California Marriage Index - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This Collection will include records from 1906 to 1985.

The collection consists of an index to marriages from the California Department of Health Services in Sacramento. The index is provided by Ancestry.com.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Records collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
The index may include the following information:


 * Name of bride and groom
 * Marriage date and place
 * Name of spouse (May only list surname)
 * Reference ID - Page/Volume/Entry/Certificate Number

How to Use the Record
Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

When searching the index it is helpful to know the following:


 * The names of the bride and groom
 * The marriage place
 * The marriage date

Use the locator information found in the index (such as page, entry, or certificate number) to locate your ancestor in the marriage records from California. Compare the information in the record to what you already know about your ancestor to determine if this is the correct marriage. You may need to compare the information of more than one marriage to make this determination.

Related Websites
California Marriage Records

Related Wiki Articles

 * California
 * California History
 * California Vital Records

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
"California, Marriage Index, 1960-1985," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V6DR-L4L : accessed 23 April 2012), Craig A Fator (1978).