Checking Your Own Marriage Records

If you are married or ever have been, there are marriage records that exist in your name in the locale where your original marriage license was issued. Generally, a copy of a marriage license, or marriage certificate, is given to the married couple after finalization of the ceremony, but in some cases you may need to request one.

Perhaps your marriage license has been lost, and you need an additional copy to keep in your personal files. You may also be filing for a new marriage license, and need to provide details regarding a prior marriage that can only be found in the records. If you have ever been the victim of identity theft, you may also need to check that someone hasn’t used your name when applying for a marriage license.

Now, you don’t have to physically travel to the local government office in order to inquire about how to obtain copies of your marriage records, which is a great advantage if you live far away or have no idea where they may be stored. eVerify.com offers the ability to quickly scan millions of public records in order to find any marriage records that contain your name.

Creation of Marriage Records

Information typically found in marriage records includes the date and place of the marriage, names of the bride and groom (including the bride’s maiden name), and possibly the names of their respective parents. Most locales also require the inclusion of the names and signatures of at least two witnesses at the ceremony to consider it legal.

When a couple wishes to marry, they must first apply for a marriage license through their local branch of government. Once a license is issued, they must be married via ceremony by a minister, judge, or other individual who is licensed to perform a marriage ceremony by the respective state. The officiant, couple and witnesses then sign the license, which is returned to the local government offices, where a marriage certificate is then created and filed for future use.

Conduct a Criminal Records Check for New Acquaintances

Do you have a new neighbor, co-worker or other friend or acquaintance in your life? Do you really know what they are capable of or what their past looks like? Before allowing someone new access to your private property and family, it’s a wise decision to first conduct a criminal records search in their name. This can provide information regarding any past arrests, convictions, court records or even incarcerations that you may not otherwise we aware of.

eVerify.com offers the ability to quickly scan millions of publicly available records to determine if there are any criminal records in your subject’s past. This is far easier than physically contacting or visiting the respective local and state government offices that maintain these criminal records, and avoids the possibility of missing records, as they do not translate across jurisdictions. For example, if someone is convicted of murder in Florida, you may not discover this by checking with the government offices in Texas, where the person currently resides.

It is quite possible that a convicted criminal will relocate after being convicted and serving time for a crime, or even that they have avoided law enforcement by changing their place of residence and work. Granted, if they somehow obtained a new identity they may not be traceable – even with a national criminal records check.

Arrest records will alert you if someone has been arrested for any criminal activity in their past. However, this does not mean they were actually convicted of the crime in court. They may have simply been a suspect and later released from all charges, so this should be kept in mind.

Incarceration records, however, are far different – these detail the time served for an offense that the person was actually convicted of and sentenced by the local or state court.

Warrant records may be the most worrisome, depending upon their nature. Warrants can be issued for something as innocent as failing to pay child support, or for something as serious as being a murder suspect. Outstanding warrants mean they have not been fulfilled and the person is still wanted by law enforcement. If you find this type of record in a name that you search, you should never approach the person directly – simply contact local law enforcement and give them the information you have about them.

eVerify Can Help You Complete Your Family Tree

Genealogy searches are some of the most popular today, with many Americans choosing to trace their family histories to former generations and learn more about their origins. The most commonly requested records when completing a family tree include vital records such as birth, death, marriage and death records.

Birth records can provide clues about the names of someone’s parents and their place of birth, allowing the researcher to determine where a prior generation originated. Actual birth records are typically protected from public viewing until 100 or more years after the event to help in preventing identity theft, though if you are a close relative you may be able to request them sooner. Continue reading →

Searching Public Birth Records

Birth records are classified as a “vital record,” created and maintained by local health departments whenever a birth is recorded within the respective county. These health departments are often regulated by the local government, meaning that some of the information contained in them is considered public. Continue reading →

The Importance of Conducting Accurate Background Checks

When you need to conduct a background check on someone, it is often because you want to ensure they are telling the truth about whether they have been involved in any type of criminal activity. This may be a potential mate or date, friend or perhaps you simply want to conduct a check in the name of a new neighbor or acquaintance you are unsure about. Continue reading →