Monday, November 21, 2011

Free Public Marriage Records In Washington

By Charles Michael


Marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman. It unites not just the couple themselves, but their families as well. And with a population as great as the state of Washington, one can only imagine the staggering number of Washington marriage records being stored in the state's vital record repositories and databases. Luckily, as members of the public and as citizens of this nation, we possess the right to acquire and view those records without prejudice or preconceptions.

As previously mentioned, Washington has quite a large population. In fact, in the Pacific Northwest area, Washington is perhaps the most populated. Furthermore, the state is also home to various establishments and parks that are perfect for marriage ceremonies. And as expected, the state has already hosted around a hundred thousand marriages in the last two years alone. If you take a minute to think about that statistic, you can just imagine how many marriages and divorces were filed during that specific period.

In the state of Washington, files concerning public marriage records, as well as other vital information, are the responsibility of the Center for Health Statistics office. Although the said office operates under the Department of Health, it is still charged with the proper handling of marriage documents that go as far back as 1968. However, recent marriage records that are around four months old are usually available at the county auditor's office where the marriage license was issued. Moreover, marriages that occurred prior to 1968 are located at the county clerk's office.

Applicants who want to get certified copies of Washington marriage records can file a formal request at the Center for Health Statistics office through the mail, telephone or in person. The whole procedure in acquiring the said records can take up to four weeks to complete. Admittedly, time is not exactly on the requester's side. Furthermore, before requesters are granted access to the public records database, they must provide a few details about the subject. And they must also go through certain procedures before they can obtain the information they need.

But with the Internet age at hand, accessing marriage records and vital information has become significantly easier. Although conventional means were quite effective in acquiring public records, there are still certain aspects where they can be improved. Like the lack of convenience for instance, or the practicality. In today's fast paced world, those characteristics are essential. The financial aspect could also use some tweaking, if I might add, especially with today's economy. Coincidentally, there is an alternative source that could be of great help to any individual wanting access to vital information.

As soon as government offices began uploading data to online databases, commercial record providers became quite prominent as well. With the convenience, practicality and financially sound services that they offer, it's no surprise that many individuals are now depending on them for accurate and comprehensive information. In exchange for a one-time membership fee, you can conduct your search on public marriage records effortlessly. Their wide-ranging database of public records is up-to-date and accurate enough to provide you with adequate information.




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