Miami Marriage Records

Marriage records for Miami residents are handled by the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court. The clerk office in downtown Miami issues licenses, performs ceremonies, and keeps copies of all recorded marriage documents going back to 1971 in its online system.

Where to Get a Marriage License in Miami

Miami is in Miami-Dade County. The Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court runs the Marriage License Bureau at Overtown Transit Village South, 601 NW 1 Court, Suite 1900, Miami, FL 33136. This is the main office for all marriage license business in the county. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone number is (786) 469-2400.

Walk-ins are welcome. Appointments are also available. Both parties must show up together with valid photo ID. The clerk takes a driver license from any state, a passport, military ID, alien registration card, state ID card, or a naturalization certificate. U.S. citizens need to provide a Social Security number. If either person was married before, bring the exact date the last marriage ended.

Miami-Dade County also has six district court locations across the county. Any of them can process a marriage license application. But the main office in downtown Miami is the busiest and has the most staff on hand. Scheduling an appointment ahead of time helps cut the wait, though it is not required.

Miami Marriage License Fees

A marriage license costs $86 without a premarital course. With a course, the fee goes down to $61. The course must be done within one year of applying. It also waives the three-day waiting period for Florida residents. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, the premarital course has to come from an approved provider.

The ceremony fee is $30. Cash, Visa, Discover, Mastercard, and American Express are accepted in person. No personal checks. Online payments take credit cards only. A duplicate license costs $30. Amendments need a court order plus $30.

Certified copies of a Miami-Dade County marriage record cost $9 for the first copy and $7 for each additional copy. If you don't know the year of marriage, the clerk charges a $2 search fee per year searched. You can order copies online, in person, or by mail.

Search Miami Marriage Records Online

The Miami-Dade Online Marriage License Bureau holds records from 1971 to now. You can search by name or license number for free. Results show both parties and the marriage date. The portal is available around the clock. Ordering a certified copy online costs money, but the search itself is free.

For records before 1971, contact the Miami-Dade clerk office directly. Those older records are not in the online system. Records before June 6, 1927 are only available at the county level since the state did not start collecting marriage data until that date.

The Florida Department of Health keeps state marriage certificates from 1927 to the present. The state charges $5 for a search and one certified copy, plus $4 for each additional. You can also order through VitalChek at $15 plus a $7 processing fee. But for Miami marriages, the county is usually cheaper and faster than the state route.

Miami Marriage License Process

Here is what Miami residents need to do to get a marriage license:

• Complete the online pre-application on the Miami-Dade clerk website
• Bring valid photo ID and Social Security number to the clerk office
• Both parties appear together in person
• Pay $86 (or $61 with premarital course proof)
• Wait three days if you are a Florida resident without a course certificate
• Use the license within 60 days anywhere in Florida

Florida residents face a three-day waiting period under Florida Statute 741.04. Non-residents do not wait. Taking a premarital course waives this for everyone. The course needs to be from a registered provider and finished within one year of the application date.

Under Section 741.07, ordained ministers, judges, clerks and their deputies, and Florida notaries public can perform the ceremony. No witnesses are legally required, though they are a good idea. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it and sends the data to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. The whole recording process takes about 60 days.

Getting Certified Copies in Miami

There are three ways to get certified copies of your Miami marriage record. Online through the clerk's certified copies page is the fastest option. Pay with a credit card and copies ship to your address. In person at the Marriage License Bureau at 601 NW 1 Court, Suite 1900, Miami, FL 33136 is another route. The office handles requests Monday through Friday. Mail requests go to the same address with a cashier's check or money order payable to Clerk of the Courts.

Marriage records in Miami-Dade County are public under Florida Statutes Chapter 119. Anyone can inspect or copy them. Certain details like Social Security numbers get redacted. If you need a confidential filing, the clerk has a Request for Confidentiality form for people who qualify under Section 119.071.

Note: If you just got married in Miami and need proof right away, go to the county clerk first. The state office takes longer since the recording process runs about 60 days after the ceremony.

Other Cities in Miami-Dade County

All cities in Miami-Dade County use the same clerk office for marriage records. Select a city below for more local details.