Where can you look up information on recorded marriage certificates for free?

Every website I go to after you put in the name of the person you are looking up then there is a charge to see the information. Is there a website that has free public information about marriage certificates? Not one that says free but then charges you for the info.Where can you look up information on recorded marriage certificates for free?
I don't think records like that are free, so I think you need to pay really, but you can always try their trial period it's a lot more cheaper.Where can you look up information on recorded marriage certificates for free?
Marriage records are public information.. but that does not translate that counties have any obligation to put them on the internet. If a company chooses to do so.. then they provide a service (you don't have to pay gas to go to the courthouse). SOME counties put the info online (indexes only), but that is completely optional.


If the county itself does not have it, or the genweb page (which is county based for genealogy reasons).. then I would not expect it online.
West Virginia has some for some counties, all pre-1930 and most pre-1900. The Sec of State for Illinois and the Illinois Genealogical Society have lots, pre-1920. If that is what you want, write and I'll send the links. Both are free, completely free. Illinois had just the index; WV has the actual certificate.





I doubt that either one will meet your needs; I mention them to prove that there ARE free ones on-line, but you have to be more specific if you want a good answer. Where to look depends on which country, state and even county; also what time frame. Lots of Canadians go into Regular Yahoo, bypassing Y! Canada. We can't tell where you are from here.





You won't find current (1980 and later, roughly) ones from the USA on-line for free, usually; that would make it too easy for an identity thief to find out what someone's maiden name was.





Why you want it matters too. The Roots Web California Death Index has maiden name for about half of the women in it. That means you don't need a marriage license to find out what a woman's maiden name was if she is on it and one of the ones where it is filled in.





If, to take an extreme example, you met some lounge lizard who has told you he is single, and you doubt his word, genealogy isn't going to be able to help you.