Are Florida Marriage Records Public?
Yes. However, while Florida Marriage Records are public, they represent some of the most difficult records to obtain due to the personal nature of the information contained within. When requests are made for a marriage record, government organizations are inclined to offer marriage verification letters to third-party requestors who have no personal stake in the record. On the other hand, original marriage records are made available to the registrants and requestors who are authorized by the record subject(s) or by a court order. This is because marriage records must remain intact and unchanged with regard to the people involved in the marriage. If changes need to be made, these records are critical to that procedure.
Other family court records that constitute marital records include marriage licenses, marriage certificates as well as dissolution of marriage records. Given that these records contain the personal information of those involved, and the maintenance of personal records is critical should anyone wish to make changes, these records are considerably more difficult to locate and obtain than other public records. Notwithstanding, they are available to interested and eligible requestors through government sources or third-party public record websites.
How to Find Florida Marriage Records
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a union signifying the willingness of two individuals to remain committed to each other. It is also a legally binding contract that these two enter into knowingly. This contract, typically initiated by a marriage license application, determines the obligations and duties that these two parties have, including to their children and close family. Like other family court proceedings, including divorce, Florida marriages are authorized and recorded by Florida state courts. Marriage-related information is typically assembled and stored as marriage records, and these records are maintained by various Florida public agencies as well as third-party institutions. At state level, Florida marriage records may be requested from the State Department of Health while county-level requests may be made to the County Health Department or the County Clerk which issued the marriage license. However, it must be noted that only public marriage records are usually made available to the public. Any marriage record deemed confidential is typically restricted from public access.
How to Find Out if Someone is Married in Florida
Finding out if someone is married in Florida is a straightforward process. Normally, one can contact or visit the county clerk of the court that issued the marriage license. However, many clerks (including the Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, and Broward county court clerks) provide marriage record search engines online. By inputting a spouse's name, birth date, or marriage dates into a clerk's marriage record search engine, it is easy to uncover if someone got married in the State of Florida.
How to Check Marriage Status Online
Florida state residents may check marriage status online by making online queries using official government databases or third-party alternatives.
In Florida, this service is offered by the Bureau of Vital Statistics as well as the Circuit Court Clerks of the Florida County Courts. To check a marriage status online using either resource, it is important to have some basic information handy, such as the full names of both spouses and the date of the marriage. With this information, a search can be conducted to see if there are any public records available for the couple in question.
Persons seeking to obtain marriage records for official purposes are advised to obtain certified copies of the marriage records, usually bearing a raised seal. However, requests for certified marriage records in Florida may only be made to the county clerk of the judicial district where the marriage was licensed and/or conducted.
What is Considered a Marriage Record in Florida?
A Florida marriage record is the most thorough government record stating that a legal union has taken place between two people. Included within it is the marriage license and marriage certificate. Although much of the information is the same in all of these records, all of these documents have varying authority in stating that a marriage has been concluded, and they are utilized for different things.
Both government websites and organizations may offer divorce and marriage records. Similarly, third-party public record websites can also provide these types of records. But because third-party organizations are not operated or sponsored by the government, record availability may vary. Further, marriage and divorce records are considered highly private and are often sealed, meaning the availability of these types of records cannot be guaranteed.
Where to Find Free Florida Marriage Records
It is typically not possible for members of the public to find complete marriage records for free. Marriage certificates dating from June 6th, 1927, to the present are maintained by the Clerk of Circuit Court and are made available by the Department of Health Vital Statistics Office. The certificate is not a complete record, as it only contains general information about the marriage, such as the names of the two who were married, the date the marriage occurred, and the location or county it was finalized in. This certificate is typically used as proof that a marriage has occurred. Records of marriages that happened before June 6th, 1927, can be obtained from the Clerk of Circuit Court in the county where the marriage license was issued, or the marriage occurred.
How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Florida
Newlyweds are allowed to change their name after marriage in Florida. Individuals interested in performing a name change after marriage will need to have the following documents:
- Proof of identification (driver's license, state ID, or passport)
- Proof of age (adoption decree, hospital record, or birth certificate)
- Certified marriage certificate
The marriage certificate is the official document that ratifies a name change after marriage. Every newlywed receives their marriage license immediately after the ceremony and a certified copy two weeks later. Individuals that do not have certified copies of their marriage certificate may obtain them from their local county clerk's office.
Although an existing Florida marriage certificate is legal authorization, the person changing their name after marriage must notify government offices and make changes with them. The first of these is the Social Security Administration office. The newlywed must download and complete form SS-5, attaching a photo ID and a certified copy of their marriage certificate to process a name change. The applicant will submit the completed application to their local social security office and receive written approval of their name change. Their new social security card will be available in two weeks.
While the interested party waits for their new card, they can go to their local Department of Motor Vehicles and apply for a new driver's license. They can also apply to their local passport processing office to get their passports amended. Finally, interested parties must notify employers and financial providers about the legal name change.
What is Considered a Marriage Certificate in Florida?
Marriage certificates in Florida are records that act as proof that a couple has joined in matrimony. They differ from licenses in that they do not act as a license to get married but are proof that a marriage has already happened. These records are given to each spouse after the marriage has occurred.
How Do I Get My Marriage Certificate in Florida?
The Bureau of Vital Statistics offers walk-in or mail-in services. To save time, download and complete the forms needed. The Bureau of Vital Statistics may be reached at (904) 359-6900, ext. 9000.
It is possible to obtain marriage certificates in Florida from the DHS Vital Statistics Department by walk-in or mail-in orders. To be served as quickly as possible and cut the wait time down, download and fill out the Application for Marriage Certificate and include any necessary information outside of it. It is recommended to speak with the clerks to find out if there are any additional needs to be met.
Fees:
- $5 search fee for a certified copy of a marriage certificate
- $4 for any other additional certified copies
- $2 search fee for when the year of the marriage is unknown, this fee can vary
- $10 rush fee for walk-in orders
For Walk-In Orders
It is suggested to have the application form filled out so it can be submitted upon arrival. The fees for walk-in orders of certified marriage certificates can be paid by cash, check, money order, Visa, or Mastercard. The address of the Florida Vital Records office is:
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
1217 N Pearl Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
For Mail-In Orders
Turnover time for a mail-in marriage certificate request is 3-5 days. To obtain a certified marriage certificate through the mail through the Florida Vital Records office, fill out an application form with all other information included, and mail it to:
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042
If it is not possible for a requesting party to access the application form, it is possible to make a written request. This request must include:
- Full name of both of the involved parties
- Dates of birth of both of the involved parties
- Date that the marriage took place
- City or county where the marriage took place
- County where the marriage license was issued
- Information about the requesting party, including:
- Full name
- Mailing address
- Phone number
- Signature of requesting party
- Relationship to person on marriage record
- Payment in the form of a check or money order payable to Vital Statistics
- Check or money order payable to "Vital Statistics". Cash will not be accepted for marriage record search requests via mail.
How Do I Obtain a Copy of My Marriage Certificate in Florida?
For someone to request to obtain their marriage certificate in Florida, they should make a visit to the county clerk or court recorder’s office in the county where the marriage took place. In Florida, depending on the county of the marriage, fees, and requirements for obtaining these records as one of the spouses may vary. Individuals can also order copies of their marriage certificates from the Florida Vital Records office. Orders can be made online through a third party, by mail, and in person.
What is Considered a Marriage License in Florida?
Marriage laws are often slightly different depending on what state a marriage occurs in; this means that the process of obtaining a marriage license varies too. This is true not only for states but in most of Florida’s counties. A Florida marriage license allows a couple to enter into a marriage union in the State of Florida. To obtain a marriage license, a couple must meet certain eligibility requirements.
Are Prenups Public Record in Florida?
No, prenups (prenuptial or premarital agreements) are not public record in Florida. Florida's premarital agreement law (called the "Uniform Premarital Agreement Act") is codified in Section 61.079 of the state legislature. This law directs the content and enforcement of premarital agreements; it does not authorize public access to premarital agreements. Premarital agreements in Florida are essentially private documents between soon-to-be spouses that do not get filed with any government agency.
