Lakewood Ranch Marriage Records

Marriage records for Lakewood Ranch are kept by the Manatee County Clerk of Court. The clerk office processes license applications, performs ceremonies, and maintains all marriage documents for the county.

How to Get a Marriage License Near Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch is a planned community that spans both Manatee County and Sarasota County. Most of Lakewood Ranch falls in Manatee County. The Manatee County Clerk of Court handles marriage licenses at the courthouse in Bradenton. Call (941) 749-1800 for details.

Both people must come in at the same time with valid photo ID. The clerk accepts 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 prior marriage ended.

Walk-ins are accepted during business hours. Appointments can save time. The clerk has an online pre-application form. Fill it out before your visit to speed things up. The Bradenton courthouse is about a 20-minute drive west from most parts of Lakewood Ranch.

Lakewood Ranch has grown fast in recent years. Even though it does not have its own courthouse, the Manatee County Clerk office in Bradenton serves the community well. If the Manatee County side does not work for you, check whether the Sarasota County portion applies to your address.

Lakewood Ranch Marriage License Fees

Manatee County charges $86 for a marriage license. Taking a premarital course drops the fee to $61. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, the course must be from an approved provider and finished within one year. The course also waives the three-day waiting period.

Clerk ceremonies cost $30. The office accepts cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. No personal checks. Duplicate licenses are $30. Amendments need a court order plus $30.

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

Search Lakewood Ranch Marriage Records Online

The Manatee County Clerk website has an online records search. Look up marriage records by name for free. Certified copies cost money, but the search itself does not.

If a record is not in the online system, call (941) 749-1800. Staff can look through files that have not been digitized. Records before June 6, 1927 exist at the county level only.

The Florida Department of Health has state marriage records from 1927 to now. A search costs $5 for one certified copy plus $4 for extras. VitalChek charges $15 plus $7 processing. For Lakewood Ranch marriages, the county clerk is the quicker option.

Steps for a Marriage License Near Lakewood Ranch

What you need to do:

• Complete the pre-application on the Manatee County clerk website
• Both parties go to the Bradenton 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 anywhere in Florida

Only Florida residents deal with the three-day wait. Out-of-state couples skip it. The premarital course removes the waiting period for all applicants. The course must come from a state-registered provider.

Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judges, clerks of court, deputy clerks, and Florida notaries public can officiate. Witnesses are not legally required but are a wise choice. The officiant signs the license and returns it to the clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it and forwards data to the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Processing takes about 60 days.

Certified Copies for Lakewood Ranch Marriages

Get certified copies three ways. Online through the Manatee County Clerk website is the fastest method. Pay by credit card and copies get mailed to you. In person at the Bradenton courthouse works too. Mail requests need a cashier's check or money order payable to the Clerk of Court.

Manatee County marriage records are public under Florida Statutes Chapter 119. Anyone can search or request copies. Social Security numbers and sensitive data are redacted. If you need a confidential filing, ask the clerk about the form under Section 119.071.

Need proof of a recent marriage fast? Head to the county clerk. The state office runs about two months behind because of the recording process after the ceremony.

Other Cities in Manatee County

All cities in Manatee County use the same clerk office for marriage records. Select a city below for local details.