GuidedResearch:Why Can't I Find the Record - Northwest Territories 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 Northwest Territories Guided Research page.

Additional Databases and Online Resources
''Currently, there are no additional databases for marriages in the Northwest Territories. See, Substitute records below to help locate marriage information in other records.''

Images Only (Browsable Images)
Currently, there are no browsable-only collections.

How to Request the Record When It's Not Online
Territory-wide registration for marriages started in 1925. To learn more about record limitations and restrictions, see the article Northwest Territories Vital Records.

To order marriage records, contact:


 * Registrar General of Vital Statistics Health Services Administration Office Department of Health and Social Services Bag #9 Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0 Phone: 1-800-661-0830 Fax: 1-867-777-3197 Email: [mailto:hsa@gov.nt.ca hsa@gov.nt.ca] Website

NOTE: Marriage records are confidential. Only persons named on the certificate, parents, or children may order a marriage certificate. See Who can order a marriage certificate? for more information.

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.

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 territory. Search using the territory name only instead of by smaller locality.

Known Record Gaps
Records Start
 * 1925 Civil registration for marriages began. Before 1925, marriages may be found in church records.