Palm River-Clair Mel Marriage Records

Marriage records in Palm River-Clair Mel are handled by the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court in Tampa. This unincorporated community in southeast Hillsborough County relies on the county courthouse for all marriage license and record services.

Where to Get a License Near Palm River-Clair Mel

Palm River-Clair Mel sits in Hillsborough County. The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court at the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 E. Twiggs St., Tampa, FL 33602, is the office that handles marriage licenses. Palm River-Clair Mel is less than 10 minutes from the courthouse, making it one of the closest Hillsborough communities to the clerk office.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The phone number is (813) 276-8100. Both people must appear together at the counter. Bring valid photo ID such as a driver license, passport, or state ID card. Social Security numbers are needed as well.

Anyone who has been married before must bring proof of how that marriage ended. The clerk requires either a final divorce decree or a death certificate with the exact date included.

Fee Information

The marriage license fee in Hillsborough County is $86. A $25 discount is available for couples who complete a premarital preparation course, bringing the total to $61. The course has to be state-approved and finished within one year of the application date. Florida Statutes Chapter 741 sets the rules and also allows the course to waive the three-day waiting period.

Clerk ceremonies are $30. Payment is by cash or credit card only. No personal checks. A replacement license costs $30.

For certified copies of a marriage record, expect to pay $5 for the first copy and $4 for each one after that. A per-year search fee applies when the marriage year is not known.

Searching for Marriage Records

The Hillsborough County Clerk marriage records page has details on how to search and request records. The clerk offers an online lookup tool where you can find marriages by name. Searching costs nothing. Only certified copies carry fees.

The Florida Department of Health keeps marriage certificates from 1927 to the present for the whole state. A search and first certified copy from the state costs $5, with $4 for each additional copy. VitalChek provides online ordering at $15 plus processing. The county route is generally faster for local marriages.

Records that predate 1927 are held by the county only. The state did not track marriages until June 6 of that year. For older records, contact the Hillsborough County Clerk.

License Application Process

Here is what Palm River-Clair Mel couples should do:

• Complete the pre-application online on the Hillsborough County Clerk website
• Collect photo IDs and Social Security numbers for both people
• Visit the Edgecomb Courthouse together in downtown Tampa
• Pay $86 (or $61 with a premarital course certificate)
• Florida residents wait three days without the course
• The license stays good for 60 days statewide

People from out of state do not wait. Florida residents avoid the wait by taking the premarital course. The course is about four hours and covers communication, conflict management, and finances. Several providers in the Tampa Bay area are approved by the state.

Under Florida law, ordained clergy, judges, court clerks and deputies, and Florida notaries public can perform weddings. The person who performs the ceremony signs the license and returns it to the clerk office within 10 days. Recording takes some time after that, and the state usually gets the data about 60 days later.

How to Get Certified Copies

Palm River-Clair Mel is right next to downtown Tampa, so visiting the courthouse in person is the easiest way to get certified copies. You can also mail a request with both party names, the approximate marriage date, and a check or money order to the Hillsborough County Clerk at 800 E. Twiggs St., Tampa, FL 33602. Questions? Call (813) 276-8100.

Marriage records are public in Florida under Florida Statutes Chapter 119. Anyone can request and receive copies. The clerk removes personal details like Social Security numbers before releasing records. If you need extra privacy, ask the clerk about what confidentiality protections are available.

Recently married? Go to the county clerk first for the fastest copies. The state system runs about two months behind.

Other Cities in Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County cities all share the same clerk office for marriage records. View another city below.