Search free Mississippi marriage records to determine if someone is married. This information can be found through state, county and municipal agencies and confirms whether or not the couple is legally partnered.
Searchers trying to find marriage records in Mississippi may not be familiar with the resources at their disposal or how to obtain information from them. This resource assists inquirers by providing details about the types of marriage records available in the state and how to access them quickly and efficiently through official channels.
Who Can View Marriage Records & Certificates in Mississippi?
In Mississippi, marriage records are publicly available and provide the date of marriage and the couple’s name. However, marriage certificates, which provide more details, can only be viewed by authorized parties according to the NFOIC’s page on Mississippi FOIA Laws.1
The members of the public who can obtain complete access to either document are:
- The parties to the marriage
- Their family members with proof of relationship
- Their attorneys with proof of relationship
- Third parties with a court order
When searchers order copies of marriage records, they are always certified. Marriage records from third-party providers cannot be used for official purposes unless they are endorsed by the state, county, or city. Common law marriage has not been recognized in Mississippi since 1956.
Therefore, only officiated marriages are considered legal as opposed to an individual living with their partner for a certain number of years.
A helpful source of information about marriages is the Mississippi census. Searchers find it on the NCHS Marriage Rates by State stats. From 2019 to 2021, the marriage rate was 6 per every 1,000 people.
Whether someone is looking for marriage data or marital status, this information below can help in many cases including but not limited to:
- Retrieving official copies for proof of marriage, spousal benefits, tax purposes, estate planning, joint financial matters, passport applications, immigration, and adoption.
- Researching prior family members’ marriages for genealogy and lineage research.
- Satisfying curiosity as to whether someone is married or not.
How To Search Mississippi Marriage Records & See Who the Spouses Are
Sometimes, knowing whether an individual in the state is married or not may not be sufficient information for curious parties. In such instances, inquirers can search marriage records to see who their husband or wife is.
Searchers are able to order a copy of the document from the Mississippi State Department of Health’s Marriage Records section.3 Marriage records have been kept by state and county clerks since January 1, 1926.
This section of the guide shows record seekers how to order them in person, by mail, by phone or online.
Searchers who prefer to order marriage records in person must go to the office at:
Mississippi State Department of Vital Records & Statistics
222 Marketridge Drive
Ridgeland, MS 39157
Their office hours are Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Acceptable payments are cash, check, money order, or credit card/debit card. After being ordered, the record is mailed within 7-10 business days.
When inquirers wish to order by mail, they can search marriage records available from two time periods: January 1, 1926, to June 30, 1938, and January 1, 1942, to the present. Searchers must complete the MSDH Vital Records marriage record application form and sign it.4
A personal check, money order, or cashier’s check made payable to Mississippi Vital Records should be attached with the application. The fee is $17 for a five-year search plus a certified copy, and $6 for each additional copy.
They also include photo identification. Acceptable forms are:
- State Issued Driver’s License
- State Issued Photo ID
- Employment ID
- School, College, or University ID
- US Military ID
- Tribal ID
- Alien Registration/Permanent Resident Card
- Temporary Resident Card
- US Passport
If the record seeker is a minor, their guardian or legal representative additionally submits evidence of guardianship or legal representation, while legal representatives provide the name of the individual they represent, their relationship to the record seeker, and their attorney bar number. Local, state, or federal agents enter the name of their agency in the provided space entitled “relationship.”
Once the record seeker is done filling out the form and has signed it, they send it with the appropriate photo ID and money in a self-addressed stamped legal-size envelope to the following address:
Mississippi Vital Records
P.O. Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215-1700
Searchers of marriage records in the state order by phone by calling the Vital Records Division at (601)-206-8200.
For questions, they can send an email to [email protected], call the provided telephone number, or visit the MSDH Vital Records Questions & Answers page.5
To order marriage records online, individuals do so via the VitalChek online order process and it also costs $17.00. Going through each page, they must enter the necessary information and finally, a credit card.
Searching Mississippi Counties & Cities for Marriage Records or Certificates
Searchers obtain the broadest results when they search for or request marriage records at the state level but some Mississippi counties have online databases and the state does not.
They also have the added benefit of having dedicated phone lines, nearby in-person request options and a more personal touch.
The Circuit Court Clerks in each county are the only agencies who kept marriage records from July 1, 1938, to December 31, 1941. Duplicate copies of marriage records were required to be sent to the state since 1926, with the exception of the gap in state records during the aforementioned time period.
To order marriage records at the county level, searchers must visit the list on the state’s page of Circuit Court Clerks and their contact information and locate the clerk of the county in which the marriage took place.6
Then, they contact them using the provided mailing address, telephone number, or fax number. All county clerk offices operate during the regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with the exception of legal holidays.
Hinds County: Searchers who are seeking marriage records from Hinds County contact the circuit clerk of the appropriate judicial district. The first district is in Gulfport with the zip code of 39501, while the second is in Biloxi with the zip code of 39530.
The circuit clerk for both the 1st and 2nd judicial districts of the Hinds County Court may be emailed at [email protected].
Searchers who wish to inquire regarding marriage records by mail at the 1st district location may do so by sending a self-addressed stamped legal-size envelope with a letter enclosed to:
Hinds County Circuit Clerk, First Judicial District
P.O. Box 327
Jackson, MS 39205
They may also call 601-968-8628 or send a fax to 601-937-5547. To visit in person, they may go to the location at:
Hinds County Courthouse
407 E Pascagoula St
Jackson, MS 39205
For the 2nd district, the mailing address is:
Hinds County Circuit Clerk, Second Judicial District
P.O. Box 999
Raymond, MS 39154
The office phone number is 601-857-8038 and the fax number is 601-857-0535. In-person visits may be had at:
Hinds County Circuit Court
Second Judicial District
127 Main Street
Jackson, MS 39154
To request access to Hinds County public records, including marriage certificates, searchers must start by filling out the county’s public record request form with the required information, then clicking the “Submit” button to continue to enter shipping and payment information.
The first copy of a marriage license is $16. For each additional copy, the fee is $5. Record seekers can find out more information by visiting the Hinds County Circuit Clerk page.
Harrison County: Inquirers can find Mississippi marriage licenses in Harrison County by searching the database on the county’s Online Services and Information Marriage Licenses page.7
Alternatively, record seekers can view information on the Harrison County Board of Supervisors’ Marriage License Link page. There, they are prompted to select the courthouse and enter the bride and groom’s names, marriage date, recorded date, and book/page. They may choose to refine the search results.
They then click the “Submit” button.
When inquirers wish to contact a deputy clerk regarding marriage records in Harrison County, they contact one of the deputy clerks listed on the county’s circuit court department. The deputy clerk must be in the same judicial district in which the marriage took place, either 1 or 2.
One of the deputy clerks for Judicial District 1 can be contacted at her office by calling 228-865-4145 or emailing [email protected].
One of the deputy clerks for Judicial District 2 may be contacted by phone at 228-435-8257, by fax at 228-435-8277, or by email at [email protected] during regular business hours.
DeSoto County: To view marriage license information for marriages that were licensed in DeSoto County, interested persons fill out the search form available on the county’s Marriage License Link page.
They start by entering either the name of the bride or groom, the marriage date, or the book/page before clicking on the “Submit” button to load the results on the next page.
If searchers seek marriage records from cities, they resort to the county clerk’s office of the city in which the license was granted. The circuit clerk issues marriage licenses and keeps marriage records.
The city of Jackson is predominantly located in Hinds County, with smaller areas in Rankin and Madison counties. Contact information for the Hinds County circuit clerk’s office has been previously mentioned.
Searchers may inquire regarding an individual’s marriage records in person at:
Rankin County Circuit Clerk
211 E. Government St.
Brandon, MS 39042
They may also inquire by phone at 601-825-1475. To learn more about the circuit clerk’s responsibilities, they can visit the Rankin County, Mississippi Circuit Clerk Department. In Madison County, the circuit clerk is Anita Wray.
Inquirers may contact her by mail at:
Madison County Circuit Clerk
128 West North Street, P.O. Box 1626
Canton, MS 39046
Requesters can call the circuit clerk office phone at 601-859-4365, or send a fax to the office at 601-859-8555. To learn more about the role of the circuit clerk and other details about the clerk’s office in that county, inquirers may visit the Madison County Circuit Clerk department page.9
These are just a few examples of how to find this information on the county and city level. However, older marriage records for family ancestry can also be found through the various resources below.
How To Look Up Ancestry Marriage Records in Mississippi for Free
Ancestry marriage records in Mississippi provide useful information for individuals performing historical or genealogical research. Older records are available from the following sources, some of which include lists of historical and genealogical societies for the state and individual counties:
- The Mississippi Department of Archives and History Genealogy page10
- The Vital Records – Mississippi: Local History & Genealogy page on the Library of Congress Research Guides website
- The MSU Libraries’ Genealogy by County page
- The MSGenWeb Project’s Mississippi Genealogical and Historical Societies list
- The Mississippi Newspapers page at the LOC’s Chronicling America website
- Public Libraries: Local libraries at the county or city level
- Religious Institutions
How To Apply for a Marriage License in Mississippi
An individual and their fiancé who seek to apply for a marriage license in Mississippi do so at the county level, at the county clerk’s office. Each county has its own form:
- Hinds County Marriage Licenses
- Harrison County Marriage Licenses
- DeSoto County Marriage Licenses
- Rankin County Marriage Licenses
- Madison County Marriage Licenses
The state allows engaged couples over the age of 21 to apply for a marriage license in any county, but if the bride-to-be is younger than 21, then they apply in her county of residence. If either party is under 21, one or both parents present valid identification and sign for them, or they can seek a court order.
Marriage licenses never expire once issued. Also, failure to return and record the marriage license does not negate the validity of the marriage.
Most counties require the couple to appear before the county clerk in person, as opposed to applying online. This is done to effectively present supporting documents, including identification, and to have the signing of documents witnessed.
Both parties to the marriage bring a valid form of identification, which is either a birth certificate or driver’s license with the date of birth in English.
The fee for a marriage license varies by county. There is no wait time since couples who apply for a marriage license receive it the same day from the county clerk.
Whether someone is seeking Mississippi marriage records out of curiosity, for official purposes or looking to apply for a license, this resource makes these processes quick and efficient by outlining the best ways to do so.
References
1National Freedom of Information Coalition. (n.d.). Mississippi Open Meetings Act. Mississippi FOIA Laws. Retrieved November 7, 2023, from <https://www.nfoic.org/mississippi-foia-laws/>
2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Marriage Rates by State: 2019-2021. Retrieved November 7, 2023, from <https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/marriage_by_state/marriage_rates.htm>
3Mississippi State Department of Health. (n.d.). Marriage Records. Retrieved November 7, 2023, from <https://msdh.ms.gov/page/31,0,109,811.html>
4Mississippi State Department of Health. (2021, October). Application for Certified Mississippi Statistical Record of Marriage. Retrieved November 7, 2023, from <https://msdh.ms.gov/phs/forms/Form%20502E_201701.pdf>
5Mississippi State Department of Health. (n.d.). Questions and Answers About Vital Records. Retrieved November 7, 2023, from <https://msdh.ms.gov/page/31,0,109,76.html>
6Mississippi Circuit Court Clerk. (2020, May 8). Circuit Court Clerks. Retrieved November 7, 2023, from <https://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/circuitcourt/circuitclerks.pdf>
7Harrison County Board of Supervisor. (n.d.). Marriage Licenses – District 1. Retrieved November 7, 2023, from <http://harrison2.co.harrison.ms.us/marriage/jd1/>
8DeSoto County Circuit Court Clerk. (n.d.). Marriage License Link. Retrieved November 7, 2023, from <https://www.deltacomputersystems.com/cgi-mcR4/MCMMCGI4?HTMCNTY=MS17&HTMBASE=C&HTMKEY=9027376&&>
9Madison County Circuit Clerk. (n.d.). Circuit Clerk. Retrieved November 7, 2023, from <https://www.madison-co.com/elected-offices/circuit-clerk>
10Mississippi Department of Archives & History. (n.d.). Genealogy. Retrieved November 7, 2023, from <https://www.mdah.ms.gov/genealogy>