Sofia,

1. Matrimonios - your 'typical' marriage record created when the couple actually got married. If your ancestors married, then a marriage record should have been made for them.

2. Informacion Matrimonial - pre-marriage investigation that the parish priest did before he married the couple. These are usually several pages in length (depending on the investigation and the priest they range from a couple of pages to 20 or more pages). This investigation was performed to determine that the marrying parties were in good standing with the Church and that they did not have any Canonical impediments that needed to be dispensed before marriage. All marrying couples should have gone through this process. The actual (#1 above), will indicate whether this was performed. Look for key phrases like: "no haviendo resultado impedimiento alguno" or a reference in the marriage record to an investigation and a page number or date when it took place.

3. Dispensas Matrimoniales - This record was made when the couple had a Canonical impediment, such as, being related within 4 generations (common great-great grandparent) by consanguinity (blood) or affinity (marriage). The dispensa will outline the pre-marriage investigation, and will include the diocesan bishop's permission (dispensa) for the couple to marry. This record should outline or diagram how the couple was related. I'm 99% sure that these were also called diligencias (petitions) and exortos as well. I think it depended on the time period, and the person creating the record, and the person cataloging them in the FHLC. George R. Ryskamp's book: Finding Your Hispanic Roots should help you with any distinctions too...I don't have mine with me right now.

As far as which ones should you search. You should begin with the regular marriage records, and look for comments, clues, etc. in them that will point you to the marriage informations and dispensas. If you can't find your ancestor in the actual marriage record, then you may want to search the informaciones matrimoniales, because sometimes the actual marriage records may have been lost or destroyed. You will want to be fairly certain that your ancestors married in that parish first though, because they aren't the most fun records to search page by page. Good Luck...I hope others will correct me if I am off on the diligencias and exortos.

-Lynn

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