Guide to Arizona Marriage Records

Arizona marriage records are official documents created when a marriage license is issued and returned to the clerk of the superior court for recording after the marriage ceremony. Marriage records typically contain the spouses' names, marriage date, marriage location, license information, and the signature or information of the officiant and witnesses.

The terms “marriage record,” “marriage license,” and “marriage certificate” are sometimes used interchangeably, but they have separate meanings. A marriage license authorizes a couple to marry; a marriage certificate is a document serving as proof of a completed marriage, while a marriage record is the general term for documents and recorded information relating to a marriage.

People search for and obtain Arizona marriage records for different purposes, including proving marital status, documenting a name change, conducting genealogy research, or establishing relationships in divorce, probate, or estate matters.

Types of Marriage Records in Arizona

The following are common Arizona marriage records:

Marriage Certificates

In Arizona, a marriage certificate refers to the formal record that proves that a marriage was legally solemnized. It contains important details such as the spouses' names, date of marriage, ceremony location, officiant signature, and witness names.

A certified copy of this record is required for actions such as changing your name or adjusting tax status. Certified copies of Arizona marriage certificates are issued by the clerk of the superior court in the specific county where the license was originally purchased.

Marriage Licenses

A marriage license is a document granted by a county clerk that permits a couple to get married. It is not the same as a marriage certificate, as it acts as prior permission and not post-wedding proof. Once issued, an Arizona marriage license is valid for 12 months.

Are Marriage Records Public in Arizona?

Arizona does not authorize confidential marriages and considers marriage records public. Therefore, marriage licenses and certificates are generally accessible to the public under the Arizona's Public Records Law. Due to the public nature of these records, spouses, relatives, researchers, and any requester can inspect or obtain copies of marriage records.

However, public access does not extend to certain information specifically protected by law. For instance, Social Security numbers provided on marriage-license applications are confidential.

Note that the age of an Arizona marriage record impacts where it is maintained. Older superior court marriage records may be transferred to the Arizona State Archives. Arizona State Library notes that marriage records filed before 1950 may be held by the Archives depending on the county.

What Information Is Included in a Marriage Record?

An Arizona marriage record may include:

• Full names of both spouses
• Marriage date and location
• County where the license was issued or recorded
• Marriage license or record number
• Officiant information
• Names or signatures of two witnesses
• Signatures of both spouses
• Applicants' ages and residential addresses
• Date the license was issued and recorded

Additional information may appear depending on the county, record form, and year. However, certain information that may be redacted includes Social Security numbers and any attached confidential documents, such as premarital agreements.

How to Find Marriage Records in Arizona

Step 1: Identify the Marriage Details

Gather important identifiers such as the full legal names of both spouses at the time of marriage, the approximate calendar date of the wedding, and the specific city or county where the license was issued.

Step 2: Find the Record Custodian

Clerks of superior courts in Arizona are the custodians of marriage records in the state. Contact the clerk of the superior court in the county where the marriage license was obtained. For older or historical records, the custodian may be the Arizona State Archives.

Step 3: Choose How to Search

Arizona marriage records may be obtained via the following options:

• Online: Many counties, including Maricopa County and Pima County, offer online ordering for certified copies.
• By mail: Send a completed record request form along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope and a check to the specific county court clerk.
• In person: Visit the public records terminal at the relevant county courthouse.
• Third-party databases: Use state-approved portals like VitalChek for ordering copies remotely.

Step 4: Submit a Record Request

Requesters have to provide a valid government-issued photo ID to obtain certified copies. The fee for a certified copy typically ranges from $30 to $43.50 depending on the county and the service option used. Note that a certified copy should be requested when an agency requires official proof of marriage. An uncertified copy may be used for research purposes. Processing times for marriage records vary by county and ordering method.

How to Get a Certified Marriage Certificate in Arizona

An Arizona marriage certificate may be obtained from the clerk of the superior court in the county where the marriage license was filed and recorded. Since marriage records are generally public, a requester does not have to be an immediate family member of one of the spouses named on the record to obtain a certified copy of the marriage record.

Per identification requirements, there is no statewide relationship or identification requirement for access to a public marriage record, but a county may require one or account verification for a specific ordering service.

To obtain a certified marriage certificate, provide the required details on the county-issued application and submit the completed application alongside the appropriate processing fee. The Arizona court fee schedule lists $35 for certification, plus $0.50 per page for copies. However, postage or other service charges may also apply.

Record ordering options vary by county. Similarly, processing times vary and may take several weeks, with turnaround depending on the county, record age, search required, and method of ordering. However, in-person requests may be processed the same day.

A certified copy of an Arizona marriage license may be used as official proof of marriage for name changes, benefits, insurance, and other transactions that require evidence of marital status.

How to Get a Marriage License in Arizona

Marriage licenses are issued by the clerk of the superior court in Arizona counties. However, there are specific eligibility and application requirements that must be fulfilled by applicants.

Applicants for an Arizona marriage license are required to complete and sign an affidavit stating their names, ages, and residential addresses. They must be 18 or older to marry without parental consent. However, an applicant who is aged 16 or 17 may marry if:

• They have an emancipation order, and the prospective spouse is no more than 3 years older; or
• A parent or legal guardian with custody consents and the prospective spouse is no more than 3 years older

County clerks may require identification to verify the applicants' names and ages during the application process. For instance, Coconino County requires a driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport from marriage license applicants.

While there are no Arizona-residency requirements for marriage license applicants, non-residents, international, and resident couples who obtain this license must have their marriages performed within the borders of the Grand Canyon State.

An Arizona marriage license costs $98. Once obtained, applicants can use it to get married immediately, as there is no state-imposed waiting period after a marriage license has been issued. However, the license is only valid for 12 months from the date it is issued.

Arizona marriages are required to be performed by a person authorized under state law, such as an authorized clergy member, judge, municipal judge, or justice of the peace. The ceremony must have at least two witnesses who are aged 18 or older. The law also requires both spouses, the two witnesses, and the officiant to sign the marriage license.

After the ceremony, the marriage officiant must return the endorsed license to the clerk of the superior court within 30 days for recording.

Who Can Request Marriage Records?

Since Arizona marriage records are generally public, anyone can request them, including the following persons:

• Spouses
• Immediate family members
• Authorized representatives
• Government agencies
• Attorneys
• Genealogists and researchers
• Other members of the public

Note that this access does not include confidential information. Details, such as Social Security numbers provided by applicants during the marriage-license applications, are protected from public disclosure.

Free and Online Marriage Record Searches

Some counties offer free online access to certain marriage records through dedicated search tools on their websites, the local courthouse's public-access systems. For example, free online marriage index searches can be conducted through the Maricopa County Marriage License Search or the Pima County Clerk Public Access Portal.

Free genealogical indexes and digitized marriage records are also available via the Arizona State Library's Genealogy Resources and partner sites, such as FamilySearch.

Note that viewing basic indexing information, confirmation of marriage, and document numbers online is free via these platforms. However, paying a fee is strictly required when you need a physical printout or a certified copy for legal use.

If the county or exact date of a marriage record is not known when using county or historical search tools, users can perform a broad index search across the most populous counties first. In addition, consider checking the Arizona State Library Archives if the marriage occurred before 1972.

Common-Law Marriage in Arizona

State law mandates that a marriage cannot be contracted merely by agreement in Arizona. The state requires a marriage license and solemnization before a marriage can be entered into in Arizona. Therefore, common-law marriages are not recognized in the Grand Canyon State.

However, Arizona generally recognizes a marriage that was valid under the laws of another state where it was contracted.

Since living together in Arizona without a ceremonial marriage does not create an Arizona marriage record, proof of a common-law marriage depends on records of the jurisdiction where it arose.

How to Correct an Error on a Marriage Record

If you discover an error on your marriage license in Arizona, you can ask the court for an order to correct the error using the application and instructions available on the Arizona Judicial Branch website. Common errors may include misspelled names, an incorrect marriage date, or other incorrect information on the recorded marriage license.

Requests to amend an Arizona marriage license may be submitted by either of the spouses named on the record or, in some cases, their legal representative. Amendment requests must be filed with the appropriate superior court, and requesters must provide the information and supporting evidence necessary to show what information is incorrect and what the record should state. Depending on the information to be amended, supporting proof of the correct information may include a driver's license, birth certificate, or Social Security card.

Statewide forms for marriage record corrections are available on the Arizona Judicial Branch website. However, counties may also have their own application packets. For instance, the Maricopa County Superior Court offers an application packet on its website.

Fees (typically between $30 and $50) and processing times vary by county. Hence, requesters should contact the clerk of the superior court in the county where the marriage license was originally recorded for current amendment fees and timelines.

Marriage Records and Name Changes

A certified copy of a recorded marriage license can be used as proof of marriage when changing a surname. Government agencies that require a certified copy of an Arizona marriage certificate to update your legal name include:

• The Social Security Administration (SSA) to update your tax and identity profile.
• The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) MVD office to secure a new driver's license.
• The U.S. Department of State to update your passport.
• Financial institutions, employers, and insurance providers.

It is important to note that changing your legal name with government agencies does not alter the information on your original marriage record. While a name change updates your identity records after marriage, a marriage-record correction amends incorrect information found on your original marriage record.

Marriage Records for Genealogy and Family History

Historical Arizona marriage records are used by genealogical researchers to understand familial relationships and trace family trees.

Generally, county-maintained marriage records date back to around 1950. Hence, researchers may search county archives online where available. Although some counties retain earlier marriage records, older filings may be found in the Arizona State Archives.

Furthermore, digitized older marriage indexes are available through sites like FamilySearch and other genealogical platforms, such as Ancestry.com. Most genealogy and county databases allow searches by either spouse's name, narrowed by county and approximate year.

Be aware that older records may not be digitized. Moreover, they may contain spelling variations, handwritten gaps, or missing documentation due to archival loss before centralized county filing.

Frequently Asked Questions