Search Winter Haven Marriage Records

Marriage records in Winter Haven are filed with the Polk County Clerk of Court. The clerk office in Bartow manages licenses, ceremonies, and record storage for all Polk County residents.

How to Get a Marriage License in Winter Haven

Winter Haven is in Polk County. The Polk County Clerk of Court runs marriage license services from the courthouse in Bartow at 255 North Broadway Avenue, Bartow, FL 33830. Winter Haven is about 15 minutes west of Bartow. Call (863) 534-4000 with questions.

Both people have to go in together. Bring a valid photo ID. Driver licenses, passports, military IDs, and state ID cards all work. U.S. citizens must give their Social Security number. If either person was married before, have the date that marriage ended ready to share with the clerk.

Walk-ins are taken at the clerk office. Appointments are also available if you want to plan ahead. The whole application takes about half an hour. Your license gets printed the same day. Florida residents then wait three days before the license becomes active. Taking a premarital course or being from out of state skips that wait entirely.

Winter Haven Marriage License Costs

The fee is $86 for a marriage license. Couples who take a premarital course pay $61. The course has to be finished within one year of the application. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, only state-approved providers count. The course also waives the three-day waiting period for Florida residents.

A civil ceremony performed by the clerk costs $30. The office takes cash and major credit cards. No personal checks. Duplicate licenses are $30. Amendments need a court order and come with an extra fee.

Certified copies are available at a per-copy charge. In-person pickup at the Bartow courthouse is the fastest way. Online orders go through the clerk website. Mail requests should include a check or money order payable to the Polk County Clerk of Court at the Bartow address.

Online Search for Winter Haven Marriage Records

The Polk County Clerk website has an online records search tool. You can look up marriage records by name at no charge. The free search pulls up basic recording info. Ordering certified copies has a fee. The database covers decades of records and is available 24 hours a day.

Records from before June 6, 1927 are available only at the county level. Florida did not begin collecting marriage data statewide until that year. Contact the Polk County Clerk in Bartow for older records.

The Florida Department of Health has state marriage certificates from 1927 forward. A certified copy costs $5 from the state, plus $4 for each additional copy. VitalChek takes online orders for $15 plus a $7 processing fee. For Winter Haven marriages, the county clerk is a cheaper and faster source than the state.

Winter Haven Marriage License Steps

Follow these steps to get your marriage license:

• Go to the Polk County Clerk office in Bartow with your partner
• Show valid photo ID and Social Security numbers
• Share the end date of any prior marriages
• Pay $86 (or $61 with premarital course proof)
• Wait three days if you live in Florida and did not take the course
• Use the license within 60 days anywhere in the state

Only Florida residents have the three-day wait. Out-of-state applicants can use the license right away. A premarital course removes the wait for all applicants. The course needs to come from a state-registered provider and be done within a year of applying.

Florida Statute 741.07 says ordained ministers, judges, clerks, deputy clerks, and Florida notaries public can perform the ceremony. The law does not require witnesses, though having them is wise. The officiant has 10 days to sign and return the license to the clerk. The clerk then records the marriage and reports it to the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Processing takes about 60 days from the ceremony.

Certified Copies of Winter Haven Marriage Records

You can get certified copies of your Winter Haven marriage record from the Polk County Clerk. In-person requests at the Bartow courthouse are handled the quickest. The clerk website offers online ordering. Mail requests go to 255 North Broadway Avenue, Bartow, FL 33830 with a check or money order.

Under Florida Statutes Chapter 119, marriage records are public. Anyone can search for or copy them. The clerk redacts Social Security numbers and certain private details. Confidential filings are possible for people who qualify under Section 119.071.

Recently married? Go to the county clerk in Bartow for the fastest proof. The state office takes about two months to process the recording from the ceremony. Your county record will be ready well before the state copy is.

Other Cities in Polk County

All cities in Polk County share the same clerk for marriage records. Click below for city details.