Idaho Marriage Records

Marriage records in Idaho are legal documents that verify the solemnization of marriages. These records typically include marriage licenses, which authorize a couple to marry, and marriage certificates, which serve as legal proof of the marriage once completed by an officiant. For records before 1947, inquiries must be directed to county courthouses, while those after 1947 are handled by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Vital Statistics Unit.

Idaho marriage certificates remain confidential for 50 years, accessible only by the parties involved, their children, or legal representatives. After 50 years, the records become publicly available. Marriage records are often required for official purposes such as obtaining a Star Card or a U.S. passport.

Individuals may submit requests by mail or online to access marriage records, but the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records cautions against using third-party websites, which may charge excessive fees. The Bureau recommends using its official online partner, VitalChek, for fast and cost-effective service. VitalChek charges $10.50 for online orders, and express shipping options are available.

Mail-in requests must include a completed form, a photocopy of an ID, and a check or money order for the required fee. Orders are processed by the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and delivered through USPS or an alternative carrier if specified by the requester.

What are Marriage Records?

Marriage records in Idaho are documents that may be legally used to prove the solemnization of marriages between two people in the state. Typically, marriage records are in the form of marriage licenses and marriage certificates. A marriage license is a state-issued document authorizing the couples named on it to be married. The marriage certificate is a post-marriage document issued to legally married couples for use as proof of marriage.

Idaho marriage records between 1895 and 1947 are available at the county courthouses in the counties where the marriages took place. For marriage records from 1947 to the present, check with the Vital Statistics Unit of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in Boise.

Idaho marriage certificates are confidential for 50 years and may only be publicly available after the expiration of this statutory period. However, the persons named on the records, their children, and their legal representatives may access marriage records anytime. Persons married in Idaho may obtain their marriage records for different reasons, including needing to get a Star Card or a United States Passport.

Marriages in Idaho

As of 2021, Idaho's marriage rate stood at 7.6 marriages per 1,000 residents, reflecting an increase from 7.3 the previous year. Over the past three decades, the state's marriage rate has steadily declined, from 13.9 per 1,000 people in 1990 to 10.8 in 2000 and from 8.8 in 2010 to 7.3 in 2020. According to the Census Bureau's 2020 American Community Survey, 27.68% of Idaho's population (396,877 people) had never married, while 55.29% (792,633 people) were married.

In 2022, the number of marriages in Idaho rose by 2%, from 14,030 in 2021 to 14,304. However, the marriage rate dropped slightly to 7.4 marriages per 1,000 people. The number of divorces also increased marginally, from 6,392 in 2021 to 6,419 in 2022. Over the past decade, Idaho's divorce rate has decreased by 27%, falling from 4.8 divorces per 1,000 people in 2012 to 3.5 in 2021. Despite this decline, divorces in Idaho remain higher than the national average, with the U.S. divorce rate at 2.5 per 1,000 people in 2021, according to the CDC.

Of the 14,304 marriages recorded in Idaho in 2022, 13,967 were between a bride and groom, while 328 involved same-sex or partner unions. Out of the 6,419 divorces that year, 6,200 were opposite-sex divorces, 81 involved same-sex female couples, 18 involved same-sex male couples, and 120 did not specify one or both partners' sexes. More women (65.5%) initiated divorce proceedings than men (34.0%).

To be married in Idaho, you must obtain a marriage license from the county recorder's or clerk's office. However, marriage licenses may only be issued to couples who meet Idaho's age requirement for marriage and fulfill other conditions stipulated under the state's marriage laws. Persons aged 18 in the state may marry legally without the consent of their parents. However, persons between 16 and 18 must obtain notarized consent statements from their parents. Their parents must also appear with them at the time of the marriage license application. If you are under 16 and intend to marry in Idaho, you must obtain an order from a magistrate judge authorizing you to marry.

Some counties require marriage license applicants to schedule an appointment before visiting the county recorder's office to complete a marriage license application. Therefore, applicants are advised to contact the county recorder's office in the county where they intend to apply for a marriage license before visiting. Per Idaho Code 32-202, minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and the age gap between couples aged 16 or 17 must be no more than three years. Original birth certificates or a certified copy of guardianship papers are required for applicants aged 16 or 17.

Also, per Idaho Code 32-202, applicants aged 15 and under will not be issued marriage licenses. Other items that will be required at the county recorder's office to complete a marriage license application include a $30 license fee, the Social Security number for each party in the proposed marriage, an acceptable photo ID, such as a current driver's license, passport, state-issued ID card, and original birth certificate or certified copy. Note that the marriage license application fee varies from one county to another. Some Idaho counties charge an additional fee of up to $20 for applications made on Saturdays. Non-U.S. residents are advised to bring their ID from their country of residence to the Idaho county recorder's office.

There is no waiting period before using an Idaho marriage license. Hence, you may use the license to get married on the same day of issuance. While no expiration date is printed on an Idaho marriage license, persons who have been issued a marriage license in the state must contact the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics if their marriage licenses are not used within one year of its issuance. Witnesses are not required to be present at Idaho marriage ceremonies, but in accordance with Idaho Code 32-303, weddings held in the state may only be officiated by authorized persons, such as:

A current or retired Idaho justice of the Supreme Court
A current or retired Idaho Court of Appeals judge
A current or retired Idaho district judge
The current or former Idaho governor
The current Idaho lieutenant governor
A current or retired Idaho magistrate of the district court
A current mayor of a city in Idaho
An unretired federal judge
An unretired tribal judge of an Idaho Indian tribe or another tribal official approved by an official act of an Idaho Indian tribe
A priest or minister of the gospel of a denomination

According to Idaho Statutes 32-205, marriages between parents and children, brothers and sisters, uncles and nieces, aunts and nephews, and ancestors and descendants of every degree are considered incestuous and void in Idaho. All marriages between first cousins are also prohibited.

Common-law marriages after January 1, 1996, are not recognized in the Gem State. According to Title 32 of Idaho Statutes, consent alone does not constitute marriage; it must be followed by the issuance of a marriage license and a solemnization as authorized and provided by Idaho law. However, under the federal full faith and credit clause, Idaho recognizes common-law marriages established in other states in the United States. Consequently, partners in common-law marriages legally authorized in other states in the United States will be recognized as married if they move to Idaho. Same-sex marriages have been legal in Idaho Since October 15, 2014. Furthermore, under the decision of the federal Supreme Court in Obergefell V. Hodges on June 26, 2015, same-sex marriages became legal in all states.

Idaho Marriage Certificate

Marriage licenses issued in Idaho come in two parts. The first part of the license authorizes a marriage to take place, while the second part is the marriage certificate, which the solemnizing official must complete. One copy of the marriage license will be given to the couple after the marriage, while another copy will be returned to the county recorder's office where it was issued for recording. Once recorded, a certified copy of the marriage certificate will be mailed to the married parties and may be used as legal proof of marriage. Certified copies of a marriage record may only be obtained by parties with tangible interests in the record.

How To Find and Access Idaho Marriage Records

Marriage records requests in Idaho are made to the Bureau of Vital Records at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics does not offer in-person services; requests are processed via other means. Hence, all requests seeking certified marriage record copies must be submitted by mail or via the Internet. Under Idaho law, only the persons named on marriage records, their immediate family members, or persons with a direct tangible interest in the records may request such records.

Finding and Accessing Idaho Marriage Records Online

While many different third-party websites offer ordering services for Idaho marriage records, many of these services charge unnecessary or oversized fees for processing requests. However, for reliable and cost-effective service, the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics advises requesters to order certified copies of marriage records through its official online partner, VitalChek.

Ordering marriage certificates online is the fastest method of obtaining a marriage record in Idaho. VitalChek accepts each of the major credit cards for payment. Professionals may ask you to fax acceptable ID information in order to finalize your request. A copy of an Idaho marriage certificate costs $16. VitalChek charges $10.50 for orders placed through its website. Express (RUSH) orders are charged at $10, while expedited shipping via UPS costs $19 for most delivery areas. Non-RUSH orders take 2-4 to process, while orders delivered via express services take 1-2 weeks.

Finding and Accessing Idaho Marriage Records Offline

To request a marriage record by mail, send the following:

Completed Certificate Request Form
A photocopy depicting your current driver's license depicting your license's expiration date and your complete signature or other acceptable ID
A signed money order or check for the appropriate fee made payable to "Idaho Vital Records."

By mail to:

Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics

PO Box 83720

Boise, ID 83720-0036

Note that an incomplete order or an order including any unsolved issues will require more time to process. If your payment isn't signed or you submit an incomplete request, you will get a letter requesting the lost information. If you haven't received a response within the prescribed time periods, you may contact the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to obtain a status update by calling 1-208-334-5980 or mailing ivr@dhw.idaho.gov.

Your order will be sent via the USPS (United States Postal Service). The USPS cannot deliver mail to the address provided unless are a currently registered resident. If you want your order delivered by another carrier, include a self-addressed postage shipping envelope from whichever carrier you prefer.

References

Counties in Idaho

List of Content

What are Marriage Records?
Marriages in Idaho
1. Idaho Marriage Certificate
How To Find and Access Idaho Marriage Records
1. Finding and Accessing Idaho Marriage Records Online
2. Finding and Accessing Idaho Marriage Records Offline