Estero Marriage Records Search

Marriage records for Estero are filed with the Lee County Clerk of Courts in Fort Myers. Residents of Estero apply for licenses, request copies, and handle all marriage record business through the county clerk.

Marriage License Office Serving Estero

Estero is a village in Lee County, incorporated in 2014. Despite having its own village government, marriage licenses come from the county level. The Lee County Clerk of Courts is at 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901. The number is (239) 533-5007. Business hours run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

From Estero, the drive to the Fort Myers courthouse is about 25 minutes heading north on US-41 or I-75. There is no branch office in Estero itself. Both people who plan to marry must visit the clerk office at the same time. One person cannot go alone and apply on behalf of the couple.

Bring a photo ID that is current and valid. The clerk accepts driver licenses, passports, military IDs, state IDs, and naturalization certificates. Your Social Security number is part of the application. If a prior marriage ended in divorce, death, or annulment, have the exact end date ready.

What a Marriage License Costs in Lee County

The standard fee is $86. A premarital preparation course brings that down to $61. You save $25 and also skip the three-day waiting period that Florida residents normally face. The course has to be finished within one year before the application. It must come from an approved provider under Florida Statute Chapter 741.

The clerk takes cash and cards but not personal checks. Need the clerk to perform a wedding? That costs $30 extra. The ceremony is brief and takes just a few minutes. Some Estero couples use this as a quick option before holding a larger celebration later.

Certified copies from Lee County cost $7 for the first one and $5 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. You might need certified copies for name changes, insurance updates, or adding a spouse to property records.

Search Estero Marriage Records Online

The Lee County Clerk has an online records search. You type in a name or date and the system returns matches. This includes marriage records. Basic lookups are free. Certified copies can be ordered through the site for the usual fees.

The Florida Department of Health maintains statewide marriage records from June 6, 1927 onward. Their fee is $5 for a search and one certified copy. Each additional copy costs $4. State-level requests go to Jacksonville and may take several weeks. For Estero marriages, the Lee County clerk will usually have your record sooner.

VitalChek processes Florida vital records orders online. The cost is $15 plus processing fees. You pay by credit card and copies ship to your address. It works well for people who have moved away from Estero and need records sent to a new state. But locally, the county office is the better option.

Steps to Get a Marriage License

Estero residents should do the following:

• Travel to the Lee County Clerk office in Fort Myers with your partner
• Bring valid photo ID and Social Security number for each person
• Provide prior marriage end dates if either person was married before
• Pay $86 for the license or $61 with premarital course certificate
• Wait three days if you live in Florida and did not take the course
• Get married within 60 days anywhere in the state

The waiting period rule under Florida Statute 741.04 hits Florida residents who skip the premarital course. Out-of-state couples avoid the wait entirely. Once issued, the license works in any Florida county for 60 days. After 60 days it expires and a new application is needed.

Florida Statute 741.07 covers who can officiate. Ordained ministers, judges, clerks, deputy clerks, and notary publics certified in Florida can all do it. The state does not require witnesses, but having them is common practice. After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed license to the clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it and reports the marriage to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics, which takes roughly 60 days to show up in the state system.

Public Access to Estero Marriage Records

Florida treats marriage records as public records. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes gives anyone the right to request copies. You do not need to be a spouse or relative. The clerk must provide copies upon request. Personal details like Social Security numbers are removed before release.

Get copies in person at the Fort Myers courthouse for the fastest service. You can also order by mail or online. Mail requests should go to the Lee County Clerk of Courts, 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901. Include both names, the approximate marriage date, and payment by check or money order.

Recent marriages may not show up in the state database for about 60 days after the wedding. The county clerk will have the record much sooner. So for recent Estero marriages, always try the county first before checking with the state.

Other Cities in Lee County

The Lee County clerk serves all communities in the county for marriage records. See other cities below.