Introduction to Vermont Marriage Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a Vermont 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.  

Vermont Marriage certificates have been maintained by the Vermont Department of Health for individuals married in the state of Vermont since 1909.

Which office you contact to order a Vermont Marriage certificate depends on how long ago the event took place. 

• If the Marriage was within the past 5 years, order the Vermont Marriage certificate from the Vermont Department of Health.
• If the Marriage was more than the past 5 years ago, order the Vermont Marriage certificate from the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration.

Vermont Marriage Certificate Authorized Persons

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

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

Vermont Marriage Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Anyone can obtain an informational Vermont Marriage Certificate, this is the most comely used Marriage certificate for genealogy purposes.

Vermont Marriage Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order Vermont Marriage Certificate Online

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

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your Vermont Marriage certificate online.  It usually takes 5-10 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 Vermont Marriage certificate:

• Full name of husband on the Vermont Marriage certificate
• Full maiden name of wife on the Vermont Marriage certificate
• Date of Marriage on the Vermont Marriage certificate
• County (or city) of Marriage on the Vermont Marriage certificate
• Your name  
• Your signature  
• Your relationship to the person whose Vermont Marriage certificate you are requesting  
• Address where the Vermont 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:

For Vermont Marriage Certificates less than 5 years old
Vermont Department of Health
Vital Records
P.O. Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402-0070

Make checks and money order to “Vermont Department of Health."

For Vermont Marriage Certificates more than 5 years old
Vermont State Archives and Records Administration
1078 US RTE 2, Middlesex,
Montpelier, VT 05633-7701

Make checks and money order to “Vermont Secretary of State."

Option 3 – In Person

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

Vermont Marriage Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a Vermont Marriage certificate is $10.00, which includes one certified copy of the Vermont Marriage certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the Vermont Marriage certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $10.00. Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.