Columbia County Marriage Records
Columbia County marriage records are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Lake City. The clerk handles marriage license applications, keeps recorded documents on file, and provides copies to the public. If you need to search for a marriage record or get a certified copy of a license from Columbia County, the clerk office in Lake City is the primary source. The Florida Department of Health maintains state-level certificates for marriages recorded from June 1927 to the present. Both local and state offices accept requests from anyone. This page explains how to find, request, and receive Columbia County marriage records through every available channel.
Columbia County Quick Facts
Columbia County Clerk of Court
The Columbia County Clerk of the Circuit Court is located in Lake City. This office handles every marriage license issued in the county. Both applicants must show up at the same time with valid photo identification. Driver licenses, passports, military IDs, and state identification cards are all accepted. U.S. citizens need their Social Security number. If you were married before, have the exact date your previous marriage ended through divorce, death, or annulment.
The Columbia County clerk follows Florida Statutes Chapter 741. Section 741.01 gives the clerk the authority to issue licenses. Both parties sign an affidavit under Section 741.04 confirming their ages. The license is issued the same day when all requirements are met. Call ahead at (386) 758-1041 to confirm hours and what documents to bring.
| Office | Columbia County Clerk of the Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Phone | (386) 758-1041 |
| Location | Lake City, FL |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, regular business hours |
Columbia County Marriage License Costs
The fee for a marriage license in Columbia County is $86. That is the standard rate across most of Florida for couples without a premarital course. If you bring proof of an approved premarital preparation course, the fee drops to $61 under Section 741.0305 of the Florida Statutes. The course must be taken within one year before the application. On top of the fee reduction, the premarital course eliminates the three-day waiting period for residents of Florida. Columbia County couples who take the course can apply and marry on the same visit to the clerk office.
There is no blood test. No residency requirement exists. Anyone can get a Columbia County marriage license regardless of where they live. Non-Florida residents skip the three-day wait automatically. The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue and works at any location in the state per Section 741.041.
Note: The $86 fee includes a $2 application charge and $25 Domestic Violence Trust Fund contribution required by Section 741.01.
How to Get Columbia County Marriage Records
Certified copies of marriage licenses recorded in Columbia County are available from the clerk office in Lake City. Under Section 741.09, the clerk maintains a complete record of all licenses issued. After the ceremony, the signed license returns to the Columbia County clerk within 10 days for recording. The couple gets one free certified copy at that point. For more copies later, call (386) 758-1041 to find out the current fee. In-person and mail requests are both possible.
The Florida Department of Health is another source for Columbia County marriage certificates. State records go back to June 6, 1927. A search for one year and one certified copy is $5. Extra copies cost $4 each. Mail your request to P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042 with a check payable to Vital Statistics. Provide both spouse names before first marriage, dates of birth, date and county of the marriage. The state processes requests in 3 to 5 business days for records from 1970 onward.
VitalChek is the only online vendor contracted by the state. The total is $15 for the state fee and $7 for processing. You can also call VitalChek at 1-877-550-7330 to order by phone. UPS shipping is available for an extra charge if speed matters for your Columbia County marriage certificate.
Columbia County Records and Public Law
Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes makes Columbia County marriage records public. Section 119.01 says all county records are open to any person for inspection and copying. You do not need to be named on the marriage record. No explanation is required. Section 119.07 requires the custodian to allow access at reasonable times. Copy fees are 15 cents per page for standard copies and $1 for certified copies under the general public records law.
Social Security numbers, financial account details, and medical data are exempt from disclosure under Section 119.071. Everything else on the Columbia County marriage record is available to the public. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website can help you find the Columbia County clerk office or compare it with other counties in the state.
Columbia County Marriage License Process
Visit the Columbia County clerk office in Lake City with your partner. Both must be present. Each person brings photo ID and a Social Security number. Previously married people provide the date their last marriage ended. Both sign the affidavit. The clerk issues the license that same day. Florida residents wait three days unless they took the premarital course. Non-residents can use the license right away. Under Section 741.07, ministers, judges, clerks, and notaries can perform the ceremony.
After the wedding, the signed license must go back to the Columbia County clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it in the official records and sends the information to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. The state filing process takes about 60 days. If you need a certified copy before the state has it, the Columbia County clerk in Lake City is your best bet. The My Florida County Records portal covers official records searches across many Florida counties, including Columbia County marriage records.
The Florida Department of Health portal below is where you order state-level marriage certificates, including those originally filed in Columbia County.
The My Florida County Records portal above lets you search official records across multiple counties from one place, useful when searching for Columbia County marriage records.
The Bureau of Vital Statistics website provides information about all vital record services, including how to order Columbia County marriage certificates by mail or online.
Use the state bureau when you want a certificate rather than a copy of the original Columbia County marriage license on file at the Lake City clerk office.
Cities in Columbia County
Columbia County is in north-central Florida. Lake City is the county seat and the largest town. No cities in Columbia County are large enough for a separate page on this site. All residents use the clerk office in Lake City for marriage license services and records. Fort White is another small community in the county that uses the same office.
Nearby Counties
Columbia County borders several other counties in northern Florida. Each maintains its own clerk of court for marriage license services. A license from any county works statewide for 60 days.