Are Michigan Marriage Records Public?
While Michigan Marriage Records are public, they represent some of the most difficult records to obtain due to the personal nature of the information. Government organizations often offer marriage verification letters rather than original marriage records because marriage records must remain intact and unchanged with regard to the people involved in the marriage.
Family Court Records can include marriage records and divorce records. These records contain the personal information of those involved, and their maintenance is critical should anyone wish to make changes. Because of this, both marriage and dissolution of marriage records can be considered more difficult to locate and obtain than other public records and may not be available through government sources or third-party public record websites.
How to Find Michigan Marriage Records
In Michigan, getting married is not only a ceremony that involves two people promising to spend the rest of their lives together. It is also a contract that two people willingly enter into that states agreed upon rights and obligations between them, such as shared benefits or property allocation. Due to the existence of marriage as a legal state contract, marriage records are considered a public record for any member of the public. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Vital Records holds and maintains marriage records of all Michigan marriages that took place after the year 1867. Marriage records are a combination of multiple documents within them, such as marriage licenses, marriage certificates, and prenuptial agreements, if recorded. It is, therefore, important for the requesting party to know which document they need in order to utilize them correctly.
Unlike some other states where anyone unrelated to the couple can only access public marriage records and not a certified copy, anyone in Michigan can request certified copies of marriage records with a raised seal. This includes other records maintained by the vital records office, like marriage and divorce certificates.
How to Find Out if Someone is Married in Michigan
Since marriage records in Michigan are public records, it is possible for anyone to find out if someone is married in Michigan. Any citizen of the state who wishes to look up the marital status of another can send in a request for copies of marriage verification from the local county clerks of any county where the individual of interest may have lived.
Individuals can also request to look up marriage records of the individual of interest with the state vital records office. This request can be made in person or via mail. If no marriage record is found, the individual may have never been married. Even when a record is found, the inquirer may need to request divorce records to be sure that the individual is still married.
How to Check Marriage Status Online
Interested persons can check their marriage status online using the court clerk's website in the judicial district where the individual resides. These websites typically feature an online searchable database where requesters can search for the marital status or marriage record of an individual of interest.
Alternatively, inquirers can check marriage status online using various third-party agency sites to find marriage records or any information suggesting the individual of interest is married. Otherwise, they can search online on various social media to find information on whether the individual of interest is married.
What is Considered a Marriage Record in Michigan?
Michigan marriage records are official documents that contain both marriage licenses and marriage certificates. These documents have different levels of authority in verifying that a marriage took place, and they are used for different processes and verifications. Although the information and purposes of the documents may differ, they both offer proof that a legal marital union between two people in Michigan has occured.
Both government websites and organizations may offer divorce and marriage records. Similarly, third-party public record websites can also provide these types of records. However because third-party organizations are not operated or sponsored by the government, record availability may vary. Further, marriage and dissolution of marriage records are considered highly private and are often sealed, meaning the availability of these types of records cannot be guaranteed.
How to Find Public Marriage Records for Free in Michigan
It is not possible to view or obtain free Michigan marriage records. Although fairly inexpensive copies may be available. These are uncertified copies which are not suitable for many legal tasks but still occasionally can serve as proof that a marriage has occurred. Uncertified copies can be obtained through MDHHS Vital Records. These uncertified copies are not a legal substitute for marriage certificates, and requesting parties should always make sure they know whether they need a certified copy to fulfill their needs.
How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Michigan
A person that wants to change their name after marriage in Michigan will need a copy of their marriage certificate as it is the document that authorizes name changes. Newlyweds may pay $20 for a marriage license in the county where they are getting married. The county clerk will provide the marriage license, and the county recorder will file it. Once the recorder files the license, the newlyweds will get a marriage certificate to present as proof of name change.
Having obtained their marriage certificate, the person looking to carry out a name change after marriage must notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) in Michigan. Most Michigan agencies will only allow a name change if registered with the SSA. The newlywed must complete form SS5- Application for a Social Security Card and submit it along with their driver's license and marriage certificate. The SSA processes requests in two weeks, free of charge. To update passport details, the subject of a name change can visit the local passport office to update their passport. Next, parties can visit their local DMV to update their driver's license. Finally, they can contact their bank and local utility companies to regularize their details.
What is Considered a Marriage Certificate in Michigan?
A Michigan marriage certificate is documented proof that a marriage has happened between two people. This document is given to the couple after marriage has been performed. Michigan marriage certificates are not to be confused with Michigan marriage licenses.
How Do I Get My Marriage Certificate in Michigan?
Michigan marriage certificates are also regarded as marriage verification documents. Copies of marriage verification can be obtained through the local county clerk where the marriage took place, or through the MDHHS Vital Records Office by mail-in requests or in-person requests. Anyone can request these records, as they are public. To have a record verified, the applicant must already have knowledge of the information that they want verified on the record. A Michigan marriage certificate or marriage verification will not include any signatures, case numbers, or complete marriage records. They will, however, include a stamp and will only list the names on the record, the date of the marriage, and the location where it occurred. To begin the application process of requesting a marriage record, fill out and complete the Request For Verification of a Michigan Marriage Record application. On this form, the following information must be listed in order to be verified on the record:
- Full name of both parties on the Marriage Record
- Date of Marriage
- County of Marriage
- Date of Filing
- Birth date
Mail in this document, with the correct fees (via money order payable to the custodian's office) and identification, to:
The State of Michigan Vital Records
P.O. Box 30721
Lansing, MI 48909
Processing time for orders submitted by mail is an average of 2-3 weeks. It is also possible to visit the Vital Records office at
The State of Michigan Vital Records Office
333 S Grand Avenue, 1st Floor
Lansing, MI 48933
Valid identification includes driver’s license, a state-issued ID, or passport. If these are not available, the MDHHS Vital Records website provides a list of acceptable identification for requesting these records. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding State holidays. To get same-day service, it is necessary to submit the application for a marriage certificate by 3:00 p.m. at the Vital Records Office. There is a search fee of $18.00, and if expedited, the fee is another $12.00. It should be noted that marriage certificates in Michigan like all other vital statistics documents such as birth, and divorce certificates, can be ordered online.
What is Considered a Marriage License in Michigan?
A Michigan marriage license is different from a marriage certificate. A marriage license gives a couple the go-ahead to get married. It is issued by the county clerk after the couple applies for it, and is used to have a marriage ceremony performed. There are certain actions that must be taken by the couple in order to apply for a marriage license in Michigan. Couples can get a head start on applying for a marriage license by filling out a PDF form. These forms are also available at the county clerk’s office. The Michigan marriage licenses, no matter which county they were obtained in, can be used in any county in Michigan unless the applicants are out of state residents. In this case, it can be used in the county where it was obtained.
Are Prenups Public Records in Michigan
A Prenuptial agreement, also known as an antenuptial agreement in Michigan, is a contract that allows wedded partners to determine how specific aspects of their lives, such as alimony or property division, should be handled in case of divorce. Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) § 557.28 governs prenuptial agreements in the state.
Across the state, no statute establishes the agreement entered into by the intending couples as a public record. However, the couple can decide to record the agreement with the register of deeds in their county. Once the agreement is recorded with the county clerk, it becomes a public record that anyone can request access to.
