Tallahassee Marriage Records Search

Marriage records for Tallahassee residents are managed by the Leon County Clerk of Court. As Florida's capital city, Tallahassee's marriage records go through the county clerk like every other city in the state.

Where to Get a Marriage License in Tallahassee

Tallahassee is the county seat of Leon County. The Leon County Clerk of Court handles all marriage license applications at the Leon County Courthouse. Call (850) 577-4000 for hours and questions.

Both parties must appear together with valid photo ID. Accepted forms include driver licenses from any state, passports, military IDs, state ID cards, alien registration cards, and naturalization certificates. U.S. citizens need to bring a Social Security number. If either person was married before, have the exact date the prior marriage ended.

Walk-ins are accepted during regular hours. Appointments help cut the wait. The clerk has an online pre-application that you can fill out before your visit. This gets the basic data into the system before you show up, which speeds things along at the counter.

Tallahassee is home to two major universities, Florida State University and Florida A&M University. The clerk office sees a fair amount of traffic from students and faculty getting married. The courthouse is in downtown Tallahassee and easy to reach from most parts of the city.

Tallahassee Marriage License Fees

A marriage license costs $86 in Leon County. If both people take a premarital course, the fee drops to $61. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, the course has to be done within one year and come from an approved provider. The course also waives the three-day waiting period for Florida residents.

The clerk charges $30 to perform a ceremony. Cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are all accepted. Personal checks are not. Duplicate licenses cost $30. Amendments require a court order plus $30.

Certified copies of a marriage record are $9 for the first and $7 for each extra copy. If the marriage date is unknown, there is a $2 search fee per year. You can order copies online, in person, or by mail.

Search Tallahassee Marriage Records Online

The Leon County Clerk provides an online records search. Search for marriage records by name at no cost. Ordering certified copies has a fee, but the search itself is free.

Records not in the online system may require a call to (850) 577-4000. Staff can search through files that have not been digitized. Records from before June 6, 1927 exist at the county level only since the state started collecting marriage data on that date.

The Florida Department of Health has state marriage certificates from 1927 forward. A state search costs $5 for one certified copy plus $4 for extras. VitalChek is another option at $15 plus $7 processing. For Tallahassee marriages, going through the Leon County Clerk is generally faster.

Marriage License Process in Tallahassee

Steps for Tallahassee residents:

• Complete the online pre-application on the Leon County clerk website
• Both parties visit the courthouse with valid photo ID
• Provide Social Security numbers (U.S. citizens)
• Pay $86 (or $61 with premarital course proof)
• Wait three days if you are a Florida resident without the course
• Use the license within 60 days anywhere in Florida

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

Under Florida Statute 741.07, ceremonies may be performed by ordained ministers, judges, clerks of court, deputy clerks, or Florida notaries public. No witnesses are legally required, but having one or two is 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 runs about 60 days total.

Getting Certified Copies in Tallahassee

You can get certified copies three ways. Online through the Leon County Clerk website is the fastest option. Pay by credit card and copies get mailed to you. In person at the courthouse works for same-day needs. Mail requests require a cashier's check or money order payable to the Clerk of Court.

Leon County marriage records are public under Florida Statutes Chapter 119. Anyone can request copies. Social Security numbers and certain personal details are redacted from public records. For confidential filing, ask the clerk about the form under Section 119.071.

Just married in Tallahassee? Go to the county clerk for fast proof. The state office takes about two months to process records after the ceremony, even though it is headquartered in Jacksonville and not in Tallahassee.