France - Marriage - 1539-1791

1. Parish Register, Marriage: Church records

Beginning about 1564, churches required their clergy to keep marriage records. The marriage record may include the dates of the marriage banns or proclamations. Information found in a marriage depends on how detailed the minister made his report.

What you are looking for Before civil registers began, church marriage records were the best source for determining when a person was married.

Why go to the next record Not all parish marriage records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

2. Baptism: Church records Beginning in 1539, many churches required their clergy to keep christening (or baptism) records. The records may include birth dates. Information may be recorded on or after the date of birth. Information found in a christening depends on how detailed the minister made his record.

What you are looking for If parish marriage records do not exist, parish christening records are the best source for determining when a person was married.

Why go to the next record Not all of the French christening records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.

3. Probates: Notarial records Local court probate records provide information of the birth, marriage and death of the individual. They can also help in identifying the complete ancestral family.

What you are looking for When church christening records do not exist, probate records are the best source for determining when a couple was married. A probate record may not give a marriage date for the deceased, but it does give the name of the spouse and surviving children. The length of the marriage may be indicated in the probate record, from which you can estimate the marriage date.

Why go to the next record Not all probate records have been microfilmed, and the beginning date of these records varies from place to place.