Kentucky Marriage Records

Marriages in Kentucky are defined as the legal union between two individuals intended to last for life, with the couple expected to fulfill duties to each other and the community in general. KRS Chapter 402 is the primary statute governing marriages in the state. This chapter outlines the requirements, prohibitions, and procedures related to getting married in Kentucky and covers various aspects, including who can marry, the process for undertaking the marriage, who is authorized to solemnize a marriage and the validity of marriages.

Per this law, individuals who wish to marry in Kentucky must not be related closer than second cousins, be mentally competent, not already (and still) married to someone else, and must be at least 18 years old. However, exemptions may be made for 17-year-olds with court approval. Proxy marriages and common-law marriages are also not allowed in Kentucky. Couples must obtain a marriage license from a county clerk before their wedding – these licenses can typically be obtained and used in any county within the state but must be used within 30 days. Both parties are usually required to be present when obtaining the license, which must also be returned to the issuing county clerk after the marriage has been solemnized.

Kentucky records around 30,000 marriages annually; reports indicate that approximately 27,740 weddings occurred in the state in 2023. Records of these marriages are maintained locally and at the state level by county clerks and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (via its Office of Vital Statistics), respectively. Kentucky marriage records are open records, meaning they are available for inspection and copying by members of the public upon request.

What are Marriage Records?

Marriage records in Kentucky are official documents that contain details of marriages that occur within the state. These records are generated and managed locally by county clerks in each of the state's counties. The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics also maintains a centralized repository of marriage records for the entire state. There are two primary types of marriage records in Kentucky, namely marriage licenses and marriage certificates. The critical difference between them is that a marriage license is issued (and must be obtained) before a marriage ceremony, while a marriage certificate is issued after the ceremony to confirm that the marriage has been legally officiated and recorded.

Kentucky marriage records typically contain information like the full names and addresses of the couple, their dates of birth, age, place of birth, and residential address, their parent’s names, and the date and location of the marriage. Some marriage records may also contain information about any prior marriages (including how they ended), the race of each party, whether they are related, the name and title of the person who officiated the marriage, and the names of witnesses present at the ceremony. These records are generally accessible to the public (however, certain details may be restricted access to protect personal information), and they have several important administrative and legal uses, including:

Providing a formal record of a marriage
Processing name changes, tax filings, inheritance claims, and other administrative matters
Genealogical research
Compiling data for studies into social, cultural, and demographic trends in Kentucky

Marriages in Kentucky

In 2022, marriage rates in Kentucky were approximately 6.2 marriages per 1,000 residents. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau reveal that only 29.7% of adult Kentuckians have never been married, less than the national average of 34.3%. Notwithstanding this, marriage rates have steadily declined (a trend observed nationwide), with the state ranking eighth in the country for the worst marriage rate decline between 2000 – 2022. More men (33.2%) than women (26.4%) have never been married in Kentucky; inversely, divorce and separation rates were also higher amongst the women.

Marriage rates in Kentucky also show considerable variation across different racial and ethnic groups. Asians have the highest marriage rates in the state, with 61% married, followed by the White and Hispanic populations, who had 52% and 47% marriage rates, respectively. The lowest marriage rates were observed among African Americans, with 27.5% married and 67% either never married, divorced, or separated.

Couples wishing to marry in Kentucky must meet specific legal requirements outlined in Chapter 402 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes. These include:

They must not be related closer than second cousins
Either party must not be already and still married to someone else
Either party must not have been declared mentally disabled by a court
The marriage must be between two people only

The minimum age for marriage in Kentucky is 18. However, exemptions may be made for 17-year-olds who obtain a court order from the family or district court in their county of residence granting them permission to marry. The petition for this court order must include personal details about the minor and their intended spouse, parental or guardian consent, reasons for wanting to marry, and evidence of maturity (like stable housing or education). The court order may be granted if the court determines that the minor isn’t being coerced into the marriage and the intended spouse does not have a history of abuse. The age difference between the minor and their intended spouse must also not be more than four years.

Couples who meet the eligibility criteria listed above can apply for a marriage license from the county clerk in any Kentucky county. However, in situations where a minor is looking to get married, the marriage license must be obtained from the female party’s county of residence – the couple must also wait at least 15 days after receiving the court order before applying for their marriage license. The application process generally requires both parties to appear in person at the county clerk's office, provide valid government-issued identification, and disclose any previous marriages or legal unions; additional documentation may be required depending on the circumstances. Some counties offer online forms or portals that couples can use to initiate the application process before appearing at the county clerk's office. Kentucky has no blood test requirements for obtaining marriage licenses; the state also doesn't impose a waiting period between applying for and receiving these licenses. Kentucky marriage licenses can be used anywhere within the state. Be aware that, once issued, the marriage license is valid for 30 days, and a new license must be obtained if the marriage does not occur within this period.

In Kentucky, marriages can only be officiated by:

Ministers of the gospel or priests from any religious denomination who regularly practice with a religious community.
Justices, judges, and county officials. This includes retired judges (unless they were removed for cause or convicted of a felony) and certain justices of the peace or fiscal court commissioners authorized by the Governor or county judge/executive.
Religious societies that don’t have an officiating minister or priest but have a tradition of solemnizing marriages at their usual place of worship, with consent given in the presence of the society, if one of the parties belongs to that society

Additionally, at least two witnesses, besides the officiant and the couple, must be present at the marriage ceremony. After the ceremony, the officiant must complete and sign the marriage license and certificate and return them to the county clerk who originally issued the marriage license for recording and indexing. Officiants must do this within one month of the marriage; otherwise, they may be fined up to $250.

Kentucky Marriage Certificate

Kentucky marriage certificates are official records of valid and legally recognized marriage ceremonies conducted within the state. After the wedding, the officiant is required to return a completed and signed marriage license and certificate to the county clerk's office where the couple originally obtained the marriage license. The county clerk then records and files these documents and prepares certified copies, which may be obtained by any interested party (for a fee).

Information contained in Kentucky marriage certificates includes the couple's full names, addresses, the date and location of the marriage, and the officiant's and witnesses' names and addresses. Be aware that couples typically need to request and pay for certified copies of their marriage certificates after their wedding; however, many counties include the cost of one copy in their marriage license fees. Copies of marriage certificates can also be obtained from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics.

How To Find and Access Kentucky Marriage Records

Kentucky marriage records are considered open records and may be accessed by any interested member of the public. These records are generated and maintained by the county clerk’s office in the county where the marriage license was initially issued. Copies of marriage records for marriages from June 1958 to present day are also available at, and can be obtained from, the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics.

Be aware that marriage records requesters are typically required to provide certain information to facilitate a search for the required records, present a valid government-issued ID, and pay all stipulated fees before they may be issued copies of these records.

Accessing Kentucky Marriage Records Online

The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics offers online access to certified copies of marriage records from June 1958 to the present date. However, it doesn’t do this directly; instead, it utilizes a third-party service provider to accept and process requests on its behalf – this third party also handles the shipping of the requested records (where available) to the necessary parties. There is a non-refundable $6 search fee per certificate when requesting copies of marriage records online via the Office of Vital Statistics; processing and shipping fees may also apply.

Some Kentucky counties may also offer online platforms through which marriage records may be accessed. Be aware that county clerks typically only maintain copies of records for marriage licenses issued by their respective offices.

Accessing Kentucky Marriage Records Offline

Couples and other interested parties looking to obtain copies of Kentucky marriage records may do so by contacting the county clerk's office where the original marriage license was issued. While the specific process for accessing these records varies by county, it typically involves completing and submitting a request form, providing a valid ID, and paying search and/or copy fees.

Copies of Kentucky marriage records for marriages that occurred from June 1958 to date can also be obtained in person at the state's Office of Vital Statistics located at:

275 East Main Street

Frankfort, KY 40601

Phone: (502) 564-4212

Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Mondays to Fridays

Requesters will have to complete an Application for a Certified Copy of Marriage/Divorce Certificate Form, provide a valid ID, and pay a non-refundable $6 search fee per record; requesters seeking more than one copy of the required records must pay an additional $6 fee for each extra copy, per record.

Copies of marriage records can also be requested from the Office of Vital Statistics via drop-box (at the address listed above) or by mailing the completed application form, along with necessary fees, to:

Vital Statistics

275 East Main Street, 1E-A

Frankfort, KY 40621

Processing times vary and can range from same-day service to 30 working days.

References

Counties in Kentucky

List of Content

What are Marriage Records?
Marriages in Kentucky
1. Kentucky Marriage Certificate
How To Find and Access Kentucky Marriage Records