Gainesville Marriage Records

Marriage records for Gainesville are kept by the Alachua County Clerk of Court. The clerk office handles license applications, ceremonies, and record storage for all residents in the county.

How to Get a Marriage License in Gainesville

Gainesville is the county seat of Alachua County. The Alachua County Clerk of Court processes all marriage license applications. The clerk office is at the Alachua County Civil Courthouse in downtown Gainesville. Call (352) 374-3636 for hours and directions.

Both people must appear together with valid photo ID. The clerk accepts driver licenses from any state, passports, military IDs, state ID cards, alien registration cards, and naturalization certificates. U.S. citizens also need their Social Security number. If either person was married before, you need the exact date the prior marriage ended.

Walk-ins are welcome during regular business hours. You can also make an appointment online or by phone. The online pre-application form on the clerk website speeds up the in-person visit. Fill it out ahead of time so the clerk already has your basic info when you arrive.

Gainesville is home to the University of Florida, so the clerk office sees a steady flow of young couples. The downtown courthouse location is easy to find. Plan to spend about 30 to 45 minutes at the office for the full application process.

Gainesville Marriage License Fees

A marriage license in Alachua County costs $86. Taking a premarital course drops the price to $61. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, the course must be from an approved provider and completed within one year of applying. The course also waives the three-day waiting period.

Clerk-performed ceremonies cost $30. Payment methods include cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. The office does not take personal checks. A duplicate license runs $30, and amendments require a court order plus $30.

Certified copies of a marriage record cost $9 for the first copy and $7 for each extra. If you are not sure what year the marriage happened, the clerk charges $2 per year searched. These fees apply whether you order online, by mail, or in person.

Search Gainesville Marriage Records Online

The Alachua County Clerk provides an online records search tool. You can look up marriage records by name. The search is free. Ordering certified copies online costs money, but just looking up a record does not.

For records not in the online system, call the clerk at (352) 374-3636. Older records may need to be looked up by staff. Records before June 6, 1927 exist only at the county level since that is when the state started collecting marriage data.

The Florida Department of Health has state marriage records going back to 1927. The state charges $5 for a search and one certified copy, plus $4 for additional copies. You can order through VitalChek too, at $15 plus a $7 processing fee. Going through the county clerk is faster for Gainesville marriages.

Steps to Get Married in Gainesville

Here is the process for Gainesville residents:

• Complete the online pre-application on the Alachua County clerk website
• Both parties visit the clerk office with valid photo ID
• Provide Social Security numbers (U.S. citizens)
• Pay $86 (or $61 with premarital course proof)
• Wait three days if you are a Florida resident without the course
• Use the license within 60 days at any location in Florida

The three-day wait only hits Florida residents. Out-of-state couples can use their license right away. Taking the premarital course eliminates the wait for everyone. The course must come from a provider registered with the state and be done within one year of the application.

Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judges, clerks of court, deputy clerks, and Florida notaries public can perform the ceremony. No witnesses are required by law, though having one or two present is a smart move. 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. Processing runs about 60 days.

Certified Copies of Gainesville Marriage Records

You have three options. Online is quickest. Go to the Alachua County Clerk website and order copies with a credit card. They get mailed to your address. In person at the courthouse works too. For mail requests, send a cashier's check or money order payable to the Clerk of Court.

Marriage records in Alachua County are public under Florida Statutes Chapter 119. Anyone can look them up or request copies. Social Security numbers and certain personal details are redacted. If you qualify for confidential filing, ask about the Request for Confidentiality form under Section 119.071.

If you just got married in Gainesville and need proof right away, head to the county clerk first. The state office in Jacksonville takes longer because the recording process runs about two months from the ceremony date. The county clerk can get you a certified copy much sooner.