Florida Marriage Certificate Search
The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics provides access to Florida marriage certificates recorded by the Clerk of Circuit Court from June 6, 1927, to the present. The certificate is issued as a summary of the data extracted from the marriage license and is admissible as proof that a marriage was consummated and recorded.
A marriage license authorizes a couple to wed in Florida, whereas a marriage certificate proves that the marriage occurred. The Bureau of Vital Statistics is the primary custodian of all the state's vital records, including Florida marriage records. However, the county, town, or city clerk of the judicial district where the marriage license was issued may also issue marriage certificates under certain conditions.
Florida marriage certificates may be necessary for various purposes. It is required as evidence of a party's name change, legitimacy of a child (in addition to a birth certificate), divorce proceedings, or as part of a genealogical history. A certified marriage certificate is also required if an individual needs to add their spouse to their work benefits or change their insurance, bank accounts, or credit card accounts.
Florida marriage certificate and license laws are codified in the 741th Chapter of Florida Statutes. Section 741.09 of the Florida Statutes outlines the requirements for filing license and certificate records. In addition, section 741.10 of the Florida Statutes outlines the requirements for obtaining proof of marriage when an issued certificate is no longer available.
Are Marriage Certificates Public in Florida?
Yes. According to Florida law, marriage records are public documents. Therefore, a Florida marriage record is the most comprehensive government document indicating a legal union between two people. In addition, the State Vital Records Office or Florida Bureau of Vital Health Statistics maintains a statewide repository of publicly accessible information that can be queried for accessible vital records. However, all sealed, restricted, and closed records cannot be searched through the vital records online database; they must be requested in person or via mail from the custodian.
While Florida Marriage Records are public, they are among the most difficult to obtain due to the sensitive nature of their information. Original marriage records are accessible to registrants and requestors authorized by the record subject(s) or court order. However, if another law does not seal the document, informational copies are provided to third-party requesters with no personal stake in the record.
What is a Marriage Certificate in Florida?
After a wedding, a marriage certificate is issued to the couple as a legal document. This document verifies that they are legally married to their spouse, including the wedding's date, time, and location. It is issued as a summary of the information extracted from the marriage license and is legally valid as proof that a marriage has been consummated and recorded.
In Florida, marriage certificates prove that a couple is legally wedded. They differ from licenses in that they are evidence that a marriage has already occurred, rather than a license-which only permits couples to get married. These documents are also issued following a same-sex marriage and their equivalent, following the recognition of a civil union.
What Do Marriage Certificates Contain in Florida?
Typically, a marriage certificate includes:
- The names of the parties.
- The date and time of the wedding.
- The location of the ceremony.
Most information required to complete the certificate is extracted from the marriage license.
The marriage certificate is valid for the entire duration of the marriage. The information it contains, among other things, can be used as proof of marriage when filing for taxes or applying for a mortgage or loan as a married person.
Where Do I Get a Certified Copy of My Marriage Certificate in Florida?
In Florida, the Circuit Court and the Bureau of Vital Statistics are responsible for issuing certified copies of marriage certificates. The Bureau of Vital Statistics provides several methods for getting certified copies, including walk-in, mail-in, and online services.
After a marriage license is returned to the Clerk of Circuit Court for filing and recording, the Clerk forwards the marriage record to the Bureau of Vital Statistics for permanent storage. This processing procedure in preparing the marriage certificate through the Bureau of Vital Statistics takes about 60 days.
If the requester needs urgent proof of marriage after their wedding, they must contact the County Clerk's Office or the Clerk of Circuit Court where the marriage license was issued for a certified copy. Requesters can visit the website of Clerks of Court in Florida to learn more about the issuing requirements of each circuit court.
How Do I Get a Certified Copy of My Marriage Certificate in Florida?
In Florida, a person can obtain a certified copy of their marriage certificate by visiting the county clerk in the county where the marriage happened. The fees and criteria for accessing these documents may vary by county. Alternatively, requesting persons may also get copies of their marriage certificates from the Florida Office of Vital Records, Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Mail and walk-in requests may be submitted with an official application form or in writing if no application form is available.
Ordering Through In-Person or Mail-In Services
The State Vital Records Office accepts in-person and mail-in submissions. This may be accomplished by downloading, filling out, and submitting the necessary application forms or by sending a written request. It is necessary to note that before an application will be processed, whichever application options are used must be accompanied by the required processing fees.
Requesters will pay a non-refundable $5.00 fee, which covers the search fee for one calendar year and for one certified copy. If they wish to have additional certified copies, they will need to pay $4 for each. If the exact year of marriage is unknown, a $2.00 search cost per calendar year is charged, with a maximum amount of $50.00. For available records prior to 1970, an additional $10.00 Rush Charge is charged for same-day in-person walk-in service.
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
1217 North Pearl Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Payments made in person may be made using cash, cheque, money order, Visa, or Mastercard.
Mail-in:
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042
Check or money order must be made out to "Vital Statistics"; cash is not accepted. Foreign payments must be made with a U.S. bank-drawn Cashier's Check or Money Order in U.S. dollars. For dishonored checks, Florida law levies an extra service fee of $15.00. Except for the cost paid for additional copies when no record is located, fees are non-refundable. These are repaid upon request in writing.
Can I Find My Marriage Certificate Online in Florida?
Looking up a marriage certificate online might be possible if the court that issued the marriage license provides a court record search engine. Certain Florida counties, including Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, and Broward, provide internet search engines for marriage records. By entering a spouse's name, birth date, or marriage dates into a clerk's marriage record search engine, it is simple to get marriage records and certificates that are not sealed.
How to Get a New Marriage Certificate in Florida
In Florida, when a marriage certificate is no longer available due to loss, destruction, or any other reason, an affidavit of marriage becomes the authorized legal document to use in place of a marriage certificate. According to section 741.10 of the Florida Statutes, an affidavit may prove marriage if the marriage certificate and license are lost or unavailable. With an Affidavit of Marriage, a person affirms that they were lawfully married to their spouse on a specific date. Generally, the Affidavit of Marriage acts as a sworn declaration that a person is or was legally married to a certain individual. Divorced individuals may also utilize an affidavit of marriage if they require evidence of their past marriage.
In most jurisdictions, the document is issued by a government official only after the marriage has been legally registered. By going to the court where the marriage license was issued, an affidavit may be filed by the requester and recorded by the Clerk in the office of the county court judge or the Clerk of the circuit court where the marriage license was issued.
How Do I Verify a Marriage Certificate in Florida?
An individual can verify a marriage certificate in Florida by getting a certified or informative copy of the certificate. This can be done by submitting a request to The Bureau of Vital Statistics via the agency's walk-in or mail-in services or calling the Bureau of Vital Statistics at (904) 359-6900, extension 9000.
Since Florida marriage licenses are public records, requesting parties can search for them and obtain information about the courthouse where it was issued. After that, they can visit the courthouse clerk or call the Clerk to inquire about the validity of the marriage certificate. Finally, requesters can contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court, where the marriage license was issued, by consulting the statewide clerk directory.
