Introduction to Alaska Marriage Certificates

This article is designed to help you get an Alaska Marriage certificate.  Marriage Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Marriage Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Marriage Certificates is that states have not been registering marriages for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register marriages.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the marriage took place.

 
Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Marriage Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Marriage Certificate; this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Marriage certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Marriage certificate by following the correct procedure. 
    

Alaska Marriage certificates have been maintained by the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics for individuals married in the state of Alaska since 1890.

Alaska Marriage Certificate Authorized Persons

By Alaska state law, Alaska Marriage certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Bride Named on the Alaska Marriage Certificate
• Groom Named on the Alaska Marriage Certificate
• Legal Guardian of Person Named on the Alaska Marriage Certificate (A legal guardian must submit a certified copy of the guardianship papers granted by the court when requesting a Marriage certificate.)  

Alaska Marriage Certificate for Genealogy Purposes

Anyone can obtain an Alaska Marriage Certificate, 50 years or later from the date of the Marriage for genealogy or other reasons.

Alaska Marriage Certificate Ordering Options

Options Option 1 – Order Alaska Marriage Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your Alaska Marriage Certificate.  Order online and you will get your Alaska Marriage Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order Alaska Marriage Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your Alaska Marriage certificate online.  It usually takes 4-6 week upon receipt of request to be sent to you:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the Alaska Marriage certificate:

• Full name of husband on the Alaska Marriage certificate
• Full maiden name of wife on the Alaska Marriage certificate 
• Date of Marriage on the Alaska Marriage certificate 
• County (or city) of Marriage on the Alaska Marriage certificate 
• Your name  
• Your signature  
• Your relationship to the person whose Alaska Marriage certificate you are requesting  
• Address where the Alaska Marriage certificate is to be mailed  
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number 

 

Bureau of Vital Statistics

PO Box 110675

Juneau, Alaska 99801

Option 3 – In Person

In Person in Alaska: You may go to any county health department in the State of Alaska to obtain a certified copy of an Alaska Marriage certificate. Most Alaska Marriage certificates can be issued while you wait.

Alaska Marriage Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for an Alaska Marriage certificate is $20.00, which includes one certified copy of the Alaska Marriage certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the Alaska Marriage certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $20.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.