Search West Palm Beach Marriage Records

Marriage records for West Palm Beach are filed with the Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller. As the county seat, West Palm Beach is home to the main clerk office where all marriage licenses in the county are issued and stored.

Where to Get a Marriage License in West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach sits in Palm Beach County. The Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller handles all marriage license business at the main courthouse located at 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (561) 355-2996 for questions.

Both people must show up at the same time. Bring a valid photo ID like a driver license, passport, or state ID card. A Social Security number is needed for all U.S. citizens. If you were married before, know the exact date the last marriage ended. You do not need to be a Palm Beach County resident or a Florida resident to apply here.

Since the main clerk office is right in West Palm Beach, most local couples go straight to the North Dixie Highway location. It is the central hub for the county. Walk-ins are fine, but the office can get busy, so plan to spend some time waiting during peak hours. Afternoons tend to be a bit calmer than mornings.

Marriage License Fees in West Palm Beach

The license costs $86 at the clerk office. If both parties take a premarital course from an approved provider, the fee drops to $61. The course must be done within one year before the application date. Under Florida Statutes Chapter 741, the premarital preparation course must come from a registered provider in the state.

Ceremonies performed by a clerk cost $30. The clerk office accepts cash, credit cards, and debit cards. No personal checks. Certified copies of a recorded marriage certificate cost a small fee as well. Duplicate licenses run $30 each.

If you want to save the $25 on the license fee, look into courses offered by licensed counselors, psychologists, clinical social workers, or marriage and family therapists in the West Palm Beach area. Many providers now offer the course online, which takes about four hours to complete.

Search Marriage Records Online in West Palm Beach

The Palm Beach County Clerk has an online records search system on its website. You can look up marriage records by name for free. The database covers records going back several decades. Results show the names of both parties and the date of the license. This is the fastest way to check if a marriage was recorded in the county without visiting the office in person.

For older records not in the online system, you can contact the clerk office directly by phone or in person. Records before June 6, 1927, exist only at the county level since the state did not start collecting marriage data until that date.

The Florida Department of Health holds statewide marriage records from 1927 forward. A search and one certified copy costs $5 from the state, with $4 for each extra copy. You can also order through VitalChek, which charges $15 plus a processing fee. For West Palm Beach marriages, the county clerk is typically faster and more affordable than the state route.

Marriage License Steps for West Palm Beach Residents

Here is what you need to do to get married in West Palm Beach:

• Go to the Palm Beach County Clerk at 205 North Dixie Highway together
• Bring valid photo ID and your Social Security number
• Pay the $86 fee (or $61 with a premarital course certificate)
• Wait three days if you are a Florida resident without a course certificate
• Have the ceremony within 60 days anywhere in Florida
• The officiant signs and returns the license to the clerk within 10 days

Florida residents face a three-day waiting period under state law. If you are from out of state, there is no wait at all. The premarital course also removes the waiting period for everyone, which is one more reason many couples choose to take it.

Who can perform the ceremony? Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judges, clerks of court and their deputies, and Florida notaries public can all officiate. No witnesses are required by law, though having one or two is common. After the wedding, the officiant has 10 days to sign the license and send it back to the clerk for recording.

Certified Copies and Public Records Access

Marriage records in Palm Beach County are public records under Florida Statutes Chapter 119. Anyone can request and view them. Certain personal details like Social Security numbers are redacted from public copies. If you need a certified copy, visit the clerk office in West Palm Beach, send a mail request, or use the clerk's online ordering system.

For mail requests, send your written request with the names of both parties, the approximate date of marriage, and a check or money order to the Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller at 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope to speed things up.

If your marriage was recent and the recording is still being processed, contact the clerk by phone at (561) 355-2996 to check the status. Recording after a ceremony typically takes several weeks since the officiant has 10 days to return the signed license and then the clerk needs time to enter it into the system.

Other Cities in Palm Beach County

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