Find Marriage Records in Palm City

Marriage records for Palm City are managed by the Martin County Clerk of Court. The clerk office handles license applications, ceremonies, and record storage for all of Martin County.

How to Get a Marriage License in Palm City

Palm City is an unincorporated community in Martin County. The Martin County Clerk of Court handles all marriage license applications at the courthouse in Stuart, the county seat. Call (772) 288-5576 for hours and questions.

Both parties must appear together with valid photo ID. Accepted IDs include 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. If either person was previously married, bring the date the last marriage ended.

Walk-ins are accepted during business hours. Appointments help cut your wait time. The clerk has a pre-application form online. Fill it out before your visit and the intake at the counter goes faster. Stuart is right next to Palm City, so the drive to the courthouse takes only about 10 minutes.

Martin County is on the Treasure Coast of Florida. The clerk office is relatively small compared to those in bigger metro areas, which can mean shorter waits. Most applications take 30 to 45 minutes from start to finish.

Palm City Marriage License Fees

Martin County charges $86 for a marriage license. A premarital course lowers the cost to $61. The course must be from an approved provider and done within one year. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, the course also waives the three-day waiting period.

Clerk ceremonies are $30. Cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are accepted. No personal checks. Duplicate licenses cost $30 each. Amendments require a court order plus $30.

Certified copies are $9 for the first and $7 for extras. If you do not know the marriage year, the clerk charges $2 per year searched. Get copies online, in person, or by mail.

Search Palm City Marriage Records Online

The Martin County Clerk website offers an online records search. Look up marriage records by name for free. Ordering certified copies costs money, but basic lookups are at no charge.

For records not online, call (772) 288-5576. The staff can search through older files. Records from before June 6, 1927 exist at the county level only.

The Florida Department of Health has state marriage records from 1927 to the present. A state search costs $5 for one certified copy plus $4 for extras. VitalChek is another option at $15 plus $7 processing. For Palm City marriages, the Martin County Clerk is typically faster.

Palm City Marriage License Process

Steps for Palm City residents:

• Complete the pre-application on the Martin County clerk website
• Both parties visit the Stuart 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

The three-day wait is for Florida residents only. Out-of-state couples can use the license right away. Taking the premarital course removes the wait for everyone. The course provider must be state-registered.

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

Certified Copies of Palm City Marriage Records

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

Martin County marriage records are public under Florida Statutes Chapter 119. Anyone can search or get copies. Social Security numbers are redacted from public records. For confidential filing, ask about the form under Section 119.071.

Just married near Palm City and need proof fast? Go to the county clerk. The state office runs about two months behind because of the recording process after the ceremony.