GuidedResearch:Why Can't I Find the Record - Quebec Marriages

This page will give you additional guidance and resources to find marriage information for your ancestor. Use this page after first completing the marriage section of the Quebec Guided Research page.

Additional Databases and Online Resources

 * 1761-1940:  Québec City Area, Marriage Contract Index  at Ancestry ($)
 * 1761-1941:  Quebec, Canada, Marriage Contract Index  at Ancestry ($)
 * 1766-1899:  Montreal, Canada, non-Catholic Marriage Index  at Ancestry ($)
 * 1926-1997: Quebec Marriage Returns  at Ancestry ($)

Online Images (Browsable Only)
Some collections have not been indexed but are available to browse image by image. To find more church records online, go to the FamilySearch Catalog and search for the smaller jurisdiction (parish, town, or city).
 * 1642-1902:  Quebec Index to Civil Copy of Church Records  at FamilySearch
 * 1763-1967:  Quebec, Non-Catholic Parish Registers  at FamilySearch
 *  Quebec Marriages: Southwest Counties (in French)  on the FamilySearch Catalog

How to Request the Record When It's Not Online
Province-wide registration for marriages started in 1994. Before this, most vital records were copies of church records sent to government archives. To learn more about record limitations and restrictions, see the article Quebec Vital Records.

To order civil marriage records, contact:


 * Directeur de l'état civil 2535 Boulevard Laurier Québec G1V 5C5 Canada Phone: 1 418 644-0075 Email: [mailto:etatcivil@dec.gouv.qc.ca etatcivil@dec.gouv.qc.ca ]Website
 * To learn more about the process of ordering civil records, see Certificates.

NOTE: Marriage records are confidential after 1900. Only a person named on the certificate, immediate family, or a legal representative may order a marriage certificate during this restricted period (see Restrictions for more details).

Additional Records with Marriage Information
Substitute records may contain information about more than one event and are used when records for an event are not available. Records that are used to substitute for marriage events may not have been created at the time of the marriage. The accuracy of the record is contingent upon when the information was recorded. Search for information in multiple substitute records to confirm the accuracy of these records.

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
Couples in Quebec may have married outside of their jurisdiction of residence in order to avoid restrictions or procedures imposed there. Popular destinations include: Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens.
 * Crown Point, Essex, New York
 * Ogdensburgh, St. Lawrence, New York
 * Niagara Falls, Niagara, New York
 * Buffalo, Erie, New York

Tips for finding marriages
Successfully finding marriage records in online databases depends on a few key points. Try the following search suggestions:
 * Spelling variations. Your ancestor's name may be misspelled. Search with spelling variations for the first and last name of your ancestor.
 * Search given name. Search by given name by leaving out the last name.
 * Search for bride. Search by the bride’s name rather than the groom’s name.
 * Add information. For common names, add more information to narrow the search such as approximate year of marriage or the county the marriage took place in.
 * Date range. Expand the date range of the search by 5 years.
 * Search province. Search using the province name only instead of by smaller locality.

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
Couples in Quebec may have married outside of their jurisdiction of residence in order to avoid restrictions or procedures imposed there. Popular destinations include: Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens.
 * Crown Point, Essex, New York
 * Ogdensburgh, St. Lawrence, New York
 * Niagara Falls, Niagara, New York
 * Buffalo, Erie, New York

Known Record Gaps
Records Start
 * 1679-1993 Vital records were recorded in churches (copies were sent to government archives).
 * 1960s Marriages commonly registered with the government without church involvement.
 * 1994 Civil registration began.

Marriage in a different place - Gretna Greens
Couples in Quebec may have married outside of their jurisdiction of residence in order to avoid restrictions or procedures imposed there. Popular destinations include: Click here to learn more about Gretna Greens.
 * Crown Point, Essex, New York
 * Ogdensburgh, St. Lawrence, New York
 * Niagara Falls, Niagara, New York
 * Buffalo, Erie, New York