Fruit Cove Marriage Records

Marriage records for Fruit Cove residents are filed through the St. Johns County Clerk of Court. The clerk handles all license applications, ceremonies, and record keeping for the county.

How to Get a Marriage License Near Fruit Cove

Fruit Cove is a census-designated place in St. Johns County. There is no local marriage license office in Fruit Cove. The St. Johns County Clerk of Court handles all applications at the courthouse in St. Augustine, the county seat. Call (904) 819-3632 for hours and directions.

Both parties must appear together with valid photo ID. Accepted IDs include driver licenses, passports, military IDs, state ID cards, alien registration cards, and naturalization certificates. U.S. citizens need a Social Security number. If either person was married before, bring the date the last marriage ended.

Walk-ins are accepted during office hours. Appointments help cut the wait. The clerk has a pre-application form online. Fill it out before your trip to St. Augustine so the process goes faster at the counter.

Fruit Cove is in the northern part of St. Johns County, near the Duval County line. The drive to the St. Augustine courthouse takes about 25 to 30 minutes heading south on I-95. St. Johns County has been one of the fastest growing counties in Florida, so the clerk office stays busy. Going early in the day or mid-week can help you avoid a long wait.

Fruit Cove Marriage License Fees

St. Johns County charges $86 for a marriage license. A premarital course brings the fee down to $61. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, the course has to be from an approved provider and completed within one year. The course also waives the three-day waiting period for Florida residents.

The clerk charges $30 for a ceremony. Cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are accepted. No personal checks. Duplicate licenses run $30 each. Amendments need a court order plus $30.

Certified copies cost $9 for the first and $7 for each additional copy. If the marriage date is unknown, there is a $2 search fee per year. Order copies online, in person, or by mail.

Search Fruit Cove Marriage Records Online

The St. Johns County Clerk website offers an online records search. Look up marriage records by name for free. Ordering certified copies has a fee, but the search does not.

For records not available online, call (904) 819-3632. Staff can check older files. Records from before June 6, 1927 exist only at the county level.

The Florida Department of Health stores 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 Fruit Cove area marriages, the St. Johns County Clerk is usually faster.

Marriage License Steps for Fruit Cove

Follow these steps:

• Fill out the pre-application on the St. Johns County clerk website
• Both people visit the St. Augustine 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 at any Florida location

Florida residents face a three-day wait. Out-of-state applicants do not. Taking the premarital course removes the wait for everyone. The course provider has to be registered with the state.

Under Florida Statute 741.07, ceremonies can be done by ordained ministers, judges, clerks of court, deputy clerks, or Florida notaries public. Witnesses are not legally required but are recommended. The officiant signs the license and returns it to the clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it and sends data to the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Processing takes about 60 days.

Getting Certified Copies Near Fruit Cove

Certified copies are available three ways. Online through the St. Johns County Clerk website is fastest. Pay by credit card and copies ship to you. In person at the St. Augustine courthouse works too. Mail requests need a cashier's check or money order payable to the Clerk of Court.

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

Need proof of a recent Fruit Cove area marriage fast? The county clerk is the best option. The state office takes about two months because of the recording process after the ceremony.