs by county. Generally, expect to pay between $21 to $38 to procure the license. There is no waiting period for applicants aged 21 or older. The license is issued immediately upon approval, and the couple may get married immediately. However, the state mandates a 3-day waiting period for applicants under 21. Marriage licenses do not expire in Mississippi. Couples may get married at any time after receiving the document.

Can You Amend Marriage Records in Mississippi?

Mississippi allows you to correct inaccuracies in both the pre-ceremony marriage license and the post-ceremony marriage certificates. Usually, you may amend the following on your marriage documents:

• Name misspellings or transposition errors on the couple's or parents' first, middle, or last names
• Incorrectly entered date of birth, marriage date, or Social Security Number
• Data entry errors in the couple's address or place of ceremony
• Legal name changes. Requires a court order

Amending the Mississippi Marriage License

You may amend marriage licenses before the wedding if you notice inaccuracies in the document. To correct the record, contact the specific county clerk's office where the license was issued. Most clerks provide an Information Correction Affidavit or will have to fill out a new marriage license application form, indicating the correction at the top of the form.

Describe the error on the affidavit, listing the incorrect information as it appears, then write the correct data. Sign the affidavit under oath before the clerk and provide documentation supporting the correct information. Pay the amendment fee, which is the same as what the county charges for its marriage license fee.

Amending the Mississippi Marriage Certificate

Depending on when the marriage certificate was issued, you may amend the document at the Mississippi Bureau of Vital Records or at the specific county clerk's office where the marriage license was issued.

To amend your Mississippi marriage certificate, prepare a notarized affidavit stating each incorrect item as it appears on the certificate and the precise correction desired. Include the marriage certificate with the error and documents supporting the correct information, such as a hospital record or court order, with the affidavit. Mail or deliver the document in person at the appropriate office. It costs $28 to amend a marriage certificate in Mississippi. The cost covers a copy of the amended certified marriage certificate.