How to Find Tennessee Marriage Records

How To Find U.S. Marriage Records How To Find Tennessee Marriage Records

Finding Tennessee Marriage Records

 * For most counties, the county clerk began recording marriages at the time of the county's creation.
 * 20 Tennessee counties did not begin officially recording marriages in registers until a state law passed mandating the practice in 1838. Those counties include: Anderson, Benton, Campbell, Cannon, Carroll, Claiborne, Fayette, Franklin, Henry, Johnson, Lauderdale, Lincoln, Madison, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Smith, Stewart, Tipton, and Weakley. Before 1838, use other records for marriage information.

{| width="75%" border="1" align="center" style="margin: 1em auto" ! valign="middle" bgcolor="C0 C0 C0" align="center" colspan="2" scope="col" |

Next Step: When did the marriage occur?

 * bgcolor="DC DC DC" style="width: 300px;" |
 * Marriage Records
 * Choose a time period:
 * Before 1780
 * 1780 to 2002
 * After 2002 to Present
 * Marriage year unknown


 * }

Learn more about U.S. Marriage Records

Marriages Before 1780

 * Marriage records were recorded when the county was created
 * Before that time, you may find marriage information in other records.

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

Obtain the Record
If the image of the marriage record was not found in the above databases, use the following:

For marriages after 1865, ask for the marriage license or the marriage register not the marriage certificate. The license or register usually contains more information.

PART A: You know the exact county and approximate/exact date of marriage

PART B: You don't know the exact date or place of marriage


 * For marriages that occurred within the last 50 years, you can request a search for a fee from the Tennessee Department of Health
 * You can also try searching for marriage information in other records.

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

Wiki Articles

 * Learn more about U.S. marriage records
 * How to find U.S. birth records
 * How to find U.S. marriage records
 * How to find U.S. death records
 * United States Record Selection Table
 * United States, How to Use Marriage Records
 * United States Marriage Records
 * United States Vital Records
 * U.S. Vital Records Overview
 * Locating United States Vital Records
 * Michigan Marriage Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)/Known Issues