Friday, October 16, 2009

Illinois Marriage Records Search Conducted Online

By Bryan Gem

For the purpose of preserving historical public Marriage Records Search of Illinois residents, the Illinois State Archives tied up with the Illinois State Genealogical Society in joint effort to compile records of marriages that took place in Illinois from 1763 to 1900. More than a million records have been filed and it is the aim of these two organizations to make them readily accessible by people who want to trace them.

This public service is meant to be easily available to users in general and that has been greatly boosted with the advent of the Internet. People can now obtain free Marriage Records Search information online without having to leave home or office, saving a great deal of time and costs in travelling and waiting in line. They only have to get onto a computer and log on to the Internet.

For the most part, the information on these records is derived directly from the County Clerk's original files. The contents include marriage registers, licenses, certificates and so forth. Additionally, information is also contributed by publications of county Genealogical societies and private individuals. The index is manned by the Illinois State Archives but it is also supported in no small way by volunteers.

The basic information found in Illinois Free Marriage Records comprise of particulars of the couple, names of parents, witnesses and conducting official of the ceremony, date and county of marriage and issuance of license. If there were multiple marriages on the part of either the groom, bride or both, those that occurred in the state of Illinois will be produced. Getting married in a county other than the one of residence is allowed so if a search fails in a particular county, it's a good idea to try statewide search instead.

All public marriage records in Illinois are listed on the Illinois Statewide Marriage License Records. Original marital records or microfilm copies for several of them are kept under the holding of the Illinois Regional Archives Depository System (IRAD). Uncertified copies of marriages of more than 70 of the 102 counties in Illinois are available at IRAD. Those which are not can be requested directly from the County Clerks. They are also the only officers authorized to provide certified copies of marriage records of their county.

Online commercial information brokers are another popular option. Professional fees are charged but they beat the red tape and spare the legwork, coming in plug-and-play readiness. Fees are usually very reasonable and so is the quality impressive as competition is fierce. The top ones are often capable of delivering extras over the public agencies by drawing upon private and proprietary sources.

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