Perform a Free Florida Marriage Records & License Lookup

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Free Florida Marriage Record Search

Access anyone's marital information in Florida, free of charge.

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Free Florida marriage records can be accessed through county and state agencies or online databases.

Every county in Florida offers avenues to access marriage records, either online or in person.

The Florida Clerk of Circuit Court has been recording marriages since 1927, and individuals can access these records through the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Additionally, archived marriage records are available via various public and university libraries.

The Accessibility of Marriage Records & Certificates in Florida

In Florida, anyone can access marriage records, thanks to the  Sunshine Law, which makes them public. Essentially, once a couple ties the knot, an abstract, which refers to a summarized version of their marriage license, is crafted into a marriage certificate.

The Clerk of the Circuit Court has the responsibility to send those marriage records over to the Bureau of Vital Statistics, and usually, this takes around 60 days.

A critical point to remember is that Florida doesn’t recognize common-law marriages. A common law marriage is a type of informal marriage that is considered valid after a couple lives together for a certain amount of time, even without a legal ceremony. However, for it to be recognized as “common law,” the parties must meet specific requirements.

Now, if you’re looking to order marital records, there’s a bit of history to consider. If the marriage occurred between June 6, 1927, and now, you can request records from the Bureau of Vital Statistics.¹ For records of marriages that happened before that date, you can contact the Clerk of Circuit Court.

Thankfully, getting hold of these records can be pretty straightforward. You can order them online or over the phone through  VitalChek. If you’re calling from within the US, dial +1.877.550.7330, and for those outside the US, use +1.615.372.6800.

Alternatively, you can go a more traditional route and request marriage records by mailing an  online application form to the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics or even delivering it in person. If preferred, a written request works too.

While certified copies of marriage records do come with a fee, you get to choose between expedited or regular shipping, whatever suits your needs.

A quick peek at the marriage trends in Florida from 2011 to 2021 shows that the wedding bells have been ringing consistently, albeit with minor fluctuations.

The Census Bureau of the United States shares that back in 2011, 14 out of every 1000 people took the plunge into matrimony, a rate which hasn’t shifted dramatically since.²

Interestingly, the CDC corroborates this data, revealing that in 2019, about 7 per 1000 tied the knot, a number that dipped to 6 in 2020, presumably due to COVID-19 disrupting wedding plans, before bouncing back to 7 per 1000 in 2021.³

How To Find Florida Marriage Records & Check Who the Spouses Are

If you are ever curious about accessing Florida marriage records, the Clerk of Circuit Court is the caretaker of such documents. This office not only safeguards them but also ensures the records are sent to the Bureau of Vital Statistics for permanent safekeeping.

A thing to note is that you can only get access to marriage records from the Bureau if they are dated from 1927 onwards. For anything earlier than June 1927, searchers have to check in with the Florida Clerk of Circuit Court.

If you are looking for certified copies of marriage records, the process is quite straightforward. You can walk into the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics or send them a mail request. If you are looking for records from 1970 to the present, the office can process your request within 3-5 business days.

Older records might take longer to retrieve and process.

If you want to know who the husband or wife is, just fill out a  Marriage Application Form and pay the fees through Visa/MasterCard, check, or money order.⁴ The cost is a $5 processing fee for one certified copy and an extra $4 for any additional copies.

Mail your completed form to:

Florida Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Attention: Vital Records Section
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042

Alternatively, if you are more of a face-to-face person, you can drop off your form and fees at:

Florida Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
1217 N Pearl St.,
Jacksonville, FL 32202

The office is open from Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

If, for any reason, you cannot fill out the online form, you can always send a written request to the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics at the address shown above. Just ensure to detail the information about the person whose record you need, your details, and how you are related to the person in question. Remember, payments should be made via check or money order to Vital Statistics.

The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics further allows individuals to search free marriage records via its partner,  VitalChek. This step-by-step process lets you pick the state, city, and date of the marriage. If you do not know the exact date of the ceremony, you can specify a broad one-year range and the database searches throughout the whole year.

Remember that this kind of search costs $2 per calendar year, capping at $50.

When using VitalChek, you are free to pick a reason for needing the certificate, from adoption matters to claiming social security benefits. A certified copy of a marriage certificate attracts a fee of $15 for the first copy and an additional $4 for any extra copies. There is also a $7 processing fee imposed by VitalChek.

During the order, you are required to provide your legal name and date of birth and further clarify your relationship with the person whose record you seek. Also, give the names and birthdates of the groom and bride.

VitalChek also lets you request records by calling +1.877.550.7330, or for those dialing from outside the U.S., +1.615.372.6800.

Alternatively, if you are looking through all counties statewide, the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers offer access to official records via  MyFloridaCounty. To search through official records, simply specify the following details:

• First and last name of the subject
• Location: search by county, circuit, or region
• Document type: select “marriage record”
• The date range of the record

Bear in mind, though, that there’s a fee of $1 per page of a certified copy, plus a $5 shipping and convenience charge.

For additional inquiries, you can reach out to the Court Clerk’s office through the following details:

Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers
3544 Maclay Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida 32312

Phone: 850.921.0808
Fax: 850.921.4119
Email: [email protected]

Searching the County or City in Florida Where the Marriage Occurred for Free

Looking for Florida marriage records can be a pretty efficient task, as the various counties provide a pathway for individuals to search for these important documents. In general, starting your search at the state level can give you the most comprehensive results.

However, there are situations where looking into county or municipal-level searches offers unique benefits. For example, doing a local search allows you the comfort of making in-person requests, where friendly and dedicated staff members can guide you through the process.

For instance, in Miami-Dade County, the  Clerk of the Courts looks after a variety of records, marriage ones included.⁵ Anyone can get either certified or uncertified copies of marriage licenses from this office, costing $9 for the first copy and $7 for each one after that.

You can order copies online, through mail, or simply in person. However, bear in mind that if you want a certified copy online, it needs to be for a license issued after 1995. If it was issued between 1971 and 1995, you can only look at the records online and will have to order certified copies through the mail.

For online requests, begin by conducting a  free marriage license search by providing the needed details.⁶ You can perform either a name search or use a license number. If you opt for a name search, you must know the name of the subject and the marriage date.

If you’re mailing requests for records from before 1971, remember to fill out the marriage license application form and include the $9 fee for the first copy and $7 for any extra copies.

Mail your well-filled application to the following address:

Marriage License Bureau
Overtown Transit Village South
601 NW 1 Court, Suite 1900
Miami, FL 33136

This office keeps its doors open from Monday to Friday, between 9 AM and 4 PM.

If you cannot find out if someone is married in Florida online, you can fill out the  Public Records Request Form and email it to [email protected] or send it via traditional mail to:⁷

Records Management
Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts,
P.O. Box 14695,
Miami, FL 33101

For those residing in Broward County, you have three ways to access certified copies of marriage records through the  Clerk of the Courts: online, in-person, or via mail, with each certified copy costing $5 for the first copy and $3 for additional copies. Payment can be made through cash, check, or money order.

You can search marriage records through the  Marriage License System by name or license number, though these records are not certified.⁸ Finding a matching name reveals details like the license number, status, marriage date, and spouse’s name. To dive deeper into the details, just click on the license number.

When sending mail requests for marriage records, you are required to provide the names of the spouses and the date of marriage and send it to:

Marriage Division
540 SE 3rd Avenue, Room 02460
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

For questions, feel free to call the office at 954.831.7283. They are open from Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 3:30 PM.

If you need in-person access to marriage licenses issued between 1915 and 1997, head to Mid Rise Building on 2nd floor, room 02460. The address is listed below:

Central Courthouse
540 SE 3rd Ave.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Here, too, doors are open from Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 3:30 PM.

In Palm Beach County, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, through its Records Service Center, provides both certified and uncertified copies of marriage records. While the online search is free, certified copies cost a fee.

To search online, head over to the Palm Beach County  Official Records Search and input either the name or marriage date. If you need  electronically certified copies of marriage records, that can be handled through  Clerk E-Certify after conducting  official records search and paying an $8 fee.

If you prefer mailing your request, fill out the  transmittal form and attach $1 for uncertified copies or $2 for certified ones, plus an additional $10 for the cover page.¹⁰ Mail forms and payment to Joseph Abruzzo at the following address:

Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Records Service Center – P.O. Box 4526
West Palm Beach, FL 33402-4526

For inquiries, you can call the Clerk of Circuit Court at 561.355.293.

For face-to-face service, the  Clerk of the Circuit Court offices welcome visitors from Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM, accepting payment in the form of cash, non-interest escrow accounts, money order, check, or credit card.

Details about archived marriage records for genealogical research are available and explored in detail below.

How To Track Down Archived Family Marriage Records in Florida for Free

Looking for old marriage records in Florida can be a helpful step in tracing your family history. There are various ways you can go about this search.

First, anyone can explore the Florida Clerk of Circuit Court’s records, as it provides access to marriage records that took place before June 6, 1927.

Through  MyFloridaCounty, individuals can search official records and even obtain both certified and uncertified copies of the marriage records. MyFloridaCounty also lists official records per county, although you have to sieve through to view archived marriage records.¹¹

In addition to this, Alachua County keeps a  historical index that includes marriage licenses dating all the way back from 1837 to May 1973. Within this archive, both marriage licenses and affidavits are included. For instance,  Books 1-3 are handwritten, giving a historical touch to your findings.¹²

In addition to governmental databases and civil registration archives, you can also find insights into your genealogical journey through alternative sources, including:

• Old newspapers: In the past, marriages used to be announced through newspapers. Some of these old newspapers are digitally available as scanned copies; you can explore them online or via local libraries.
• Churches: Religious institutions also tend to maintain marriage records since they often officiate these ceremonies.
• Historical societies and libraries: These institutions can also be resourceful when exploring genealogy. For instance, some societies and libraries might have archives of marriage records, some of them going to the extent of helping you explore their vast databases. This help can come at a small fee.

As an example, the  University of South Florida maintains a collection of marriage records ranging from 1846 to 1964. These Florida marriage records specifically cover unions in Hillsborough and Tampa counties, which were recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Courts.

Moreover, the Alachua County Library District is the custodian of various resources, both online and offline, to assist in your genealogical research. Through its  Ancestry Library Edition, you can look through archived family marriage records, potentially helping trace your family tree.¹³

Other public libraries can also help in this search. Some notable names include:

• West Florida Public Library Genealogical Branch
• Pinellas Genealogical Society
• East Hillsborough Historical Society
• The Southern Genealogist’s Exchange Society

Is Florida a Common Law Marriage State?

Florida does not currently recognize common law marriages, according to Section 741.211 of its state statutes.

However, the state allowed them in the past, and the minimum age for such a union was 16 years old. Couples in common law marriages before the state stopped recognizing them in 1968 still retain their spousal rights. In addition, Florida does not allow civil unions and domestic partnerships.

Finding records of common law marriages can be a challenge since there are basically no marriage records. However, these individuals presented themselves as married to the community, and in some instances, the church recognized these informal unions. The informal marriages were not just noted down by civil authorities.

The best way to find records of such unions is through the US census records. Census has been taking place in the US since 1790. Census records often include details such as ethnic groups, marital status, statistical areas, as well as other demographics.

When filling out a census questionnaire, individuals are required to indicate whether they are married or not and the number of children, among other demographic factors. So, if a couple believed they were married, even though they didn’t have a valid marriage license or certificate, this record can be found through census data.

Census records have been digitized, and individuals can access them through the NARA Catalog.¹⁴ The National Archives database maintains census records for up to 72 years since this is the restriction to the records access.

Individuals can search through the catalog, view scanned census questionnaires, and determine whether the head of the household at the time of the census indicated their marital status and the name of their partner.

How To Submit a Marriage License Application in Florida

Embarking on the journey toward marriage in Florida involves a few practical steps to ensure everything is legal and above board.

First, doing a marriage background check on your potential spouse is not just about ensuring there are no hidden past marriages, but it is also a practical step to fully understand the person you are committing to.

When it comes to applying for a marriage license in Florida, you are required to submit identification details to the Clerk’s office in the county where the marriage is intended to occur.¹⁵ This might be your Social Security Number (SSN) or other forms of identification, like a driver’s license, military ID, or passport.

If you or your partner has been married before, be prepared to submit details about this previous marital status, be it divorce, death, or annulment. You are also required to indicate the exact date and location of these events. In case you and your partner have a prenup agreement, it is important to outline the details at this stage.

In Florida, typically, you need to be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license. However, 17-year-olds can apply if they have consent from both parents.

Florida marital laws also bring up the option of a premarital course or an imposed waiting period. If you and your partner are both Florida residents, you have the choice of attending a four-hour premarital preparation course or observing a three-day waiting period before the marriage license activates. Opting for the course gives you a bonus: a reduced application fee.

Once all your documents are in order and you meet all the requirements on the application day, the license is issued immediately. Otherwise, the license is issued but becomes active three days after issuance, and you have 60 days of validity to use it. After your ceremony, the license is returned to the Clerk, and an official marriage certificate is issued.

Regarding the associated cost, a standard marriage license is $86. However, if you’re both Florida residents and have completed the premarital course, it drops to $61.

You can submit your marriage application in Florida either in person or online. Both partners must be present during the signing of the marriage license, whether you apply in person or online.

Here’s a brief guide on how to apply for a marriage license for the top three counties in Florida:

• In Miami-Dade County, applicants must complete an  online application form and make an appointment at the  Marriage License Bureau.¹⁶ Their office is open from Monday to Friday, from 9 AM to 4 PM.
• In Broward County, the couple must apply by filling out the online application form or in person at the Central Courthouse or at the various  service locations of the County Clerk of Court. For online applications, the applicants are required to upload identification documents during the application process. For walk-in applicants, the marriage license applicants must first read the  Family Law Handbook.¹⁷
• For Palm Beach County, individuals can submit their marriage licenses application by appointment. To do this, follow the Palm Beach County online application process,  request an appointment, and bring your  required documentation before signing the marriage license.

Navigating through the process of accessing marriage records can be achieved with the right knowhow. The Florida Clerk of Circuit Court streamlines this process, offering a  statewide search option that anyone can use to look through these important documents.

For a more specific search, the individual counties in Florida outline the processes to be followed in looking for marriage records.

For instance,  Miami-Dade,  Palm Beach, and Broward counties outline ways of obtaining Florida marriage records.