Marriage databases are readily available for many Kentucky and Virginia counties giving names of the couple, locations, and dates. However, the wise researcher looks for all the records associated with each marriage and not just information published in a database. Since, the laws for getting married in Kentucky and Virginia changed across time producing different records during different time periods, many records associated with a single marriage may not all be in one marriage book or even in the expected location. A basic understanding of the law and the records produced during each time period can give much more information than just a date. Learn what records were created during different time periods and how to use these to reveal more about relationships, associates, residence, and birth dates. Learn how to use these records to point toward other records and to make inferences which may not be obvious just from the marriage date.