Article: If you're not sure, be bold and ask. This can be the simplest and most effective way to learn what you need to know quickly. There are different possible ways to go about this: Come right out and ask: "Are you married?" Refrain from asking in an accusatory tone; simply ask out of curiosity. Ask, "Is there anything you're not telling me?" See what the person comes up with. Watch the reaction. Is the person exhibiting the signs of lying? Are they averting their eyes, shifting uncomfortably, sweating, or becoming overly defensive? If the person says insists that he or she is not married, then you have to ask yourself why you think he's lying. Are you struggling with trust issues, or is the person just really acting sketchy? If you still feel like something is off, then you may need to end the relationship ASAP. If the person does say he or she is married, then don't waste any more time with him or her. You can get angry and ask a few questions, but get out as soon as you can -- it's just not worth it. Go to the courthouse of the city where the marriage was likely to occur. Public records can be useful for finding out whether someone is married now, or what their marriage history has been in the past. Marriage records are public; you can usually see a copy for free or for a small fee. You can usually even tell if the person has applied for a marriage license in the past. You'll need the person's real name to search the public records. If their name is in common usage, such as Mary Smith, you'll also need a middle name. In numerous jurisdictions, you'll also need to know which state or province a person was married in and only search there. Be aware that not all marriage applications or licenses are made public. Some jurisdictions have provisions for keeping this information private. Every state and city differs on what information is available to the public and how it can be obtained, so know the rules of your state and city first. While you're there, check the divorce records, too. Just because you find a marriage record, it doesn't mean the marriage is still in existence. There are websites that collate nationwide public records to allow you to search for marriages. These tend to be considerably more expensive than searching locally available public records, but they might prove convenient. Weigh the cost with the convenience before making your decision. If you're snooping, then you're doing so at the cost of your relationship. But if you really think this is the best way to find out the truth, then go for it. Here are a few ways to snoop through the person's things to get the answers you need: Look through the person's wallet. Does he have a joint credit card with someone? Or less obviously, does he share a joint card to PetCo, the local Co-op, or another local business with another person? That person may be his spouse. Look through the person's phone. Are there pictures of the person with potential spouses or children? If you have seen a person's office, are there pictures there? Look at the names on the person's mail. Is there another person living in the house? Do they have the same last name? While this may simply indicate that the person lives with their sibling or parent, it may be reason to run a deeper check. Check the person's driveway for two cars. Again, this could be the car of another family member or householder, so don't rely solely on this, but it could be a clue. Are there signs of children at the house? It's simple. Check the online while pages or your local phone book to find the person's listing. Search their phone number in an online search engine. Is the person listed as living in the same house as someone who shares his last name, is of the opposite gender, and is clearly not a child or a parent? If so, then this may be a sign that the person is married. This information can be a bit outdated. The person could be divorced or separated since the listing was printed. There are dozens of websites out there that promise to tell you the person's marital status if you just type in his or her name, city, and your credit card information. Be wary of these websites. They might not be legitimate. If you're really desperate, consider hiring a private investigator to do the dirty work for you. Remember that this will probably cost a lot of money, so if you're only looking for a simple "yes, this person is married" or "no, they're not," it's probably not the best idea. On the other hand, there are a lot of red flags and you find yourself falling harder, you might consider the detective work money well spent. Ask for advice from the private investigator before committing to this route. A private investigator may be useful where there are concerns about bigamy or a divorce not yet finalized.

What is a summary?
Ask the person. Visit the courthouse for a marriage certificate. Snoop through the person's things. Look up the phone number. Be wary of websites that promise divulge marital status. Hire a detective.