| Building a family tree involves trying to locate as | | | | and store it in safe places, fires could wipe out |
| many marriage records, birth records, and death | | | | the documents of a whole town. Also, persecuted |
| records as possible as these three types of | | | | individuals or groups may have had their |
| documents are integral to genealogical searches. | | | | documents destroyed or records simply were |
| Generally, these three events are commonly | | | | never completed. |
| included in a family tree. They are important to | | | | Some genealogical societies have compiled their |
| follow a woman's paths through time as she | | | | own databases of early ones, as well as birth and |
| usually changed names to use the surname of | | | | death records. These databases generally consist |
| their husband after marriage. | | | | of information that has been submitted by |
| Since marriage records are vital to compiling an | | | | member researchers. |
| accurate family tree, these records should be | | | | While they strive for accuracy, inconsistencies or |
| near the top of your genealogical research list. | | | | guesswork may creep in. Take advantage of |
| How to gather them will depend on the particular | | | | these excellent resources, but be sure to |
| period and location of each marriage. | | | | document your sources. If you hit a dead end or |
| Modern marriage records are usually compiled by | | | | false trail, you may need to consider that the |
| the state, city and/or county through the vital | | | | information you obtained might not perfectly |
| records department. Many genealogical sites online | | | | accurate. |
| offer one click searching of vital records | | | | Marriage records can provide more information |
| databases, or you can visit each location's vital | | | | about your ancestor than simply the date on |
| records department website. | | | | which he or she married. They often document |
| Depending on each department's policy, you may | | | | the names of the couple's parents, social security |
| be able to order full copies of them online, or you | | | | numbers, pre-marriage addresses and other |
| might need to send a written request | | | | pertinent information. Therefore, it is important to |
| accompanied by a small fee. | | | | get a full copy of the original document if possible. |
| In modern times, we safeguard our information | | | | Marriage records can be difficult to track down |
| and records as much as possible by backing up | | | | for unions that happened a long time ago. |
| and archiving computer files to prevent loss. In | | | | However, it is worth taking the time to do so. |
| earlier times, security of written documents | | | | Along with birth records and death records, they |
| wasn't as easy, and many marriage records may | | | | are among the most critical documents that you |
| have been destroyed. | | | | can find when researching your ancestor and his |
| While people attempted to protect information | | | | or her daily life. |