Find Marriage Records in Westchester

Westchester marriage records are stored and managed by the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court. The county clerk issues licenses, performs ceremonies, and maintains marriage records for Westchester residents.

Where Westchester Residents Get Marriage Licenses

Westchester is a census-designated place in west-central Miami-Dade County. The Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court issues all marriage licenses for the Westchester area. The main clerk office address is Overtown Transit Village South, 601 NW 1 Court, Suite 1900, Miami, FL 33136. Phone: (786) 469-2400.

Westchester is not far from the downtown Miami office. But if you prefer a different location, Miami-Dade has six district courts that handle marriage licenses. Pick whichever works best for your schedule.

Both people need to go to the clerk office together. You each need photo ID. The clerk takes driver licenses, passports, military IDs, state IDs, alien registration cards, and naturalization certificates. U.S. citizens must also provide a Social Security number. Previously married? Know the date it ended.

The clerk is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, and online appointments help you save time in line.

Westchester Marriage License Costs

The fee is $86. Completing a premarital course lowers it to $61 and removes the three-day waiting period. Florida Statute 741.0305 says the course needs to be from an approved provider and done within one year of the application date.

A ceremony by the clerk costs $30. Cash and major credit cards are accepted. No personal checks. Duplicate licenses are $30. Amendments need a court order and $30.

Certified copies run $9 for the first, $7 for additional. Multi-year searches cost $2 per year.

Searching Westchester Marriage Records Online

The Miami-Dade Online Marriage License Bureau provides free searches of records from 1971 on. Enter a name or license number. Results show both parties and the marriage date. The site runs around the clock.

Records from before 1971 are not in the online database. Call the clerk at (786) 469-2400 for help with those. Records before June 6, 1927 exist only at the county level. Florida did not start collecting marriage data statewide until that date, so anything older has to come from the county clerk directly.

State records from 1927 forward come from the Florida Department of Health. A certified copy from the state is $5 first, $4 for extras. VitalChek is $15 plus $7 processing. For Westchester marriages, the county clerk is the faster choice.

Getting Married in Westchester

Here is what Westchester residents need to do:

• Complete the pre-application on the Miami-Dade clerk website
• Both partners visit any clerk location together with photo ID
• Provide Social Security numbers (U.S. citizens)
• Pay $86 ($61 with premarital course)
• Wait three days if a Florida resident without the course
• License is good for 60 days throughout Florida

Out-of-state residents skip the waiting period. Florida residents avoid it with an approved premarital course done within 12 months.

Under Florida Statute 741.07, ceremonies can be performed by ordained ministers, judges, clerks of court, deputy clerks, and Florida notary publics. Witnesses are not required by law. The officiant has 10 days to return the signed license. Recording and sending data to the Bureau of Vital Statistics takes about 60 days total.

How to Order Certified Copies in Westchester

Three ways to get certified copies. The clerk's online certified copies page is the fastest method. Pay with a credit card. In person at the Marriage License Bureau at 601 NW 1 Court, Suite 1900, Miami, FL 33136. By mail with a cashier's check or money order to the same address.

Marriage records are public in Miami-Dade under Florida Statutes Chapter 119. Anyone can access them. Social Security numbers are redacted. Confidentiality requests can be made using the form under Section 119.071.

Married recently in Westchester? The county clerk is the fastest source for certified copies. State records take about 60 days to update. If you need proof of marriage right away for name changes, insurance, or other legal matters, the county office is where to go first.

Other Cities in Miami-Dade County

The same clerk serves all Miami-Dade cities for marriage records. Click a city for more local information.