Find Marriage Records in Winter Park

Marriage records for Winter Park are processed by the Orange County Clerk of Courts. The clerk office handles license applications, courthouse weddings, and all record requests for residents throughout the county.

Where Winter Park Couples Apply

Winter Park is in Orange County. The Orange County Clerk of Courts issues all marriage licenses at the main courthouse, 425 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL 32801. Phone: (407) 836-2000.

Winter Park is just north of downtown Orlando. The courthouse is a short drive of about 5 miles, taking 10 to 15 minutes. This makes Winter Park one of the closest Orange County communities to the clerk office. Both partners must appear together. Walk-ins and appointments both work.

Bring a valid photo ID. The clerk accepts a driver license from any state, passport, military ID, state ID card, or naturalization certificate. Citizens of the United States need to provide a Social Security number. If you or your partner had a prior marriage, bring the date it ended. Know if it was divorce, death, or annulment.

Fee Schedule for Marriage Licenses

The license fee is $86. Couples who take a premarital course pay $61 instead. That is a $25 savings. The course has to come from a provider on the state-approved list, and you need to finish it within one year of applying. Florida Statute 741.0305 lays out the course requirements.

Ceremonies performed by the clerk cost $30. The courthouse will marry you the same day if there is no waiting period. Cash and major credit cards are accepted. Personal checks are not taken for any marriage service.

Certified copies of marriage records cost $9 for the first and $7 per additional copy. A $2 per-year search fee kicks in if you do not know the year of the marriage. Order copies online, in person, or by mail.

Searching Winter Park Marriage Records

Orange County offers a free online search through the clerk website. Enter a name to find matching marriage records. Results show both parties and the date of the marriage. The search itself is free. If you want a certified copy, that has a fee.

State marriage records are available from the Florida Department of Health. They have records from 1927 to the present. A search plus one certified copy is $5. Each additional copy costs $4. VitalChek charges $15 plus a processing fee for another ordering option.

For recent Winter Park weddings, the county clerk is the faster source. State records take around 60 days to process after the ceremony. Records from before 1927 are only at the county level since the state did not start tracking marriages until June 6 of that year.

Marriage License Process

Here is how Winter Park couples get their license:

• Start a pre-application on the Orange County clerk site
• Both parties go to the courthouse together with photo ID
• Give Social Security numbers if you are a U.S. citizen
• Pay $86 or $61 with premarital course proof
• Florida residents wait three days unless a course was completed
• The license is valid for 60 days across all of Florida

The three-day waiting period is set by Florida Statute 741.04. It applies to Florida residents only. Out-of-state couples skip it. A premarital course eliminates the wait for everyone. You must use an approved provider, and the course must be done within a year of applying.

After you get the license, it stays good for 60 days. Use it in any Florida county. The person who performs the ceremony signs the license and files it with the clerk within 10 days. Then the clerk records it and sends information to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Ceremony Options

Section 741.07 of Florida law says who can perform weddings. Ordained ministers, judges, clerks and their deputies, and Florida notaries public are all authorized. The Orange County clerk does ceremonies for $30 at the courthouse.

Florida does not require witnesses at wedding ceremonies. It is not a legal need. Still, most couples have at least one person there to witness. After the wedding, the officiant completes the license paperwork and returns it within 10 days. The full recording cycle takes about 60 days before state records are updated.

Accessing Records and Copies

Under Florida Statutes Chapter 119, marriage records are open to the public. Anyone can request to see them. Social Security numbers and other private data are redacted from the public version.

Order certified copies online through the clerk, in person at 425 N. Orange Ave., or by mail. Mail requests need a money order or cashier's check made out to Orange County Clerk of Courts. Recently married couples should contact the county first since state records run about 60 days behind.

Other Cities in Orange County

The Orange County clerk serves all cities in the county for marriage records. Select a city for more information.