How to Find Sacramento Marriage Certificates

Apart from being California’s capital, Sacramento is also the state's 7th largest city. You can imagine how many marriages in Sacramento occur every year, and how many requests are made for these records. You will have to send in your application to the county office, but those who are working there are naturally busy. It thus pays to know how to apply.

Writing an Effective Application for Your Sacramento Marriage Certificate

•    You will need to keep your letters brief and focused. Avoid unnecessary flourishes and roundabout wording. It is not advisable to make more than two requests in one and the same letter.
•    Since you are asking for information about a specific person and event, you must do your very best to provide all the information that you can.
•    If the person getting married was called by more than one first name, please make it a point to mention them all, even nicknames and alternate spellings, if any.
•    Be as accurate as possible about the marriage date. If you are not too sure, you can specify a span of years to be searched. Be careful what time span you specify, because you will be charged for the number of years the search takes. 
•    Do not think your application will be processed faster by making an advance payment – especially if you have not already found out how many pages that particular marriage deed will fill. If the fees payable for the document are not known to you, avoid guesswork. Do not send some imagined amount by cash or check.
•    If you absolutely must, send a signed, blank check. Under the "$__________" line of the check, write, ideally in red ink, "Not to exceed $__.00", the maximum you can realistically estimate.
•    All the same, you still have two letters to write. The first should state what you need, along with all the information you can provide, and a request for fees payable. The second can include your check for the exact sum.
•    Along with your initial request, you must always remember to enclose a stamped and self-addressed envelope.
•    State and county offices are often short-staffed. Nor is genealogical research part of their job. If they do it, they also expect patience and courtesy from you – especially when their responses are not as quick as you want!

Applying for Your Marriage License Copy

If you request a copy of a marriage license, make sure you include the following:
 
•    Husband’s full name (last name in caps)
•    Wife’s full maiden name (last name in caps)
•    Marriage date 
•    Marriage location 
•    Relationship to you 
•    Why the record is needed
•    Your name & address
•    Your driver's license number & state (some counties require it)
•    Your signature

Like other California marriage records, you must request them from the county clerk for those occurring in Sacramento prior to July 1, 1905. Later records are found with the Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Department of Health Services, 304 S Street, P.O. Box 730241, Sacramento, CA 94244-0241. You may also fax your request to 800-858-5553.

Did you know that the state and the local authorities are legally bound to maintain and update the vital records including birth, death and marriage? In addition, they are legally bound to provide you a copy when you ask for it. So when you ask for a copy of the marriage certificate, you can get it legally without any hassles. For best results however, you need to help them find what you need.