How to Find Out If Someone Is Married

"Are they actually single?" is one of the most common questions we're asked. Marriage and divorce leave a paper trail, and much of it is public. Here's where those records live, how to search them yourself, and why the answer is sometimes harder to find than it should be.

Where marriage records are kept

In the United States, a marriage starts with a marriage license issued by a county, usually through the clerk of court, the county clerk, or the recorder's office. After the ceremony, the license is recorded in that county. Many states also keep a statewide index through their vital records office.

In most states, the basic fact of a marriage (names, date, and county) is a public record. Access rules vary. Some states restrict copies of the certificate itself, and a few, like California, let couples choose a confidential marriage license that isn't open to public search.

Where divorce records are kept

A divorce is a court case, filed in the county where one of the spouses lived. The case file is usually a public court record. Some details, such as financial affidavits or anything involving children, are often sealed or redacted. The existence of the case, the parties, and whether a final judgment was entered are usually visible.

How to search yourself

1. Start with the counties they've lived in. Ask where they grew up and where they've lived. Marriage records are filed by county, so you need to know where to look.
2. Search the county clerk or recorder's website. Many counties offer free online "official records" search. Try their full name, and any maiden name for a spouse if you know it.
3. Search court records for a divorce case. Look for a case type like "dissolution of marriage" or "divorce." A divorce that was filed but never finalized means they may still be legally married.
4. Check property records. A home owned jointly with someone who shares their last name is worth noticing. Property records are public and searchable by owner name in most counties.
5. Look at their social media history. Scroll back years, not weeks. Deleted anniversary posts, tagged photos from relatives, or a spouse's account that mentions them can tell a story.

Signs that someone may not be as single as they say

• They're only available at certain times, and never on holidays or weekends.
• You've never been to their home, or there's always a reason you can't come over.
• They don't want photos of the two of you on social media.
• They give you a phone number but prefer you only text.
• Their story about a past marriage is vague or keeps changing.

None of these prove anything on its own. Plenty of people have unusual schedules or value their privacy. They're reasons to verify, not to accuse.

What a private investigator adds

A licensed investigator starts by confirming identity, so you know the records you're reading belong to the right person. From there we search marriage, divorce, and court records in the places they've actually lived, not just the ones they've mentioned, using public records and licensed investigative databases that aren't available to the public. The result is a plain-English answer: married, divorced, or no record found. We tell you exactly where we looked.

We don't follow anyone, tap phones, or access private accounts. Everything comes from public records and lawful sources.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Run. Don't Run.™ reports are compiled from public records and licensed investigative databases for informational use only. They are not consumer reports under the FCRA and may not be used for employment, tenancy, credit, or insurance decisions.