The Villages Marriage Records Search

Marriage records for The Villages are managed by the Sumter County Clerk of Court. The clerk office handles license applications, ceremonies, and record storage for the county.

Where to Get a Marriage License in The Villages

The Villages is a large retirement community that spans three counties, but the bulk of it falls in Sumter County. The Sumter County Clerk of Court processes marriage license applications at the courthouse in Bushnell, the county seat. Call (352) 569-6810 for hours and details.

Both parties must appear together in person. Bring 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 also need a Social Security number. If either person was married before, bring the date the last marriage ended.

Walk-ins are welcome. Appointments can help you avoid a wait. The clerk has a pre-application form online. Fill it out before your visit so the intake process goes faster. Bushnell is south of The Villages, about a 20-minute drive depending on which part of the community you are in.

The Villages has one of the largest populations of retirees in the country. Many residents are marrying for a second or third time. The clerk office is used to handling applications where one or both parties have prior marriages. Just make sure you bring the dates those marriages ended, whether by divorce or death of a spouse.

The Villages Marriage License Fees

Sumter County charges $86 for a marriage license. With a premarital course, the fee goes down to $61. The course must come from an approved provider and be done within one year of applying. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, the course also waives the three-day waiting period for Florida residents.

A ceremony by the clerk costs $30. Cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are accepted. No personal checks. Duplicate licenses run $30. Amendments need a court order plus a $30 fee.

Certified copies cost $9 for the first and $7 for each additional copy. If the marriage year is not known, there is a $2 search fee per year. Copies can be ordered online, in person, or by mail.

Search The Villages Marriage Records Online

The Sumter County Clerk website has an online records search. Look up marriage records by name for free. Ordering a certified copy costs money, but the search is at no charge.

For records not in the online system, call (352) 569-6810. Staff can look through older files. Records before June 6, 1927 exist at the county level only since the state did not start collecting marriage data before that date.

The Florida Department of Health stores state marriage certificates from 1927 to the present. A state search costs $5 for one certified copy plus $4 for each additional. VitalChek is another option at $15 plus a $7 processing fee. For marriages in The Villages area, the Sumter County Clerk is usually the faster route.

Marriage License Process for The Villages

Steps for residents of The Villages:

• Complete the pre-application on the Sumter County clerk website
• Both parties go to the Bushnell 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 at any Florida location

Only Florida residents face the three-day wait. Out-of-state residents can use the license right away. The premarital course waives 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 the ceremony. No witnesses are legally required, but one or two is a good idea. The officiant signs the license and returns it to the clerk within 10 days. The clerk records the marriage and sends data to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. Processing takes about 60 days total.

Certified Copies for The Villages Marriages

There are three ways to get certified copies. Online through the Sumter County Clerk website is fastest. Pay by credit card and copies get mailed to your address. In person at the Bushnell courthouse works too. Mail requests need a cashier's check or money order payable to the Clerk of Court.

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

Just married in The Villages and need proof right away? Head to the county clerk. The state office takes about two months to process records after the ceremony because of the recording chain that goes through the Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Keep in mind that The Villages spans into Lake and Marion counties too. If your address falls in one of those counties instead of Sumter, you may need to use a different clerk office. Check your county before heading to the courthouse to make sure you go to the right one.