User:Mcbridelw/Sandbox 1

Michigan County Marriage Records
An 1805 law required registration of marriages with the clerk of the local district court. Most counties kept marriage records from the date the county was created. You can obtain copies from the county clerk's office. FamilySearch has copies of many Michigan county marriage records on microfilm and online. When possible, it is best to see an image of the original record. Additional information about your family which is on the record may not have been abstracted to the index.

When searching for a marriage record ask yourself the following questions:


 * --Are the available dates for the records when I would expect my ancestor to be getting married?
 * --Is the database complete? Does it include all counties for the state?
 * --Is the database an index only? Will I need to order a film to see the original marriage record?
 * --Does the database contain images to the records which I can see online?
 * --Have I looked beyond the marriage date and names of the bride and groom for more family information which may be included in the record?
 * --Does a different marriage record from the same county contain additional information about my family?

Online Michigan Marriage Records

 * 1820-1935 Free name index with images online at FamilySearch. Does not include the following counties: Alger, Alpena, Barry, Eaton, Gladwin, Kalkaska, Kent, Lenawee, Missaukee, Monroe, Montmorency, Oceana, Oscoda, Schoolcraft, and Shiawassee.


 * 1822-1995 Free online index. Microfilm copies of these records are available at the Family History Library and Family History Centers.


 * 1868-1925 Free name index with images online at FamilySearch. Records include such information as names of bride and groom, date of license, ages, race, residences, birthplaces, occupations and names of the fathers of the bride and groom.