East Lake Marriage Records
Marriage records for East Lake are filed with the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The clerk office in Clearwater handles license applications, ceremonies, and all record storage for residents across the county.
East Lake Marriage Records Quick Facts
Where East Lake Residents Apply
East Lake is in Pinellas County. The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court processes all marriage licenses at 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756. The phone number is (727) 464-3341.
East Lake is a census-designated place in the northeast corner of Pinellas County. No clerk office exists in East Lake, so residents travel to the courthouse in Clearwater. The drive is about 10 miles and takes 15 to 20 minutes. Both partners must appear at the office at the same time to apply.
Each person needs to bring a valid photo ID. Accepted forms include a driver license, passport, military ID, state ID card, or naturalization certificate. U.S. citizens give a Social Security number. If either applicant was married before, bring the date the prior marriage ended. The clerk needs to know if it ended through divorce, death, or annulment.
How Much Does a License Cost
The marriage license fee is $86. Couples who take a premarital course pay $61. That saves $25. The course has to be done within one year of your application date. Florida Statute 741.0305 requires the course to come from a state-approved provider.
The clerk performs ceremonies for $30 at the courthouse. You can get married right there. Cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are accepted. No personal checks for any marriage-related services.
Certified copies of a marriage record run $9 for the first copy and $7 for each one after that. If the year of the marriage is unknown, the clerk charges a $2 fee per year searched. You can order copies online, in person at the courthouse, or by mail.
Searching East Lake Marriage Records
The Pinellas County clerk website has a free search tool for marriage records. Enter a name and see results at no cost. Results list both spouses and the date of the marriage. The search is free, but ordering certified copies has a charge.
State marriage certificates are available through the Florida Department of Health from 1927 onward. The cost is $5 for a search and one certified copy, then $4 for each additional one. VitalChek offers another option at $15 plus a processing fee.
For East Lake marriages, county records are the faster choice. State records take about 60 days to process after a ceremony. Anything before June 6, 1927 exists only at the county level since the state did not track marriages before that date.
Marriage License Application Steps
Here is what East Lake couples do:
- Complete a pre-application on the Pinellas County clerk website
- Both partners visit the Clearwater courthouse together
- Present valid photo ID and Social Security number
- Pay $86 or $61 with a premarital course certificate
- Florida residents wait three days without a course
- The license is valid 60 days statewide
Under Florida Statute 741.04, Florida residents face a three-day waiting period. Out-of-state applicants skip the wait. A premarital course removes the waiting period for everyone. The course has to come from a registered provider and be finished within one year of applying.
The license works for 60 days after it is issued. Use it in any Florida county, not just Pinellas. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and sends it to the clerk within 10 days. The clerk records the marriage and passes the data to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Ceremony and Officiant Information
Florida Statute Section 741.07 names who can perform a wedding ceremony. Ordained ministers, judges, clerks and their deputies, and Florida notaries public are all authorized. The Pinellas County clerk will marry you at the courthouse in Clearwater for $30.
Witnesses are optional. Florida law does not require them. Most couples still choose to have one or two people there. After the wedding, the officiant completes the license and files it with the clerk within 10 days. The recording cycle takes roughly 60 days before it appears in state records.
Copies and Public Records
Marriage records are public in Florida under Florida Statutes Chapter 119. Anyone can look at them or get copies. Social Security numbers and other sensitive data are removed from what is released to the public.
You can get certified copies three ways. Order on the clerk website for the fastest service. Visit 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 in person. Or mail a request with a cashier's check or money order payable to the Pinellas County Clerk.
Recently married East Lake couples should go to the county clerk first for proof of marriage. The state takes about 60 days to add new records. The county gets the signed license back from the officiant within 10 days, making it the quicker source for recent weddings.
Other Cities in Pinellas County
All cities and communities in Pinellas County share one clerk office for marriage records. Choose a city below.