View & Obtain Free Idaho Marriage Records or Licenses

Citizens can search and view Idaho marriage records at no cost.

These records are publicly available due to the state’s Public Records Act and the overarching federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Accessing this information may be necessary for multiple reasons, including adoption, genealogy research or performing a search on a potential partner.

Marriage records are available through several channels, including state and county public agencies. In many cases, public indexes and databases can be queried for marriage records free of charge.

By using the streamlined guidance in this resource, patrons may search for marriage records seamlessly, regardless of the agency that has custody of them.

Are Marriage Records & Certificates Available to the Public in Idaho?

While the public can access large swathes of local and state public records due to the Idaho Public Records Act, vital records, including marriage records, are restricted to authorized persons.¹ These persons include but are not limited to the registrant, close family members such as children, parents, siblings and authorized individuals like legal counsel.

Nevertheless, there is a time threshold that allows Idaho marriage records to become public and no longer confidential; this happens once fifty years lapse from the date of record.²

Interested persons who want to find out if someone is married in Idaho or has finalized a divorce within the last 50 years can find this information by contacting third-party vendors who may search social media sites and genealogy databases for this information.

Other than certified certificates, Idaho issues delayed marriage certificates for weddings that are registered one year after they took place.

Regardless of whether marriage records are public or not, the census makes available rates in the state. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides marriage rates by state, and for 2021, Idaho is among the states with the highest rates of marriage at a rate of 7.4 weddings per 1,000 persons.³ The CDC furnishes marriage rates from 2019 to 2021.

How To Access Free Idaho Marriage Records: State Marriage License Lookup

The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare (IDHW) issues certified copies of marriage certificates for events filed from 1947 to present day.

As stated before, only parties to the record, immediate family members and legal representatives can order Idaho marriage certificates.⁴ Individuals can order marriage records online and by mail.

Applying by mail is slower but more cost-effective and is started off by filling out an Idaho marriage certificate request form (Spanish).

To prove tangible interest in the record, the applicant must include a copy of a valid driver’s license with the signature and expiration clearly legible or other acceptable identification documents.

Payment is made by check (signed) or money order, and charges are computed from this fee schedule. Applicants should mail documents to the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records & Health Statistics:

Idaho Bureau of Vital Records & Health Statistics
Post Office Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0036

Ordering certificates online via VitalChek, a third-party vendor authorized by the IDHW, is the fastest way to obtain marital records. While requesting marriage records through VitalChek is the quicker option, it does carry with it additional charges due to the convenience of utilizing it.

Rush orders are available but cannot be added to orders being processed; patrons must indicate this when making the application.

Applicants can view fees and processing time schedules to get an idea of the charges and when they can expect to receive ordered marriage certificates. Individuals who are searching for older marriage records beyond which the IDHW furnishes can turn to archived indexes, as will be expanded upon below.

Sourcing Marriage Records Through Counties & Cities in Idaho

In addition to state public channels, any individual can look up marriage licenses in Idaho through county and city agencies.

While state inquiries allow for a wider search scope, the search for marriage records at the county or town level can have some advantages. For example, since these offices tend to serve smaller populations, applicants can acquire marriage records quicker when compared to their state counterparts.

County searches will often have the same search methods as state agencies, and often their online services are not designated to a third-party vendor.

The three most populated counties in Idaho are Ada, Canyon and Kootenai Counties— these will showcase how to look up marriage license in Idaho at the county level.

Look Up Marriage Records in Ada County: The Ada County Recorder’s Office issues marriage licenses and furnishes copies of marital licenses to the public.⁵ To obtain marriage licenses issued in the county, requestors will need to submit a public records request form. There is a $2.00 fee that is applicable which applicants can pay via check or cash.

The Recorder’s Office will email the record, or they can also be picked up from the Ada County Courthouse whose address appears below:

Ada County Courthouse
200 West Front Street
Boise, Idaho 83702

Patrons may call 208.287.6840 or email marriagelicenses@adacounty.id.gov for any questions they may have.

Find Marriage Certificates in Canyon County: Marriage certificates are issued by the Canyon County Recorder, who also furnish licenses for couples to marry. The Recorder provides copies of marriage certificates electronically, by mail and in person.

Interested parties can search for records electronically through the Canyon County public records request portal.⁷ Pursuant to Idaho Code § 74-102(10), the Recorder’s Office will demand fees upfront to cover labor and copy costs. The office can send the records by mail or email.

To acquire records by mail, provide a detailed statement listing the names of the couple (the one before the marriage), contact information and fees. Contact the Canyon County Recorder & Passport Office at 208.454.7555 to inquire about the cost. Include a self-addressed envelope in the request.

Mail the request to the office whose address appears below. Alternatively, visit the same office on weekdays, 8 AM to 5 PM, to obtain a copy of a martial license. Call the telephone number specified above or email RecorderClerks@canyoncounty.id.gov for any inquiries.

Canyon County Recorder’s & Passport Office
Suite 330 (3rd floor)
111 North 11th Avenue
Caldwell, ID 83605

Search for Marriage Records in Kootenai County: Interested persons can acquire copies of marriage licenses (the public can only do so after 50 years of the recorded date) from the Kootenai County Recorder’s Office in person with a valid government-issued ID. Requestors can find the costs associated with this process as per Idaho Code §31-3205. This is done at the address below, and their office number is 208.446.1480.

Kootenai County Recorder’s Office
451 Government Way
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814

Additionally, the search for Idaho marriage records can be done at the city level, where some city governments do provide certificates for marriages that took place in their jurisdiction—this is especially true in major cities. The most populous cities in Idaho are Boise City, Meridian and Nampa, which are used as examples below.

Locate Marriage Records in Boise City: Boise City does not conduct marriage ceremonies, but members of the public can make a request for public records. Patrons can contact Boise City for more information.

Retrieve Marriage Records in Meridian: The Meridian City Clerk’s office allows patrons to submit electronic public records requests; the office responds within 3 business days.

Acquire Marriage Records in Nampa: Residents can find marriage records in Nampa by executing public record requests through the city clerk’s office electronically. The city also provides a link to make record requests through Canyon County.

How To Check Idaho Archives for Ancestral Marriage Records

Interested parties may need to find marriage records to ascertain their ancestry and lineage—to run a genealogy search, they will need to find these vital records at county courthouses or churches for records between 1895-1947.

Records that were created after 1947 will be found at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare – Vital Statistics Office in Boise.

By looking up archived marriage records, citizens can identify the names on the certificates (husband and wife) and their parents, which allows them to trace their ancestry in an accurate manner.

Patrons can run a free marriage license search using iCourt, which is an innovative online judicial system that can locate court records from all counties in the state. Users will need to select the county they are looking to search for and the service, which is a “Record Search.”

There are additional resources that interested persons can use to search free marriage records for purposes of genealogy; these include libraries and newspapers:

Brigham Young University (BYU Idaho)— BYU Idaho has an Online Marriage Index Tool to find weddings that took place before 1900 in the Western States.

Library of Congress— Requesters can find archived marriage records in the Library of Congress Catalog. Interested parties can find archived marriage records in digitized newspapers from the Library of Congress and Idaho newspapers.

Idaho State Archives Genealogy— The Idaho State Archives Genealogy makes available resources on and off-site to find archived marriage records.¹¹ Patrons can contact the Archives by calling 208.334.2682 or emailing information@ishs.idaho.gov for more information.

Idaho Department of Health & Welfare (IDHW)— As mentioned earlier, it is possible to obtain marriage records from the IDHW on records created as early as 1947.

Idaho Marriage Records & Index— The Idaho Matrimony Records & Index from the Internet Archives displays marriage certificates that are more than 50 years old and have now become public records.

Libraries & Historical Societies— Libraries in Idaho, such as the Boise Public Library and resources provided by the University of Idaho Library and other libraries in Idaho can be used.¹²

How To Begin the Idaho Marriage License Application Process

In Idaho, marriage licenses are not issued by the state but by county recorders. Some county recorders require couples to make appointments before obtaining the document. While blood tests are not a requirement, the couple must sign a Marriage License Affidavit and read a pamphlet on Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Idaho Statutes: Title 32 Chapter 2 provides guidance on the eligibility of persons who can get married in the state. While the process may vary slightly between counties, there are common requirements and processes when obtaining a marriage license in Idaho.¹³

The couple should appear at an Idaho County Recorder with proof of age and identity in the form of government-issued ID such as a driver’s license, passport and state-issued identification. Providing a social security number is required—non-U.S. residents can bring foreign ID but must also obtain a letter from the nearest Social Security Office. While the fees vary between counties, applicants should have at least $30.00 in cash to cover the license cost.

Upon receiving the license, the couple will need to have an authorized individual perform the wedding ceremony, as the marriage is not considered lawful until this happens. Prenup agreements should be executed before the marriage becomes official.

There is no requirement to be a resident of Idaho to obtain a license, but the license is only valid in the state, and couples can immediately get married upon obtaining the license. While marriage licenses do not have an expiration date, if a license does expire, contact the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records & Health Statistics.¹⁴

Both 16 and 17-year-old applicants must have a parent or guardian present when obtaining the license or have a notarized statement signed by either one of these two. Applicants who are under the age of 16 will require a parental notarized consent form and permission from the court.

As of 1996, the state of Idaho does not recognize common law marriage and has deemed it unlawful. This form of marriage confers the same rights, duties and responsibilities of a regular nuptial but without being officially formalized with a ceremony or license.

Finding Idaho marriage records can be a streamlined process with the right tools and guidance; while these records are deemed private, they do become public after half a century, becoming a valuable data source for genealogy research. To access more public information on residents throughout the state, refer to the Idaho public record lookup tutorial for clear guidance and linked databases.