Search Jacksonville Marriage Records

Marriage records in Jacksonville are filed through the Duval County Clerk of Court. The clerk office processes license applications, performs ceremonies, and stores recorded marriage documents in its system.

Where to Get a Marriage License in Jacksonville

Jacksonville is in Duval County. The Duval County Clerk of Court handles all marriage license business for the city. Jacksonville is a consolidated city-county, so the clerk office serves the entire area. Both people must show up in person at the same time with valid photo ID. Call (904) 255-2000 for questions or to check hours.

Accepted forms of ID include a driver license from any state, passport, military ID, alien registration card, state ID, or naturalization certificate. U.S. citizens need a Social Security number. If you were married before, bring the exact date your last marriage ended. The clerk needs this to process the application.

Walk-ins are accepted during business hours. Appointments can help cut your wait time if the office is busy. Jacksonville is one of the largest cities in Florida by land area, so make sure you go to the right courthouse location. The main clerk office downtown is the primary spot for marriage license services.

You can fill out a pre-application form on the clerk website before going in. This saves time at the counter. The clerk still needs to see both parties face to face, but the intake process moves faster when the basic data is already entered.

Jacksonville Marriage License Fees

Duval County charges $93.50 for a marriage license. This is higher than most Florida counties. With a premarital course, the fee drops to $68.50. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, the course must come from an approved provider and be done within one year of the application.

The premarital course does more than save money. It also waives the three-day waiting period that Florida residents face. If both parties take the course, you can use your license right away. The course usually takes about four hours.

A ceremony by the clerk costs $30. The office takes cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. No personal checks. Duplicate licenses cost $30 each. Amendments need a court order plus $30.

Certified copies of a Duval County marriage record cost $9 for the first copy and $7 for each one after that. The clerk charges a $2 search fee per year if you are not sure when the marriage took place. You can order copies online, in person, or through the mail.

Search Jacksonville Marriage Records Online

The Duval County Clerk maintains an online records search portal where you can look up marriage records. Visit the clerk website and use the records search tool. You can search by name to find marriage license information. The search is free, though ordering a certified copy costs money.

For older records that are not in the online system, call the clerk office at (904) 255-2000. Records before June 6, 1927 exist only at the county level. The state did not start collecting marriage data until that date.

The Florida Department of Health keeps state marriage certificates from 1927 to now. A state search costs $5 for one certified copy plus $4 for extras. You can also order through VitalChek at $15 plus a $7 processing fee. For Jacksonville marriages, the county clerk is usually the faster and cheaper option.

Jacksonville Marriage License Steps

Here is what Jacksonville residents need to do:

• Fill out the pre-application on the Duval County clerk website
• Both parties go to the clerk office together with valid photo ID
• Bring Social Security numbers (U.S. citizens)
• Pay $93.50 (or $68.50 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

Florida residents must wait three days unless they took the premarital course. Out-of-state couples skip the wait. The course has to be from a state-registered provider and finished within one year of applying.

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 required by law, but it is a good idea to have one or two. The officiant signs the license and sends it back to the clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it and forwards data to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. Full processing takes about 60 days.

Getting Certified Copies in Jacksonville

Three ways to get certified copies. Online through the Duval County Clerk website is the fastest method. Pay with a credit card and copies ship to your address. In person at the clerk office works too. Mail requests need a cashier's check or money order made payable to the Clerk of Court.

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

Need proof of your Jacksonville marriage right away? Go to the county clerk first. The state office takes longer since the recording process runs about two months after the ceremony date. The clerk office can give you a certified copy much sooner than the state can.