Montana Marriage Records

Montana does not have a specific date when statewide registration of marriage records began in the state. Instead, county-level marriage records existed since Montana's territorial counties were formed in the 1860s. However, in 1943, the state Department of Public Health began maintaining statewide records of indexes of marriage, containing only the spouses' names, where the record is located, and the event date.

Recent data by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows that Montana's marriage rate is 32% above the national average. Montana has a marriage rate of 9.2 per 1,000 residents, compared to the U.S. average of 6.2 marriages per 1,000 people.

Montana marriage records are the official legal documents verifying the union of two individuals. They include:

• Marriage Licenses: A marriage license is a legal document obtained from the clerk of the District Court granting two individuals permission to conduct a wedding. Marriage licenses establish legal authority to wed and contain the names of both spouses, birthplaces, gender, current addresses, and previous marital information. Marriage licenses also contain the license number, issue date, and expiry date.
• Marriage Certificates: A marriage certificate is an official record confirming that the marriage ceremony was solemnized in compliance with Montana laws. Once the marriage is conducted, the officiant completes and returns the document to the county clerk of court, who files the license and creates the marriage certificate. Marriage certificates carry information about the wedding, including full names, date of marriage, place of marriage, witness attestations, and the officiant's signature. It also includes the county clerk's certification, filing number, certificate number, and the official seal or stamp of the issuing office.

Montana also issues marriage verification. A marriage verification is a document confirming the marital status of individuals in the state. It includes the couple's names, county of marriage, and marriage dates.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in Montana?

You may look up marriage records in Montana from the following sources:

• All marriage licenses and certificates are accessible at the county clerk's office in the county where the marriage license was issued.
• Marriage verifications from January 1, 1907, to the present are accessible from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Office of Vital Records.

The county clerk of the District Court maintains the original marriage license and issues certified copies of marriage certificates. In Montana, marriage records are domiciled in the county where the marriage license was issued. Generally, requests for marriage records can be made by mail or in person.

Most counties provide a marriage certificate application form, accessible at the county clerk's office or office. To obtain the document, provide a valid government-issued ID and pay the fees. Mail requests require a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Some counties allow online applications for marriage records.

The Office of Vital Records in Montana does not issue certified copies of marriage records. However, you may order certified copies online through a third-party vendor approved by the Montana DPHHS Office of Vital Records. The service provider charges additional fees to process and ship the document. In addition, you may access the marriage index from 1943 to the present from the Montana DPHHS Office of Vital Records. Complete the Application for Search of Marriage & Divorce Indexes form to obtain the document.

Are Marriage Records Public in Montana?

Although marriage records are considered public records in Montana, access to certified copies is restricted for the first 30 years. Only the spouses, their legal representatives, or authorized individuals, such as parents, siblings, and grandparents, may access certified copies during the confidentiality period. Marriage records become fully public 3 years after the marriage date.

How Much Do Montana Marriage Records Cost?

Montana marriage certificate fees vary slightly by county. However, most counties follow a standardized structure. Certified copies of marriage certificates typically cost $7 -$10 per copy, with additional copies charged at the same rate as the first copy. Requests typically take 2-4 weeks to process, depending on the county.

Most counties do not explicitly offer expedited processing for marriage certificates. However, most counties issue certified copies immediately or within 30 minutes if applicants visit the county clerk's office to obtain the document. Online requests for certified marriage certificates are usually processed within 7-10 business days, with expedited processing offered within 3-5 days.

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

Montana does not offer confidential marriages, as offered in some states. In confidential marriages, the records are permanently shielded from public access. No one may access the documents except the couple. While marriage records are restricted from the public in Montana, the documents become public records after 30 years from the marriage date. Similarly, Montana does not permit individuals to formally seal their marriage records.

How Do I Verify the Authenticity of Montana Marriage Records?

Verifying the authenticity of your Montana marriage records is essential for legal, financial, and personal purposes. Marriage records serve as legal proof of union and are required for traveling and immigration purposes, confirming family lineage, claiming joint tax filings, and establishing legal entitlement to assets. In addition, marriage records are crucial for obtaining Social Security cards, accessing insurance benefits, validating marriage before divorce, and conducting legal name changes.

In Montana, you may verify the authenticity of your marriage records at the county clerk of the District Court where the marriage license was issued. Individuals can request certified copies of their marriage certificate or visit the clerk's office to confirm that the document they hold is a replica of the document they hold.

A certified marriage certificate in Montana includes specific features to ensure its authenticity. Therefore, all certified marriage records bear the official seal and signature of the issuing authority. In addition, certified copies of marriage certificates are printed on watermarked or tamper-proof paper to deter counterfeiting or duplication.

Can I Find Montana Marriage Records Online for Free?

Yes. Although Montana restricts public access to marriage records, interested persons may still access old and new marriage records from some non-governmental sources without a fee.

FamilySearch.org offers free access to digitized Montana marriage records, including licenses, certificates, and indexes. The platform has a searchable database for county marriages, which includes images and indexed names of marriage records across Montana from 1865 to 1950. The platform also has a name index of marriage records from 1889 to 1947.

Ancestry.com provides access to Montana marriage records, though full access typically requires a subscription. The platform collection consists of Montana county marriage records from 1865 to 1993.

PublicRecords.us aggregates public records from governmental platforms to provide a vast database of vital records, including Montana marriage records. The platform is ideal for preliminary searches and offers access to more current marriage records. Detailed access may require a minimal subscription fee.

What Is Required to Get a Montana Marriage License?

All persons intending to get married in Montana may fulfill state requirements and submit appropriate documentation to obtain a Montana marriage license. These requirements include:

• Be present together at the county clerk's office.
• Be at least 18 years old. Persons between 16 and 17 years old must obtain parental consent to get married, attend counseling, and obtain judicial approval to get married.
• A copy of a valid government-issued ID for both parties.
• Social Security Number for both parties.
• The full name of the ex-spouse and the exact date the marriage ended, if either party to the marriage was previously married.
• Pay the marriage license fee.

It costs $53 to obtain a marriage license in Montana. There is no waiting period in Montana. Couples may get married immediately after the license is issued. Marriage licenses are valid for 180 days. If the wedding is not conducted within the period, the license expires.

Can You Amend Marriage Records in Montana?

Yes. You may amend your marriage license and certificate in Montana if there are inaccuracies in the document. Generally, the following amendments are permissible in Montana:

• Typographical errors, such as misspellings in names, dates, and locations
• Missing or omitted information that was left blank during the initial filing, including maiden name or officiant credentials
• Inaccurate details, such as incorrect dates of marriage, birthplaces, or residency
• Transposed digits in the Social Security number or marriage date

Amending the Montana Marriage License

Montana permits couples to amend their marriage license if they notice inaccuracies in the document before their wedding. To amend the marriage license, contact the clerk of the District Court where the marriage license was issued.

Usually, the couple will fill out an amendment request form or submit a written amendment request and notarize the document. Detail the incorrect information on the marriage license and specify the correct data. Provide a valid copy of a government-issued photo ID and documents substantiating the correction. Depending on the county, submit the amendment request by mail or in person. While there is no amendment fee for a marriage license in Montana, an amendment that requires the issuance of a new marriage license attracts the standard $53 marriage license application fee.

Amending the Montana Marriage Certificate

All marriage certificates issued in Montana may be amended at the clerk of court office where the marriage license was filed and the certificate issued. Submit a sworn statement detailing the error and specifying the correct information. Some counties may provide a marriage certificate amendment request form. Include documents, such as hospital records, driver's licenses, birth certificates, or court orders, to support the correct information. Mail or drop off the request at the county clerk's office.

Generally, most counties do not charge a fee to amend a marriage certificate. However, there is a fee to obtain certified copies of the amended marriage certificate. Depending on the county, expect to pay between $7-$10 to obtain a copy of the corrected document.