Find Marriage Records in Venice

Marriage records in Venice are handled by the Sarasota County Clerk of Court. The clerk manages license applications, ceremonies, and record keeping for all of Sarasota County.

Getting a Marriage License in Venice

Venice is a city in Sarasota County. The Sarasota County Clerk of Court processes marriage license applications at the courthouse in Sarasota, the county seat. Call (941) 861-7400 for office hours and directions.

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

Walk-ins are accepted during regular hours. Appointments can save time. The clerk website has a pre-application form. Fill it out before the trip to Sarasota. Venice is about 20 miles south of the Sarasota courthouse, a drive of roughly 30 minutes.

Venice is a popular spot for beach weddings. Many couples get their license and then hold the ceremony on one of the local beaches. The license is valid anywhere in Florida, so you can get it at the Sarasota courthouse and use it in Venice.

Venice Marriage License Fees

Sarasota County charges $86 for a marriage license. A premarital course brings the fee down to $61. The course must be from an approved provider and completed within one year. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, the course also waives the three-day wait.

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

Certified copies cost $9 for the first and $7 for each extra. A $2 search fee per year applies if the marriage date is unknown. Get copies online, in person, or by mail.

Search Venice Marriage Records Online

The Sarasota County Clerk has an online records search. Look up marriage records by name for free. Certified copies cost money, but the search is at no charge.

For records not online, call (941) 861-7400. Staff can check older files not yet digitized. Records before June 6, 1927 exist only at the county level.

The Florida Department of Health has state marriage records from 1927 to now. A state search costs $5 for one certified copy plus $4 for extras. VitalChek is another route at $15 plus $7 processing. For Venice marriages, the county clerk is usually faster and cheaper.

Venice Marriage License Steps

Here is the process:

• Complete the pre-application on the Sarasota County clerk website
• Both people visit the Sarasota 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. Visitors from out of state skip it. The premarital course eliminates the wait for everyone. The course provider must be registered with the state.

Ordained ministers, judges, clerks of court, deputy clerks, and Florida notaries public can perform ceremonies under Florida Statute 741.07. Witnesses are not legally needed, but one or two is a wise choice. The officiant signs the license and returns it to the clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it and sends data to the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Processing takes about 60 days.

Certified Copies of Venice Marriage Records

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

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

Just married in Venice and need proof? The county clerk can provide copies faster than the state office, which runs about two months behind.

Other Cities in Sarasota County

All cities in Sarasota County use the same clerk office for marriage records. Select a city below for local details.