Search Clearwater Marriage Records

Marriage records for Clearwater are kept by the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The clerk office right in Clearwater handles marriage licenses, ceremonies, and all record requests for Pinellas County.

Clearwater Marriage License Office

Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County. The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court is located at 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756. Phone: (727) 464-3341. Since the courthouse is right in Clearwater, residents have the most convenient access in the county.

Both applicants must come in together. Walk-ins are fine. Bring valid photo ID. The clerk accepts driver licenses, passports, military IDs, state ID cards, and naturalization certificates. U.S. citizens must give a Social Security number when they apply.

If either person was married before, bring the exact date the prior marriage ended. The clerk will ask whether it ended by divorce, annulment, or death. Having this ready saves time at the window. No blood test or health certificate is needed in Florida.

Marriage License and Ceremony Fees

The license fee is $86. With a premarital course, it drops to $61. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, the course has to come from a state-approved provider and be done within one year of your application.

Ceremonies cost $30 at the clerk office. The clerk can marry you right in the courthouse. Payment is by cash or credit card. Personal checks are not accepted for any marriage-related fees.

Certified copies of a Clearwater marriage record are $9 for the first copy and $7 for additional ones. A $2 per-year search fee applies when the year of the marriage is unknown. Copies can be ordered online, in person, or by mail.

Online Records Search for Clearwater

Pinellas County has an online records search through the clerk website. Search by name to find marriage records. The search is free. Results show both parties and the marriage date. Ordering a certified copy online does cost money, but browsing does not.

The Florida Department of Health maintains state marriage certificates from 1927 to the present. The state charges $5 for a search with one copy, then $4 for each extra. VitalChek is another option at $15 plus processing fees.

County records are typically the faster route for Clearwater marriages. State records run about 60 days behind the ceremony date. For records older than June 6, 1927, the county clerk is the only source since the state did not collect marriage data before then.

Steps to Get a Marriage License

Clearwater couples follow this process:

• Fill out a pre-application on the Pinellas County clerk website
• Go to 315 Court Street, Clearwater with your partner
• Show valid photo ID and Social Security number
• Pay $86 (or $61 with a premarital course certificate)
• Wait three days if you are a Florida resident without a course
• Use the license within 60 days anywhere in Florida

Florida Statute 741.04 imposes a three-day waiting period for Florida residents. Non-residents skip the wait. Completing a premarital course waives it for everyone. The course must be done within a year and come from an approved provider.

Section 741.07 of Florida law allows ordained ministers, judges, clerks and their deputies, and Florida notaries public to perform weddings. No witnesses are legally required, but having them is smart. The officiant has 10 days to complete the license and file it with the clerk.

Certified Copies and Public Access

Marriage records in Pinellas County are public under Florida Statutes Chapter 119. Anyone can view or request copies. Private info like Social Security numbers is redacted from the public version.

Get certified copies three ways. Order online through the clerk website. Visit 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 in person. Or mail your request with a cashier's check or money order payable to the Pinellas County Clerk.

Recently married? The county clerk has your record faster than the state. The officiant files the completed license with the clerk within 10 days. The state receives the data later, and it takes about 60 days for it to show up in their system. So go county first if you need quick proof.

Other Cities in Pinellas County

Every city in Pinellas County uses the same clerk for marriage records. Select a city for local details.