Wisconsin Marriage Records

Wisconsin began its statewide registration of vital records, including marriage records, in October 1907. Before this, each county maintained records of marriages consummated within their jurisdictions. To this end, you can find marriage records dating back to the mid-19th century.

Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control shows that Wisconsin has the lowest marriage rate in the United States at 5.0 marriages per 1,000 residents. The marriage rate is over 18% lower than the national average of 6.2 marriages per 1,000 people.

Wisconsin marriage records are the official documents that record all legally recognized unions in the state. Marriage records in Wisconsin consist of marriage licenses and marriage certificates.

• Marriage License: A marriage license is the official document that grants couples the legal authorization to get married within the state. It is obtained before your wedding ceremony and signifies that you and your partner have met all the legal requirements to enter into a marriage in Wisconsin. Marriage licenses contain the names of the couple, home addresses, birth dates, license number, issue date, and expiry date.
• Marriage Certificates: A marriage certificate is the official record of the marriage. After the wedding ceremony, the officiant is responsible for filing the completed license with the County Clerk's Office in the county where the marriage occurred. Once filed, the record serves as legal proof that the marriage took place. Marriage certificates contain the couple's names, marriage date, witness and officiant signatures, certificate number, and the seal of the issuing office.

Marriage certificates may be certified or uncertified. A certified copy of the marriage certificate is typically printed on security paper and has a raised embossed seal. Certified marriage records are valid for legal purposes. The uncertified copy of the marriage record is printed on plain paper and typically marked uncertified. It is used for informational purposes only.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin marriage records are accessible at the following agencies:

• The Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Division of Vital Records provides certified copies of marriage certificates from October 1907 to the present.
• You can look up marriage licenses from the County Clerk's Office where the marriage license was purchased.

You may order certified copies of Wisconsin marriage records from the Division of Vital Records by filling out the Wisconsin Marriage Certificate Application form. Mail the application to:

Marriage licenses and certificates are also available at any Clerk of Court Office in Wisconsin. To obtain the document, record seekers may submit a written application to the County Clerk's Office. You may also order marriage records online using a trusted third-party service approved by the Wisconsin Division of Vital Records.

Generally, all requests for marriage records must include the following:

• The full name of the couple
• The date of marriage
• Acceptable government-issued photo ID
• Self-addressed, stamped envelope
• The fees

Are Marriage Records Public in Wisconsin?

Marriage records are public records in Wisconsin. Unlike some states that delay public access to marriage records, making them public only after a certain number of years, marriage records are classified as public documents in Wisconsin. There is no waiting period; once the marriage record is filed, the record becomes publicly accessible.

However, while marriage records are public records, only persons with a direct interest in the record may obtain certified copies of the marriage document. Members of the public may obtain informational copies of marriage records.

How Much Do Wisconsin Marriage Records Cost?

When ordering through the Division of Vital Records, the fee for a certified copy of a marriage certificate is $20, and $3 per additional copy of the record ordered. Similarly, it also costs $20 to obtain marriage certificates from the County Clerk's Office.

It takes around 10 business days for the Division of Vital Records to process requests for certified marriage records. While the state does not offer expedited processing of marriage record requests, if you need the document faster, you may order the record online. Online requests for marriage records are processed within 2 to 3 business days.

Is It Possible to Make Your Marriage Records Confidential in Wisconsin?

Marriage records are considered public documents in Wisconsin. Implying that once a marriage is filed and recorded in the state, the record remains publicly accessible. The details on marriage licenses and certificates are available to anyone who requests them. To this end, Wisconsin does not offer an option to make your marriage records confidential. Likewise, while some states permit sealing marriage records, there is no legal mechanism where couples can request the sealing or restricting of their marriage records in Wisconsin.

How Do I Verify the Authenticity of Wisconsin Marriage Records?

If you want to confirm the details of your marriage for legal, personal, or research purposes, you may have to verify the authenticity of your Wisconsin marriage records. Generally, you may verify the authenticity of your marriage records for traveling or immigration purposes, tracing ancestry, applying for spousal tax benefits, establishing spousal rights, and updating your identification documents.

You may verify the authenticity of your marriage records in Wisconsin through the Division of Vital Records office or the County Clerk's Offices where the marriage license was issued. A certified marriage record in Wisconsin has several key features, including a unique number that helps in tracking and referencing the record and the county registrar's signature confirming that the record is a true copy of the original record.

An authenticated marriage record is printed on security paper and bears a raised seal from the issuing authority. These features ensure the document is reliable, forgery-proof, and legally valid.

Can I Find Wisconsin Marriage Records Online for Free?

Yes. You can find many Wisconsin marriage records online for free using various non-governmental sources. While the state's official records are managed by government agencies, which charge a fee for certified marriage records, you may access historical and current marriage records at no cost through independent platforms.

FamilySearch.org is a popular website that provides access to a comprehensive but free genealogy website. It offers millions of digitized records and scanned images of the original marriage records, including Wisconsin marriage records, ranging from the mid-1800s to recent decades. You can search the record by name, date, and county to locate specific marriage records.

Ancestry.com is a subscription-based service that hosts a robust collection of historical marriage records from around the U.S., including Wisconsin. Your local library may offer free access to Ansetry's database through library computers or remote access for members. Similarly, the Wisconsin State Archives offers free online access to scanned images and indexes of marriage records dating back to the early years when the state was created.

Trusted independent websites like PublicRecords.us compile data from various jurisdictions, including Wisconsin. The platform allows you to perform initial searches for marriage records for free, serving as a helpful starting point for conducting free historical and current record research.

What Is Required to Get a Wisconsin Marriage License?

To secure a marriage license in Wisconsin, you and your partner must provide certain documents and meet specific requirements, including:

• Be present together to apply for the license
• Be 18 years or older. Applicants between 16 and 18 years must have written parental consent
• Present a valid photo ID, certificate of birth, and proof of residency in Wisconsin
• If either party was previously married, present a divorce decree or death certificate
• The name, phone number, and address of the officiant conducting the wedding ceremony
• Pay the license fees

The marriage license fee differs per county. Expect to pay up to $120 to purchase the license. There is a mandatory 3-day waiting period from the day of applying for the license. However, once the license becomes valid for use within 60 days. If the wedding is not conducted within the period, it becomes invalid.

Can You Amend Marriage Records in Wisconsin?

Yes. Wisconsin provides a process to correct errors on your marriage license and certificate. Generally, you may amend the following errors on your marriage records:

• Clerical Mistakes, including misspellings of names, transposed digits in dates, incorrect addresses, or typographical errors in personal data
• Factual Inaccuracies: Errors in recording the date or place of the marriage or mistakes in parental details such as names

While the state permits correcting errors on your marriage records, if the requested amendment significantly alters the identification of one or both parties, such as an incorrect name, the process becomes complex. It may require additional legal proceedings or court orders.

Amending Wisconsin Marriage License

If you discover an error on your marriage license before the wedding, you may amend the record by contacting the clerk's office in the county where the marriage license was issued. Most counties provide a marriage license correction form on their website or at the clerk's office.

Complete the correction form by stating the error as it appears on the marriage license and provide the correct details. Include documents to verify the correction, such as a copy of your birth certificate or government-issued ID. Counties charge a fee of around $10 - $12 for processing a correction request.

Amending Wisconsin Marriage Certificate

If your marriage record was issued within the last year, you may amend the record at the county clerk's office where the marriage license was issued. Each county provides instructions on how to amend marriage certificates. Usually, you will submit an application form and provide documents that verify the correct information.

However, if the marriage is older than one year, a court order is required to make the corrections. You may correct such marriage certificates at the Wisconsin Division of Vital Records. Mail a written request stating the error and the correct information. Include the marriage record that contains the error with your application. The office reviews the record and will mail you a court order form if needed. Complete the form and return the same to the Vital Records Office. Once the request is reviewed, the agency will update the records and provide you with a new certified copy for $20.