Lehigh Acres Marriage Records

Marriage records in Lehigh Acres are managed by the Lee County Clerk of Courts in Fort Myers. Couples living in Lehigh Acres apply for licenses and get certified copies at the county clerk office.

Where to Get a Marriage License Near Lehigh Acres

Lehigh Acres is an unincorporated community in Lee County. It does not have its own city hall or clerk office. All marriage license business goes through the Lee County Clerk of Courts at 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901. The phone number is (239) 533-5007.

Both parties have to show up at the same time. Valid photo ID is required. A driver license, passport, military ID, or state ID card all work. You will need your Social Security number as well. Anyone who was married before needs the exact date that marriage ended, whether by divorce, death, or annulment.

The drive from Lehigh Acres to the Fort Myers courthouse takes about 25 to 35 minutes depending on traffic. Morning visits tend to have shorter wait times. The office opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. No weekend hours are available.

Marriage License Fees

A standard license costs $86 in Lee County. Couples who take a premarital preparation course pay only $61. The course has to be completed within one year of the application. It must come from a state-approved provider as outlined in Florida Statute Chapter 741. The reduced fee and waiting period waiver make the course worth considering.

Cash and credit cards are accepted. No personal checks. Ceremony fees at the clerk office cost $30. The clerk or a deputy can marry you on the spot once the waiting period has passed or if it does not apply.

Certified copies run $7 for the first one. Additional copies at the same time cost $5 each. Prices may vary, so check with the clerk before sending payment by mail.

Search Lehigh Acres Marriage Records Online

The Lee County Clerk website has an online search tool for recorded documents, including marriage records. You can look up records by name or date range. Basic results are free to view. Ordering a certified copy online costs extra, but simple searches do not.

The Florida Department of Health stores state marriage certificates from 1927 forward. A search and one certified copy cost $5 from the state. Each extra copy is $4. The state processes requests from their Jacksonville office, which can take a few weeks.

For quicker results, VitalChek offers online ordering. The charge is $15 plus processing fees. They accept credit cards and ship copies by mail. Most people in Lehigh Acres find the Lee County clerk to be the simplest option for local records.

Steps to Get Married in Lehigh Acres

Follow these steps to get your marriage license:

• Drive to the Lee County Clerk of Courts in Fort Myers with your partner
• Bring photo ID and Social Security numbers for both people
• Have prior divorce dates ready if either person was married before
• Pay $86 (or $61 with a premarital course certificate)
• Wait three days if you are a Florida resident without a course
• Get married within 60 days anywhere in Florida

The three-day wait only hits Florida residents. Out-of-state visitors can use the license right away. The premarital course removes the wait for everyone. Once you have the license in hand, it stays valid for 60 days. You can use it in any county across the state.

Who can perform the ceremony? Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers of any faith, judges, clerks, deputy clerks, and Florida notary publics all qualify. Florida does not require witnesses at the ceremony, though many couples choose to have them. The officiant has 10 days after the wedding to return the signed license to the issuing clerk. The clerk records the marriage and sends data to the Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Certified Copies and Public Access

Marriage records are public in Florida. This is set out in Florida Statutes Chapter 119. Anyone can request a copy of a marriage record, not just the people who got married. Social Security numbers and other sensitive data are removed before copies are issued to the public.

To get a certified copy from Lee County, visit the clerk in person, order online through the clerk website, or mail a written request with payment. Include the full names of both spouses and the approximate date of marriage. This helps the clerk find the right record quickly.

If the marriage happened recently, the county will have the record sooner than the state. It takes the state about 60 days to process and file new marriage records after the clerk sends the information up. So for anything recent, start with Lee County.

Other Cities in Lee County

Lee County's clerk office serves all cities in the county. Select another city for specific details.