Introduction to Mississippi Marriage Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a Mississippi 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.
 

Mississippi Marriage Certificate Authorized Persons

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

• Person Named on the Mississippi Marriage Certificate
• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the Mississippi Marriage Certificate
• Grandparents and Great Grandparents of Person Named on the Mississippi Marriage Certificate
• Husband/Wife of Person Named on the Mississippi Marriage Certificate 
• Adult Son/Daughter of Person Named on the Mississippi Marriage Certificate
• Grandchild of Person Named on the Mississippi Marriage Certificate
• Sister/Brother of individual named on the Mississippi Marriage certificate
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the Mississippi Marriage Certificate

Mississippi Marriage Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Mississippi Marriage certificates are available for genealogy purposes for Marriage events occurring over 50 years ago. Genealogy must be provided as purpose for Mississippi Marriage certificate and family relationship to the registrant must be specified. Plain paper Marriage certificates are provided for genealogy purposes.

Mississippi Marriage Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order Mississippi Marriage Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your Mississippi Marriage Certificate.  Order online and you will get your Mississippi 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 Mississippi Marriage Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your Mississippi Marriage certificate online.  It usually takes 7-10 business days 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 Mississippi Marriage certificate:

• Full name of husband on the Mississippi Marriage certificate
• Full maiden name of wife on the Mississippi Marriage certificate
• Date of Marriage on the Mississippi Marriage certificate
• County (or city) of Marriage on the Mississippi Marriage certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose Mississippi Marriage certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the Mississippi Marriage certificate is to be mailed 
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

Mississippi State Department of Health

Vital Records

Post Office Box 1700, Jackson, Mississippi 39215-1700

Option 3 – In Person

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

Mississippi Marriage Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a Mississippi Marriage certificate is $15.00, which includes one certified copy of the Mississippi Marriage certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the Mississippi Marriage certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $5.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "Mississippi Vital Records." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.