Access West Melbourne Marriage Records

Marriage records for West Melbourne are kept by the Brevard County Clerk of Courts. All license applications, recording of marriage documents, and certified copy requests go through the county clerk office.

Where to Apply for a License Near West Melbourne

West Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, just west of Melbourne proper along the I-95 corridor. Marriage licenses for West Melbourne residents come from the Brevard County Clerk of Courts. The closest clerk office is the Viera courthouse at 2825 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, FL 32940. The other option is the Titusville courthouse at 50 S. Nieman Avenue, Titusville, FL 32780. Phone: (321) 637-5413.

The Viera courthouse is about 15 minutes north of West Melbourne. It is the obvious choice for most residents. Titusville is much farther, roughly 45 minutes north, and not worth the drive unless you have other business up there. Both offices process marriage licenses during weekday hours.

Both parties must go to the clerk office together. You cannot send one person to apply. Bring photo ID for each person. Driver licenses, passports, state IDs, and military IDs are all accepted. Social Security numbers are needed. If either person was previously married, have the date that prior marriage ended ready. Divorce decree dates, death dates, or annulment dates all qualify.

Marriage License Fees in Brevard County

The license fee is $86. Couples who take a premarital preparation course pay only $61. The course must be done within the year before applying and come from an approved provider listed under Florida Statute Chapter 741. Besides saving money, the course also waives the three-day waiting period that normally applies to Florida residents.

The clerk accepts cash and credit or debit cards for payment. No personal checks. Courthouse ceremonies performed by the clerk cost $30. The ceremony is simple and legal. It takes only a few minutes and can usually be arranged for the same day if the waiting period has been waived or does not apply to you.

Certified copies of recorded marriage documents from Brevard County carry the official seal. They cost a small fee per copy. These copies are accepted by the Social Security Administration, the passport office, insurance companies, and any other entity that requires proof of marriage.

Searching West Melbourne Marriage Records Online

Brevard County provides online access to official records through the clerk website. You can search for marriage records using the names of either spouse. Basic search results are free. Certified copies can be ordered through the online system for the standard fee.

The Florida Department of Health has statewide marriage certificates starting from June 6, 1927. The state charges $5 for a search and one certified copy. Each extra copy is $4. Processing happens in Jacksonville and takes a few weeks in most cases. For West Melbourne records, contacting Brevard County directly is quicker.

VitalChek is an authorized third-party service for ordering Florida vital records. They charge $15 plus a processing fee. Payment is by credit card, and copies arrive by mail. It is a decent option for people who want to handle things online without going to a courthouse, but for speed, the county is still your best bet.

Marriage License Application Steps

West Melbourne residents should follow these steps:

• Go to the Brevard County Clerk office in Viera with your partner
• Present photo ID and Social Security numbers
• Provide dates of prior marriage endings if needed
• Pay $86 or $61 with a premarital course certificate
• Florida residents wait three days without the course
• Use the license in any Florida county within 60 days

The waiting period is set by Florida Statute 741.04. Only Florida residents are subject to it. People from out of state can marry immediately. Completing a premarital course eliminates the three-day wait for all applicants. The 60-day window starts from the date the license is issued. After it expires, you have to reapply and pay again.

Who can perform weddings in Florida? Under Statute 741.07, the list includes ordained ministers, judges, court clerks, deputy clerks, and Florida notary publics. No witnesses are legally needed, but couples usually have some. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and sends it to the issuing clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it and passes the data along to the state.

Certified Copies and Public Access

Marriage records in Florida are open to the public. Florida Statutes Chapter 119 guarantees this access. You do not need to be named on the record to get a copy. Anyone can ask. The clerk will provide certified copies with sensitive details like Social Security numbers removed.

Visit the Viera courthouse for same-day copies. This is the quickest way for West Melbourne residents. Online ordering through the clerk website is available with credit card payment. Mail requests work too, though they take longer. Send your request to the Brevard County Clerk of Courts with both names, the marriage date, and a check or money order.

Newly filed marriages take about 60 days to appear in the Florida Department of Health system. The county has the record far sooner. If your wedding was recent, the Brevard County clerk is the right place to go first. Do not wait for the state to process it when the county already has what you need.

Other Cities in Brevard County

The Brevard County Clerk handles marriage records for every city and community in the county. See other cities below.