Miami Gardens Marriage Records
Marriage records in Miami Gardens are filed and stored by the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court. The clerk handles licenses, ceremonies, and certified copies for all Miami Gardens residents.
Miami Gardens Marriage Records Quick Facts
Marriage Licenses for Miami Gardens Residents
Miami Gardens falls within Miami-Dade County. The city does not have its own marriage license office. Instead, the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court processes all applications at its main location: Overtown Transit Village South, 601 NW 1 Court, Suite 1900, Miami, FL 33136. The phone number is (786) 469-2400.
Both partners must appear at the clerk office together. Bring a valid photo ID. The clerk accepts driver licenses from any state, passports, military IDs, state ID cards, alien registration cards, and naturalization certificates. U.S. citizens need a Social Security number too. Previously married? Bring the exact date your last marriage ended.
Miami-Dade has six district court locations spread across the county. Miami Gardens residents can go to any of them. You do not have to use the downtown Miami office specifically. Check the clerk website for the location nearest to Miami Gardens.
The clerk office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, though scheduling an appointment ahead of time can help reduce your wait.
Fees for Miami Gardens Marriage Records
A marriage license in Miami-Dade County costs $86. Taking a premarital preparation course brings it down to $61. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, the course must come from a registered provider and be finished within one year of your application.
The course also removes the three-day waiting period for Florida residents. That is two benefits in one. Lower fee and no wait.
Ceremony fees are $30 if you want the clerk to marry you. Payment options include cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. No personal checks. A duplicate license costs $30, and amendments require a court order plus $30.
Certified copies of a marriage record are $9 for the first copy. Each extra copy is $7. If you need the clerk to search multiple years because you are not sure of the date, that costs $2 per year searched.
Looking Up Miami Gardens Marriage Records Online
The Miami-Dade Online Marriage License Bureau has records going back to 1971. Search by name or license number at no charge. Results include both spouse names and the date of marriage. The portal is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Older records from before 1971 are not in the online database. Call the clerk at (786) 469-2400 for those. Records dated before June 6, 1927 only exist at the county level because Florida did not begin statewide marriage record collection until that date.
The Florida Department of Health has state marriage records from 1927 onward. A certified copy from the state costs $5 for the first, $4 for additional copies. VitalChek charges $15 plus a $7 processing fee. For Miami Gardens marriages, the county route is typically faster and more affordable than going through the state.
Steps to Get Married in Miami Gardens
The process is straightforward:
- Complete the pre-application form on the Miami-Dade clerk website
- Visit the clerk office together with valid photo ID
- Provide Social Security numbers if you are U.S. citizens
- Pay $86 (or $61 with premarital course completion)
- Florida residents wait three days unless they completed the premarital course
- The license stays valid for 60 days and works anywhere in Florida
Non-residents skip the waiting period entirely. Florida residents can avoid it by taking an approved premarital course. The course needs to be done within 12 months of the application.
Florida Statute 741.07 says that ordained ministers, judges, clerks, deputy clerks, and Florida notary publics can all perform a wedding ceremony. Witnesses are not legally required, though they can be helpful. The person who performs the ceremony must sign the license and send it back to the clerk within 10 days. The clerk then records it and forwards the information to the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Expect about 60 days for full processing.
Getting Certified Copies in Miami Gardens
Three options exist for certified copies. The clerk's online portal is the quickest way. Pay by credit card and copies ship to your address. You can also go in person to the Marriage License Bureau at 601 NW 1 Court, Suite 1900, Miami, FL 33136. For mail requests, include a cashier's check or money order payable to Clerk of the Courts.
All marriage records in Miami-Dade County are public under Florida Statutes Chapter 119. Anyone can search or copy them. Social Security numbers and some sensitive data get redacted automatically. If you need to keep a filing confidential, ask about the Request for Confidentiality form.
Recently married in Miami Gardens? Go to the county clerk for the fastest proof of marriage. The state office in Jacksonville takes longer since it can take up to 60 days for new records to make it into their system.
Other Cities in Miami-Dade County
Every city in Miami-Dade County is served by the same clerk office for marriage records. Pick a city below for local information.