Fort Pierce Marriage Records

Marriage records in Fort Pierce are handled by the St. Lucie County Clerk of Court. The clerk office issues licenses, performs ceremonies, and maintains recorded marriage documents for the county.

Where to Get a Marriage License in Fort Pierce

Fort Pierce is the county seat of St. Lucie County. The St. Lucie County Clerk of Court processes all marriage license applications at the courthouse in downtown Fort Pierce. Call (772) 462-6900 for hours and information.

Both parties must appear together with valid photo ID. Accepted forms include driver licenses, passports, military IDs, state ID cards, alien registration cards, and naturalization certificates. U.S. citizens need a Social Security number. Bring the date your last marriage ended if you were married before.

Walk-ins are welcome during office hours. Appointments help cut wait times. The clerk has a pre-application form online that speeds things up at the counter. Since Fort Pierce is the county seat, the courthouse is right in town and easy to reach.

Fort Pierce sits on the Treasure Coast between Vero Beach and Port St. Lucie. The courthouse serves residents from across the county. Plan for about 30 to 45 minutes at the office for the entire application process.

Fort Pierce Marriage License Fees

The license fee is $86 in St. Lucie County. With a premarital course, the fee drops to $61. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, the course must be done within a year and come from an approved provider. It also waives the three-day waiting period.

Clerk ceremonies are $30. Cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are accepted. Personal checks are not. Duplicate licenses cost $30. Amendments need a court order plus $30.

Certified copies cost $9 for the first one and $7 for extras. The clerk charges $2 per year searched if you do not know the marriage date. Copies are available online, in person, or by mail.

Search Fort Pierce Marriage Records Online

The St. Lucie County Clerk website provides an online records search. Search by name for free. Certified copies have a fee, but basic lookups cost nothing.

For records not in the online database, call (772) 462-6900. Staff can check older files. Records before June 6, 1927 exist only at the county level.

The Florida Department of Health keeps state marriage records from 1927 to the present. A search costs $5 for one certified copy plus $4 for extras. VitalChek charges $15 plus $7 processing. For Fort Pierce marriages, the county clerk is usually faster and cheaper.

Fort Pierce Marriage License Steps

What Fort Pierce residents need to do:

• Complete the pre-application on the St. Lucie County clerk website
• Both parties visit the Fort Pierce courthouse with valid photo ID
• Provide Social Security numbers (U.S. citizens)
• Pay $86 (or $61 with a premarital course certificate)
• Wait three days if you are a Florida resident without the course
• Use the license within 60 days anywhere in Florida

The three-day wait is for Florida residents only. Out-of-state applicants skip it. The premarital course removes the wait for everyone. The provider must be registered with the state.

Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judges, clerks of court, deputy clerks, and Florida notaries public can perform ceremonies. Witnesses are not legally required but are a good idea. The officiant signs the license and returns it to the clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it and sends data to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. Full processing takes about 60 days.

Getting Certified Copies in Fort Pierce

Three ways to get certified copies. Online from the St. Lucie County Clerk website is the fastest. Pay by credit card and copies get mailed. In person at the Fort Pierce courthouse works too. Mail requests need a cashier's check or money order payable to the Clerk of Court.

St. Lucie County marriage records are public under Florida Statutes Chapter 119. Anyone can search or request copies. Social Security numbers and personal details get redacted. For confidential filing, ask the clerk about the form under Section 119.071.

Married recently in Fort Pierce? Start with the county clerk for quick copies. The state office runs about two months behind because of the recording process after the ceremony.

Other Cities in St. Lucie County

All cities in St. Lucie County use the same clerk office for marriage records. Select a city below for local details.