Find Marriage Records in Homestead

Homestead marriage records are maintained by the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court. Residents of Homestead apply for licenses, request copies, and search records through the county clerk system.

Where Homestead Residents Get a Marriage License

Homestead is in the southern part of Miami-Dade County. The Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court handles all marriage licenses. The main office sits at Overtown Transit Village South, 601 NW 1 Court, Suite 1900, Miami, FL 33136. You can reach them at (786) 469-2400.

Since Homestead is in south Miami-Dade, the drive to the main downtown clerk office can be long. Check the clerk website for the nearest district court location. Miami-Dade operates six district courts, and one closer to Homestead may save you travel time.

Both parties need to appear together at the clerk office. Valid photo ID is required. Driver licenses, passports, military IDs, state ID cards, and naturalization certificates all work. U.S. citizens must also provide a Social Security number. If either person was previously married, bring documentation of when that marriage ended.

Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-ins are accepted. Making an appointment online can cut your wait time significantly.

Marriage License Costs in Homestead

The license fee is $86 across all of Miami-Dade County. A premarital course brings the cost down to $61. The course must be from a state-approved provider and completed within 12 months of your application, per Florida Statute 741.0305.

If you want the clerk to perform your wedding, that is an extra $30. The office takes cash and major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express). They do not accept personal checks. Duplicate licenses are $30, and any changes to a filed license need a court order plus $30.

Certified copies of marriage records cost $9 for the first and $7 for additional copies. When the clerk needs to search across multiple years because you cannot provide an exact date, there is a $2 charge for each year searched.

Searching Homestead Marriage Records Online

Go to the Miami-Dade Online Marriage License Bureau to search marriage records free of charge. The database covers 1971 to the present. Search by name or license number. You will see both parties listed along with the marriage date.

Records before 1971 are not available online. Contact the clerk by phone for older record requests. Marriage records before June 6, 1927 exist only at the county level. The state started collecting marriage data on that date.

State-level records are kept by the Florida Department of Health from 1927 forward. State certified copies cost $5 for the first and $4 for more. You can also try VitalChek, which charges $15 plus $7 for processing. For Homestead-area marriages, the county clerk is usually the better choice in terms of speed and cost.

Marriage License Steps for Homestead Couples

Follow these steps to get your license:

• Fill out the pre-application on the Miami-Dade clerk website before your visit
• Go to any Miami-Dade clerk location with your partner
• Bring valid photo ID and Social Security number
• Pay the $86 fee ($61 with premarital course proof)
• Wait three days if you are a Florida resident without a course certificate
• Your license is good for 60 days and valid anywhere in Florida

Out-of-state residents do not have a waiting period. Florida residents can skip the three-day wait by taking a premarital course. The course has to be done within one year of applying.

Who can perform the ceremony? Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judges, clerks of court, deputy clerks, and Florida notary publics are all authorized. Witnesses are not legally required but are recommended. The officiant signs the license and returns it to the clerk within 10 days. After that, the clerk records the marriage and sends the data to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. Full processing takes about 60 days.

Ordering Certified Copies from Homestead

You have three options for getting certified copies. First, use the clerk's certified copies page online. Pay with a credit card and they mail the copies to you. Second, go in person to the Marriage License Bureau at 601 NW 1 Court, Suite 1900, Miami, FL 33136. Third, mail a request with a cashier's check or money order to the same address, payable to Clerk of the Courts.

Miami-Dade marriage records are public documents. Florida Statutes Chapter 119 makes them open to anyone. Social Security numbers are redacted. For confidential filings, the clerk offers a Request for Confidentiality form if you meet the criteria under Section 119.071.

Just married in Homestead? The county clerk is your fastest source for proof of marriage. The state records office takes up to 60 days to receive new filings from the county.

Other Cities in Miami-Dade County

All Miami-Dade County cities share the same clerk office for marriage records. Click a city below for local details.