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

Additional Databases and Online Resources

 * 1537-1966: Mexico, Select Church Records at Ancestry ($)
 * 1556-1989:  Mexico, Select Marriages Index  at Ancestry ($)
 * 1657-1994: Sonora, Mexico, Catholic Church Records, 1657-1994 at Ancestry ($)

Images Only (Browsable Images)
Some collections may not yet be completely indexed, but are available to browse image by image.

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.

Redirect Research Efforts
Due to the nature of Mexico's Civil Registration and Catholic Church Records, if you have not found your ancestor in the indexes to those records, there are not many substitute records available to find marriage information. However, here are some ways to redirect your searching:
 * Try browsing images manually through Catholic Church Record images if you know your ancestor's location.
 * Search instead for a different individual, such as your ancestor's siblings, parents, etc.

Virtual Genealogy Consultations
Schedule a free online consultation with a research specialist:

Ask the Community
Select a community research group where you can ask questions and receive free genealogy help.

Tips for finding marriages
Successfully finding marriage records in online databases depends on a few key points. Try the following search suggestions:
 * Hispanic people traditionally had two surnames. The first is the father's first surname, and the second is the mother's first surname. Try searching by either just the paternal or the maternal surname.
 * Upon marriage, a woman often drops her second surname, replacing it with her husband's first surname, and inserting a "de" between the two.
 * Your ancestor’s name and surname may have had many different spelling variations.
 * If you are not finding what you’re looking for, try using wildcard characters. That is, use an asterisk * to replace one or more characters.
 * Try searching surrounding areas. Your ancestors may have been married in another town than where they lived later in life.
 * Be flexible with year searches. Give a year range of about 2-3 years on either side of the believed year of the event.

Known Record Gaps
Records Start The Roman Catholic Church records began about the 1560s. The Church was the primary record keeper for Mexico until civil registration started in 1859, although these records weren’t kept regularly until 1867. Records Published by FamilySearch Collection coverage tables show the places and time periods of original records published by FamilySearch. For any FamilySearch collections you did not find your ancestor in, check the coverage table for gaps in the online collection. If the time period or location your ancestor lived in is missing from the collection, it may require searches in records found at original repository or finding substitute records for the event. Records Destroyed Church and civil registration records have been lost during Mexico's military conflicts; other records have deteriorated due to natural effects such as humidity, insects and more dramatic events such as fires, floods, and earthquakes. Some records were destroyed or damaged because of poor storage.
 * Mexico Marriages, Coverage Table - FamilySearch Historical Records