Idaho Marriage Records

Idaho began maintaining statewide marriage records in May 1947. Before this, marriage records were kept at the county clerk's offices or by local churches. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that Idaho's marriage rate is higher than the U.S. average. Per the data, Idaho has a marriage rate of 7.0 marriages per 1,000 residents, 11% higher than the national average, which is 6.2 marriages per 1,000 people.

Idaho marriage records are the documents that validate that two individuals were legally joined together in a marital union within the state. In Idaho, these documents include:

• Marriage Licences: A marriage license is a pre-wedding document, issued by the county recorder's office, authorizing two individuals to get married. Marriage license details information about the two people to be joined in marriage, including their full names, gender, ages, date of birth, current residential addresses, and parental or guardian details. In addition, marriage licenses contain information on the county of issue, the date the license was issued, and the signature of the county recorder.
• Marriage Certificate: A marriage certificate is a post-wedding document certifying that two individuals were legally joined together in marriage. After the marriage ceremony, the marriage license is signed by the officiant and returned to the county recorder's office. The county recorder documents the marriage event and issues the marriage certificate. Marriage certificates, which serve as the official proof of marriage, contain the ceremony details, the signature of the couple, witnesses, and the officiant. The document also carries the filing date, certificate number, and the issuing officer's signature and seal.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in Idaho?

You can look up Idaho marriage records from the following agencies:

• The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics issues marriage certificates from May 1947 to the present.
• The county recorder holds marriage licenses and marriage certificates issued before May 1947.

Eligible persons may order certified copies of Idaho marriage certificates from the State Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics by mail or online. Online requests for marriage certificates are through an approved third-party vendor. Persons ordering the marriage certificate by mail may complete the Idaho Vital Records Certificate Request Form. Mail the application to:

You may also access certified copies of pre-1947 marriage certificates and marriage licenses at the county recorder's office where the marriage license was issued. Generally, all marriage record requests in Idaho may include the following:

• The full names of the couple
• The exact date of marriage
• Proof of relationship with the record holder
• A valid government-issued photo ID
• The fees

Are Marriage Records Public in Idaho?

Idaho considers marriage records as vital statistics, which are exempt from public disclosure under the Idaho Public Records Act. Under the Act, marriage records are considered confidential and are closed to the general public for a specific period. During the confidentiality period, only the couple, immediate family members, and legal representatives may access certified copies of Idaho marriage certificates.

How Much Do Idaho Marriage Records Cost?

It costs $16 to order a certified copy of an Idaho marriage certificate from the State Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics. Additional copies also cost $16. The office offers expedited processing for mail requesters at an additional $10 charge. Online requests for marriage certificates attract an additional processing fee of $10.50 and a $21 fee for expedited shipping.

The standard processing times for mail requests for marriage certificates is between 3-5 weeks. Expedited processing makes the document available within 2-3 weeks. Online requests for marriage certificates are typically processed within 1-2 weeks and 3-5 days for expedited processing.

Is It Possible to Make Your Marriage Records Confidential in Idaho?

All marriage certificates filed with the State Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics are legally confidential for a predetermined period. During that period, marriage certificates were not public records and were accessible only to authorized individuals. However, Idaho's confidential marriage certificate differs from confidential marriage records offered by states like California, which makes marriage certificates closed to everyone except the couple. In Idaho, unlike California, after the confidentiality period, the marriage certificate becomes publicly available.

How Do I Verify the Authenticity of Idaho Marriage Records?

You may need to verify the authenticity of your Idaho marriage records for several legal, financial, and personal purposes. Generally, you may confirm the legitimacy of your marriage records when applying for travel documents, changing your legal name, claiming tax and insurance benefits, claiming inheritance rights, and processing divorce papers.

Married couples may verify the authenticity of their marriage certificates at the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics or at the county recorder's office where the marriage license was issued.

Authenticated marriage records in Idaho carry several security features that prove the document's legitimacy. Confirm the presence of a raised seal, registrar's signature, certificate number, and filing date on your marriage certificate to verify its authenticity. Also, certified copies of marriage certificates are usually printed on specialized security paper with watermarks to prevent document duplication.

Can I Find Idaho Marriage Records Online for Free?

While Idaho's official marriage certificates are only obtainable through governmental channels, often for a fee, you may access indexes and record images of both old and recent marriage records for free through non-governmental platforms.

FamilySearch.org provides free searchable indexes and digital images of Idaho marriage records. The platform holds statewide indexes of marriage filed with the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics from 1947 to 1961. It also provides access to indexed images of county marriages from local courthouse registers from 1876 to 1942.

Ancestry.com is a subscription-based platform with free access to historical marriage records, including marriage records. Searchers may access information on individuals who were married in select areas of Idaho between 1863 and 1971. In addition, the platform offers marriage images and indexes from Idaho counties from 1864 to 1967.

PublicRecords.us aggregates public records from various governmental sources to provide a vast repository of vital records, including Idaho marriage records. The platform offers access to more modern marriage records. You may access basic marriage information, such as the couple's names, marriage dates, and county of marriage, from the platform. Detailed access may require a subscription fee.

What Is Required to Get an Idaho Marriage License?

To obtain marriage licenses in Idaho, couples may submit appropriate documentation and meet specific legal requirements to obtain the document. Usually, these include:

• Both parties must be at least 18 years old. A person aged 16-17 years may get married if the age difference is under three years and they have obtained parental consent.
• Both parties must appear together at the county recorder's office.
• Provide their Social Security number.
• A valid government-issued photo ID.
• Pay the marriage license fee.

The marriage license fee is $30. There is no waiting period in Idaho. Once the county clerk issues the marriage license, the couple may get married immediately. However, marriage licenses are valid for one year from issuance. If the wedding ceremony does not take place within the validity period, the document expires.

Can You Amend Marriage Records in Idaho?

You may amend errors on your marriage license and certificates if you notice inaccuracies in the document. Generally, you may amend the following errors on your marriage records in Idaho:

• Typographical errors or transpositions in names
• Incorrect or missing data
• Name changes

Amending Idaho Marriage License

You may amend your Idaho marriage license if you notice inaccuracies on the document before the wedding. To amend the marriage license, contact the county recorder's office that issued the license. Both applicants must appear at the county recorder's office to correct the error. Some counties provide an amendment form, while others require you to fill out a new marriage license form to replace the erroneous document. Provide the county recorder with a valid government-issued ID and pay the fees. Most counties charge the original license fee to correct errors on the document.

Amending the Idaho Marriage Certificate

You may amend inaccuracies on your Idaho marriage certificate by downloading and completing the Idaho Vital Records Legal Action Request form. Detail the incorrect information and provide the accurate information as it should be shown on the marriage certificate. Include documentary evidence to support the correct information, such as hospital records or a driver's license, and the original marriage certificate containing the error. If more than one year has elapsed since the license was issued, include at least one or more supporting evidence that predates the event by at least 5 years or was created within 7 years of the marriage date.

Generally, most clerical errors require the applicant to notarize the application form. However, more substantive corrections like changing legal names or adding or removing a parent from the marriage certificate require a court order to validate the correction.

Submit the amendment request to the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics for marriage records post-1947 and to the county recorder's office for marriage certificates obtained pre-1947.

The marriage amendment fee is charged as follows:

• Minor Corrections within 1 year of the event: They are handled free of charge by the State Registrar and annotated internally without changing the certified copy.
• All other Corrections, including after 1 year of the event: It requires a $20 legal action fee, plus the standard $15 marriage certificate copy fee.