Search Broward County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Broward County are managed by the Clerk of Courts at the Central Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale. The clerk issues marriage licenses, performs civil ceremonies, and keeps copies of all recorded licenses. Broward County has marriage license records going back to 1915. You can get copies in person at the courthouse, by mail, or through the clerk's website. The marriage division handles a large number of applications each year from Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, and dozens of other Broward County cities. Walk-ins are welcome at the courthouse, and no appointment is needed for license applications or ceremonies.

Broward County Marriage License Office

The Broward County Clerk of Courts Marriage Division is at the Central Courthouse, Midrise Building, 540 SE 3rd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, Room 02460. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. You can reach them by phone at (954) 831-7283. No appointment is needed. Walk-ins are taken on a first-come basis. Couples who want to apply for a Broward County marriage license must both show up in person at the same time.

Valid photo ID is required. The Broward clerk accepts a driver license from any U.S. state, a passport, U.S. military ID, a state ID card, or an alien registration card. Both parties must sign an affidavit under Florida Statute 741.04. Before applying, both parties must read the Family Law Handbook. The Florida Bar makes this handbook available in English, Spanish, and Creole. There is no residency requirement. A Broward County marriage license is valid in any Florida county for 60 days from the date it is issued.

Civil marriage ceremonies are available right at the courthouse. The fee is $30. No witnesses are required by law, but the clerk recommends having them. Ceremonies are walk-in only at the Broward County clerk office. After the ceremony, the signed license must come back to the Marriage Division at the Central Courthouse within 10 days. The clerk records it and mails a certified copy to the address on the application.

Broward Marriage Record Fees

The standard Broward County marriage license application fee is $86. With proof of a premarital course, the fee drops to $61. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, the course must be taken within one year of applying. Completing it also waives the three-day waiting period for Florida residents. The ceremony fee is $30 if you want the clerk to perform it. A duplicate license costs $30. Amending a marriage license requires a court order and costs $30.

Payment at the Broward County clerk office can be made with cash, cashier's check, money order, or major credit cards including American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa. No business or personal checks are accepted. Make all checks payable to Broward County Clerk of Courts.

Certified copies of a recorded Broward County marriage license cost $3 each. The Broward clerk records request page explains how to order copies. You need both spouse names at the time of the application and the date of marriage. Copies for licenses from 1915 to 1997 can only be purchased in person at the Central Courthouse marriage location. For marriages filed outside Broward County, contact the clerk in that county or the state Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Mail requests for Broward County marriage records go to: Marriage Division, 540 SE 3rd Avenue, Room 02460, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Include a self-addressed stamped business envelope. Payment by mail accepts law firm checks, personal checks, business checks, cashier's checks, traveler's checks, and money orders. All payable to Clerk of Courts. Do not send cash. Allow at least two weeks for a response.

Note: The search fee for Broward County marriage records is $2 when the exact marriage date is not known.

Broward County Marriage License Requirements

Florida law sets the rules for marriage licenses statewide. Both parties must be at least 18 years old to apply without consent. Someone who is 17 can marry with written consent from both parents, but only if the other person is not more than two years older. No blood test is needed. Both parties appear in person together at the Broward County clerk office with their IDs. U.S. citizens must provide a Social Security number. If either person was married before, the exact date their last marriage ended is required.

Florida residents wait three days after the license is issued before they can get married. This is set by state law. The waiting period is waived if both parties complete an approved premarital preparation course. Non-Florida residents have no waiting period at all. The license is good for 60 days under Section 741.041. After that, it expires and you must apply again.

Under Section 741.07, an ordained minister, any Florida judge, a clerk of court or deputy clerk, or a Florida notary public can perform the ceremony. The completed license must be returned to the Broward County clerk for recording. The clerk then sends a certified copy to the couple. Marriage records in Broward County are public under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Anyone can request to see or copy them.

Broward County Marriage Records Access

The Broward County Clerk of Courts website provides access to various county records. Marriage records filed in Broward County can be searched through the clerk's online tools. For certified copies of older records, especially those from 1915 to 1997, you must visit the Central Courthouse location in Fort Lauderdale in person. The online system works best for more recent marriage records.

The Florida Department of Health also has Broward County marriage certificates from June 6, 1927 to the present. The state charges $5 for a search and one certified copy. Additional copies cost $4 each. Online ordering goes through VitalChek, the state's only contracted vendor, at $15 plus a $7 processing fee. If you are not sure whether to go through the county or the state, the county is usually cheaper for Broward County marriage records at $3 per copy versus the state's $5.

Premarital Courses in Broward County

A premarital course is not required to get a marriage license in Broward County. It is optional. But taking one has real benefits. The license fee goes from $86 down to $61. The three-day waiting period goes away. The course must be from a registered provider and completed within one year before applying.

Broward County has several approved premarital course providers. The clerk can point you toward a list. The course covers topics like communication, conflict resolution, and financial planning. When you finish, you get a certificate. Bring it to the clerk office when you apply for your Broward County marriage license. The clerk will verify it and apply the discount right then. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, both parties read the Family Law Handbook as part of the licensing process regardless of whether they take a course.

Note: The premarital course certificate must be presented at the time of your Broward County marriage license application to receive the fee reduction.

Cities in Broward County

Broward County is home to many cities. All marriage licenses are issued by the Broward County Clerk of Courts. Select a city below for local details about getting marriage records.

Nearby Counties

Broward County shares borders with two other counties. If you need marriage records from a different area, check the counties below.