Guide to Utah Marriage Records

Marriage records in Utah are documents of legal marriages in the state. Such marriage records are maintained by county clerks and the Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics. Typical information included in these documents is the names of the spouses involved, their respective ages and residences, the date and place of the marriage, the name of the officiant, and the signatures of the witnesses.

Marriage records in Utah are often obtained as a marriage certificate or license. The difference between a marriage license and a marriage certificate is that the former serves as an official permit for a wedding, while the latter is proof of marriage signed by all parties to the ceremony. Note that the term “marriage record” is a comprehensive, official archive containing any official record associated with a marriage event.

Utah citizens often search for and obtain marriage records to prove marital status for insurance, tax, and immigration purposes. Genealogical and family history researchers also find marriage records useful for tracking ancestors using historical indices and microfilms.

Types of Marriage Records in Utah

Marriage Certificates

This marriage record serves as proof that a marriage ceremony was conducted between the two individuals named on the record. It usually includes the spouses' names, the date and location of the marriage, the officiant, and the witnesses' names and signatures. A certified copy of a marriage certificate is required for legal matters such as a marriage-based name change on a passport.

Certified copies of Utah marriage records can be obtained from the county clerk where the marriage license was originally issued or from the OVRS.

Marriage Licenses

To marry in Utah, couples must obtain a marriage license. This document does not prove that a marriage took place; rather, it only attests that the couple obtained legal permission to marry. Marriage licenses are issued by county clerks and are valid from the date of issue for 32 days.

Marriage Abstracts

This is a legal short-form document confirming that a marriage was registered in the state records. The marriage abstract includes basic details like the names of the parties, the date of marriage, the marriage license number, and the county of marriage.

However, a marriage abstract does not contain all the information found on a county-issued marriage certificate.

The Utah OVRS offers marriage abstracts for the marriages happening between 1978 and 2010.

Are Marriage Records Public in Utah?

According to the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), vital records in Utah are private unless they reach a certain age limit. The age limit for marriage records registered in the Beehive State is 75 years from the date of marriage.

Therefore, marriage records in Utah are considered confidential for 75 years. Persons allowed to access a marriage record during this window include spouses named on the record, immediate family members, and authorized legal representatives.

Once the marriage record reaches 75 years, it is no longer restricted and is open to the public.

What Information Is Included in a Marriage Record?

A Utah marriage record may contain the following:

• Full names of both spouses
• Date of the marriage
• Location of the marriage
• County of marriage
• Marriage license number
• Officiant's name and signature
• Witnesses’ names and signatures

Note that the Social Security numbers obtained during marriage license applications are protected under Utah privacy laws. Hence, SSNs are not open for inspection in public records.

How to Find Marriage Records in Utah

Step 1: Identify the Marriage Details

To begin, it is necessary to collect marriage information that includes both spouses' legal complete names, previous and maiden names, actual or estimated date of marriage, and the county or city where the marriage license was issued. Knowing the marriage county will also help with finding the desired record faster.

Step 2: Find the Record Custodian

Records of marriages occurring between 1978 and 2010 are maintained by the Utah OVRS. However, for marriages solemnized before 1978 or after 2010, contact the county clerk's office where the couple originally applied for their license. For historical records older than 75 years, contact the Utah State Archives.

Step 3: Choose How to Search

In Utah, you can access marriage records online, by mail, or in person. For online access, you may use the official county portal or approved third-party platforms, such as FamilySearch, for older records. If you choose to send a request in person, visit the respective health department or county clerk's office.

Step 4: Submit a Record Request

Complete and submit the formal request. Requests to the OVRS require a completed application form. You will be required to provide a valid government-issued photo ID to satisfy identity requirements if the record is under 75 years old. There is a $25 fee for state records and a 3-6-week processing time for mail orders.

How to Get a Certified Marriage Certificate in Utah

To qualify to obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate in Utah, you must demonstrate your eligibility. Certified copies of marriage certificates more than 75 years old can only be obtained by the named parties, their immediate family members, legal guardians, and designated legal representatives. Note that the legal representative must also present a letter demonstrating a legitimate need.

Per state requirements, the applicant must provide a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or a passport, and a completed application form requesting the certificate. Requests for certified copies of marriage certificates may be submitted online via the Utah Vital Records portal, by mail, or in person at a local public health department. OVRS holds marriage records from 1978 to 2010, as well as some records from 2011 to the present. The participating local health departments are listed by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

The state charges a $25 fee to obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate. There is an additional $10 fee for each subsequent copy ordered at the same time. According to the fee schedule issued by Utah’s Department of Health, an online convenience fee of $4 and, where applicable, an online identity verification fee of $2. Note that the fees charged by the county clerks may vary by location.

Requests submitted in person are processed within the same day, while those submitted by mail may take up to 6 weeks to be processed.

Certified copies of Utah marriage records are embedded with official government-raised or colored seals, making them useful as official proof of marriage for establishing a legal name change, filing joint taxes, or settling estate and insurance matters.

How to Get a Marriage License in Utah

County clerk offices across Utah receive applications for a marriage license. Couples looking to wed may be able to initiate an application process through an online system if the county makes one available. For instance, Utah County has an application portal through which applicants may begin a marriage license application. Applicants must also confirm their identities using valid photo IDs such as a driver's license or passport.

To marry legally in Utah without parental consent, both parties must be at least 18 years old. A person who is 16 or 17 may marry only if the statutory requirements for parental or guardian consent and juvenile-court authorization are satisfied. The minor, parent or guardian, and documentation establishing identity, age, and the legal relationship are subject to additional requirements.

The state imposes no residency requirements to marry in the state; hence, out-of-state couples may apply for a Utah marriage license, provided the ceremony takes place within Utah's borders.

While a Utah marriage license fee has a base cost of $50, the total fee may go as high as $72, depending on the county and whether the application was initiated online. This is because the state law adds a $20 fee if applicants use an online application system. However, applicants can have the $20 state fee waived if they complete an approved premarital education or counseling course. Applicants are advised to check the chosen county website or contact the clerk's office to obtain exact fees.

Utah does not impose a waiting period for applicants once the requirements for obtaining a marriage license have been satisfied. A Utah marriage license expires 32 days after the issuance date.

For a Utah marriage ceremony to be legally recognized, it must be performed by an authorized officiant, such as a judge, magistrate, or ordained minister. Moreover, at least two witnesses who are 18 or older must witness the declarations and pronouncement. The marriage officiant must sign the marriage license and return it to the issuing county clerk within 30 days of the ceremony for the marriage to be officially recorded with the state.

Who Can Request Marriage Records?

Since Utah marriage records are private for 75 years, only a limited set of people can request certified copies during that window. Such persons include the following:

• Spouses named on the record.
• Immediate family members, such as parents, children, and siblings, generally with proof of relationship.
• Designated legal representatives, such as an attorney, physician, funeral service director, genealogist, or another agent who has been delegated authority to access the subject's vital records.
• Government agencies with a legitimate administrative or law enforcement need.

Note that commercial requests for names, addresses, or similar information do not typically establish a direct, tangible, and legitimate interest in a Utah marriage record. Hence, third parties do not have unrestricted access to recent Utah marriage records.

However, once a marriage record reaches the 75-year threshold, it becomes publicly accessible.

Free and Online Marriage Record Searches

Anyone who wants to conduct a simple search about Utah’s marriage records may be able to access a limited amount of information for free. Official county registries and historical indexes hosted by platforms such as the Utah State Archives or FamilySearch allow users to access free marriage record searches. Basic information available in free online searches includes the spouses' full names, the marriage registration county, the marriage date, and the certificate number.

Free online marriage records search tools do not provide access to images or certified copies of modern marriage certificates issued within the past 75 years. If a legitimate copy of a marriage record is needed, paid services will be required.

If you are looking up an older marriage record but are unable to provide the exact county, you may refer to resources like FamilySearch and the Utah State Archives. These tools allow searching through multi-county digital registers by surname phonetic variations across a wider range of decades.

Common Law Marriage in Utah

Utah does not recognize a common-law marriage formed solely by living together or other lifestyle choices. Instead, couples who cohabit must undergo a legal process known as “judicial recognition of a relationship as a marriage.”

For judicial recognition of a marriage, the person requesting registration must prove that the parties meet certain requirements. First, both parties must be of legal age and able to consent to marriage. Secondly, the couple must have lived together continuously and have expressed a mutual intention to marry. Finally, they must have acted in public consistently as if they were married.

The court will approve the petition if it finds the request valid, thereby certifying that the parties were married as of the date the legal requirements were met. As a result, the court order can serve as vital evidence of the marriage in divorce proceedings, benefits, and other legal matters.

However, as a result of S.B. 110 (Marriage Amendments), Utah plans to abolish the judicial recognition of relationships as marriages. From May 5, 2027, Utah residents will no longer be able to apply for recognition of the unsolemnized marriages. All couples intending to be recognized as married must register their marriage under the state's marriage law.

Note that Utah generally recognizes valid common law marriages recognized by other states.

How to Correct an Error on a Marriage Record

Errors in marriage records can be a serious issue if left unamended. The mistakes may be simple, such as misspelling a name or getting a middle initial wrong, or serious, such as an incorrect date or a name that must be legally changed. Generally, it is a spouse named on the record or a legally authorized family member or representative who can file a correction application.

A marriage record correction application must be addressed to the county clerk who issued the marriage license. Hence, the application steps vary slightly depending on the county. However, in most cases, the county clerk often requires a written correction request, identification documents, the current marriage record, and supporting documents confirming the right information.

Supporting documents include an original birth certificate, a passport, or school records. Minor mistakes may require a signed, sworn affidavit signed by the applicant and a credible witness, including the applicant's name and the witness's name, while significant errors typically require a certified court order for correction.

The processing times and costs for correction vary by county and the type of correction requested.

Marriage Records and Name Changes

One of the most common reasons people obtain a certified copy of their marriage certificate is to officially update their name on official records after marriage. Different government agencies may request a county-held marriage certificate to process a name change. Examples of such agencies include the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and the U.S. Department of State.

It is important to understand that changing a last name with a government agency using a marriage certificate only changes a person’s public identity and does not correct any error in the marriage record. An amendment to a marriage record only modifies the information documented in the original record.

Marriage Records for Genealogy and Family History

Genealogical researchers benefit from the comprehensive historical marriage records archived in Utah. In the state, historical marriage records over 75 years old are available to the public.

The Utah State Archives is considered a major source of information on historical marriage records. The county-level archives also hold original marriage license books and certificates. Some counties have collaborated with different genealogical services, such as FamilySearch, to offer online access to searchable historical indexes.

Generally, historical marriage records can be searched by the spouse's name or by an approximate date range for the marriage. Note that some historical records cannot be accessed due to certain conditions. For example, certain records were not created during historical periods, while some records may be found only in county offices or on microfilm.

Frequently Asked Questions