Are there any sites where you can get marriage and birth records free? Really free?

Question

Are there any sites where you can get marriage and birth records free? Really free?

Answer 1

Both are govt documents, and will not be free. You might find an index, but that is not the entire record.

MOST birth certificates are not the same as marriages.. they have confidential information, and access is restricted to certain persons only.

Answer 2

No.  You can never get these for free.  You can't even get your OWN birth certificate for free.  You have to get them from your state's Dept. of Vital Statistics, and they will charge you for it as this is a revenue-generating opportunity for the state, as well as the fact that the staff that works for the Dept. of Vital Statistics does not work for free.  The fee is pretty nominal though.  I know in Virginia, the cost of a birth certificates is $12.  Even then, in most states you have to be either a direct ancestor or direct descendant of the person whose birth certificate you are asking for.  You cannot get your aunt/uncle, cousins, step-family members, or even your own brother or sister's birth certificate.

Answer 3

Yes, but you have to hunt for them. I'll give you two examples.

In West Virginia:

http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_mcsearch...

Currently, marriage records are available for the following counties and years.  Check back often as we continue to add more.

Braxton: 1836 - 1847, 1865 - 1967

Cabell: 1809 - 1968

Calhoun: 1856 - 1969

Gilmer: 1845 - 1847, 1849 - 1969

Grant: 1866 - 1969

Greenbrier: 1781 - 1783, 1785 - 1901, 1904 - 1914, 1918 - 1969

Hardy: 1792, 1795 - 1796, 1799, 1801 - 1842, 1844 - 1847, 1849 - 1851, 1853 - 1970

Harrison: 1784 - 1970

Jefferson: 1800, 1802 - 1970

Lewis: 1817 - 1969

Logan: 1839, 1846, 1849, 1866, 1872 - 1969

Marshall: 1835 - 1970

Mineral: 1866 - 1969

Mingo: 1895 - 1926

Pendleton: 1799 - 1970

Wood: 1804 - 1969



In Preble County, Ohio:

http://www.pcdl.lib.oh.us/marriage/searc...

(From about 1800 to 1950)