Horizon West Marriage Records

Marriage records in Horizon West fall under the Orange County Clerk of Courts. Residents apply for licenses and request records through the main clerk office at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando.

Where Horizon West Residents Apply

Horizon West is in Orange County. The Orange County Clerk of Courts processes all marriage licenses at 425 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL 32801. You can reach them by phone at (407) 836-2000.

Horizon West is a fast-growing community in southwest Orange County. There is no clerk office in Horizon West, so couples drive to the main courthouse in Orlando. The trip is about 20 miles and takes 25 to 35 minutes. Both parties need to show up at the same time with photo ID.

Acceptable ID includes a driver license from any state, a passport, military ID, state ID card, or naturalization certificate. U.S. citizens must provide a Social Security number. If either person was married before, the clerk needs the date that prior marriage ended. Have all your documents ready before you go to avoid a second trip.

Marriage License Costs

The fee is $86 for a standard license. Take a premarital course and the price drops to $61. The course has to be finished within one year of your application. Only state-approved providers count, as required by Florida Statute 741.0305.

Ceremonies performed by the clerk cost $30. The clerk can marry you at the courthouse. Cash and major credit cards are accepted. No personal checks allowed. If you need copies of your marriage record later, certified copies are $9 for the first and $7 for extras.

The premarital course does two things for you. It saves $25 on the fee and it gets rid of the three-day waiting period. Most couples find the course worth taking. Several providers offer it online, and it usually takes about four hours to complete.

Online Marriage Records Search

Orange County has a free online search tool on the clerk website. Enter a name and see marriage records that match. The results list both parties and the marriage date. You can browse at no cost, but ordering certified copies requires payment.

The Florida Department of Health keeps state records from 1927 to now. A search plus one certified copy costs $5 through the state. Each extra copy is $4. You can also use VitalChek at $15 plus a processing fee.

For marriages in the Horizon West area, going through the county clerk is usually quicker. State records take about 60 days to get processed after the wedding. Anything before June 6, 1927 is only at the county level since the state did not track marriages until that date.

The Application Process Step by Step

Here is what Horizon West couples need to do:

• Start a pre-application on the Orange County clerk website
• Visit the courthouse in Orlando together
• Present valid photo ID and Social Security number
• Pay $86 (or $61 with a completed premarital course)
• Wait three days if you are a Florida resident without a course
• Use the license within 60 days anywhere in the state

Florida Statute 741.04 sets a three-day waiting period for Florida residents. Out-of-state couples do not wait at all. Completing a premarital course eliminates the wait for everyone. The course must be from a registered provider and done within one year of applying.

The license is valid for 60 days once issued. You can use it anywhere in Florida, not just in Orange County. After the ceremony, the person who performed it signs the license and returns it to the clerk within 10 days. Then the clerk records it and sends the information to the state.

Who Can Perform the Ceremony

Under Florida Statute Section 741.07, several categories of people can officiate a wedding. These include ordained ministers, judges, clerks and their deputies, and Florida notaries public. The Orange County clerk office will perform ceremonies for $30 at the courthouse.

Florida does not require witnesses at a wedding ceremony. However, having at least one witness is wise. It creates an extra layer of proof that the ceremony took place. The officiant signs the license and must file it with the clerk within 10 days. Recording usually takes about 60 days to show up in the state system.

Public Access to Records

Marriage records in Florida are public under Florida Statutes Chapter 119. Anyone can request to see or copy them. Sensitive information such as Social Security numbers gets removed from public versions.

To order certified copies, use the clerk website, visit the courthouse in person, or send a mail request. Mail goes to Orange County Clerk of Courts, 425 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL 32801. Include a money order or cashier's check. If you just got married and need quick proof, the county clerk is faster than the state.

Other Cities in Orange County

Orange County cities all share the same clerk office for marriage license services. Pick a city for more info.