Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Oklahoma Public Marriage Records

By Ben Kingsley


For those who are looking to update their ancestral records or want to check their family background, public vital records serve as one of the important documents, which can be useful to your search. Vital records such as births, deaths, marriages, divorces contain information such as birthdate, time of death, marriage status, and divorce decrees. This information can be used as supporting document as well as determine the person's eligibility. Birth and death records are available from the State's Health Department as well as from one's local Vital Statistic Record Office. Marriage and Divorce decrees on the other hand are available from the county clerk where such record was issued and granted. Oklahoma marriage records, for example are available from each county office as well as from Oklahoma Historical Society.

Marriage records, affidavits, licenses, certificates, bond and other records are usually on file with the Court Clerk of the County, which can date as far back as the 1800's. Copies of records will usually date back to the time a county was established and are available via phone, fax or in person. Fees vary for each county as well.

For those looking for Oklahoma county marriage records, records are available from the Oklahoma County Courthouse. The County has indexed 175 volumes of marriages from 1889 - 1951. The records include affidavits on application for marriage license, marriage licenses and the certificates of marriage. For research requests and copy fees, Oklahoma residents are charged $20 while non-residents are charged $30. Faxed copies, computer and microfilmed copies cost $1 each. For standard mail, cost is $.25 each; express mail is available for certain records only and cost $10. Express mail is only available for Choctaw-Chicksaw marriage records and cost $10 per order.

For other counties such as Pittsburg and Washington County, marriage records are available from the McAlester and Bartlesville County Clerk Office, respectively. Each marriage record costs about $15 each and requests can be made through online, walk-in or via standard mail.

Marriage records in Jefferson County are also available from the Waurika Court Clerk. The records are unrestricted and each copy costs about $15 each. Requests can be made either through mail or in person as well as applying online. For historical records, one can check the Oklahoma Historical Society or the Southwest Oklahoma Genealogical Society in Lawton. Jackson County marriage records are available from the Altus Court Clerk and can be requested either through mail or in person. For those in Cherokee County, marriage records are available from the Tahlequah clerk of court whereas historical records are kept in the Oklahoma Historical society. Copies of the records are available for $15 and can be ordered by in person, mail and online.

Processing time for the records is usually available the same day for in person requests. For standard mail and online ordering, processing can take some time depending on the volume of requests received by the County Offices. For those who need the records immediately, they can use online vital record search sites. Birth, death, divorce and marriage records are free although for those who require batch or bulk searches, availing of search packages is ideal as one can perform the searches in a shorter time frame.




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