Fort Myers Marriage Records Lookup

Marriage records for Fort Myers are maintained by the Lee County Clerk of Courts, whose main office is located right in downtown Fort Myers. The clerk handles all license applications, ceremonies, and record requests for the city and surrounding areas.

Lee County Clerk Office in Fort Myers

Fort Myers is the county seat of Lee County, so the main clerk office is right here. The Lee County Clerk of Courts is at 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901. Call (239) 533-5007 for questions. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Being in the county seat has a clear advantage. Fort Myers residents don't need to drive to another city. The courthouse is in town, easy to reach from anywhere in the city. Walk-ins are accepted, but getting there early helps avoid long waits, especially on Mondays and Fridays when traffic picks up.

Both parties need to show up together. Bring a valid photo ID. Driver licenses, passports, military IDs, and state-issued ID cards all work. You also need a Social Security number. If either person had a prior marriage, the exact date it ended is required. This means divorce date, date of death, or annulment date.

Fees for Marriage Licenses in Fort Myers

The fee is $86 for a standard marriage license. Couples who finish a premarital course before applying pay $61 instead. The course must be done within one year and come from an approved provider under Florida Statute Chapter 741. The savings are worth it. You also skip the three-day waiting period.

The clerk office accepts cash and credit or debit cards. No personal checks. A ceremony performed by the clerk costs $30 on top of the license fee. If you want the clerk to marry you, ask about it when you apply. They can often do it the same day if the waiting period has been waived or does not apply.

Certified copies of marriage records from Lee County are $7 each. Additional copies bought at the same time are $5 each. Need a copy mailed to you? Send a written request with payment to the clerk office address.

Searching Fort Myers Marriage Records Online

Lee County has an online portal where you can search for recorded documents. Marriage records are in there. You can look up records using the names of either spouse or by date. The search is free. Ordering certified copies through the website costs money, but basic lookups do not.

The Florida Department of Health in Jacksonville has statewide marriage data from June 6, 1927 forward. A state search costs $5 and includes one certified copy. Extra copies are $4 each. The state route takes longer than going through the county, sometimes several weeks. For Fort Myers records specifically, the Lee County clerk will be faster.

VitalChek is another option. They charge $15 plus a service fee and process requests on behalf of the state. Credit card payment is accepted. Copies ship by mail. Some people prefer VitalChek because the whole thing can be done online without visiting any office or sending a letter.

How to Apply for a Marriage License

Here is what Fort Myers residents need to do:

• Visit the Lee County Clerk at 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
• Bring photo ID and Social Security number
• Both parties must be present at the same time
• Pay the $86 fee or $61 with premarital course
• Wait three days if you live in Florida and did not take the course
• Get married within 60 days in any Florida county

The three-day cooling off period applies to Florida residents only. If you live out of state, you can use the license right away. The premarital course removes this delay for everyone. Under Florida law, the license stays valid for 60 days from the date it was issued. After that, it expires and you would need to apply again.

Florida Statute 741.07 lists who can officiate a wedding. Ordained ministers, judges, clerks, deputy clerks, and Florida notary publics are all authorized. Witnesses are not legally required but are common. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed license to the clerk within 10 days. The clerk files it and sends a copy to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. The state takes about 60 days to process new records.

Public Records and Certified Copies

Florida marriage records are public. Under Florida Statutes Chapter 119, anyone can request and receive a copy. You do not need to be a party to the marriage. Sensitive information such as Social Security numbers is redacted from public copies.

Three methods work for getting copies from Lee County. Walk into the clerk office in Fort Myers for same-day service. Order online through the clerk website and pay by credit card. Or send a mail request with a check or money order to the clerk address. Include both names and the approximate wedding date to help staff find the right record.

For older records that predate the county's online system, the clerk's archive section can help. Records before June 1927 exist only at the county level because Florida did not collect statewide marriage data before that date. The clerk staff can look through older books and microfilm for you if needed.

Other Cities in Lee County

The Lee County Clerk of Courts handles marriage records for all cities in the county. See local info for each city below.