Access Gilchrist County Marriage Records

Gilchrist County marriage records are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Trenton. One of the smaller counties in north-central Florida, Gilchrist County processes all marriage license applications and keeps certified records at the courthouse. If you need to search for a Gilchrist County marriage record or want to apply for a new marriage license, the clerk office in Trenton handles everything. Copies are also available through the Florida Department of Health for records from 1927 forward. The Gilchrist County clerk has older files that go back further than what the state keeps on hand.

Gilchrist County Clerk of Court Office

The Gilchrist County Clerk of the Circuit Court is in Trenton, the county seat. Both people who want to get married must come to the clerk office at the same time. Each person brings a valid photo ID. Driver licenses, passports, state IDs, and military IDs are all accepted. U.S. citizens need to give their Social Security number. If either party was married before, the exact date the prior marriage ended must be included on the application.

Call the Gilchrist County clerk at (352) 463-3200 to check hours and ask about the process. The office is at the Gilchrist County Courthouse in Trenton. Walk-ins are typically accepted. Under Section 741.04 of Florida Statutes Chapter 741, both parties must sign an affidavit before the Gilchrist County clerk issues the license. Florida does not require a blood test. There is no residency rule, so anyone from out of state can come to Gilchrist County and get a license.

Gilchrist County Marriage License Fees

A Gilchrist County marriage license is $86 without a premarital course. Take a course and you pay $61 instead. The savings come from Section 741.0305 of the Florida Statutes, which gives a $25 reduction to couples who complete an approved course within one year of their application. The course also removes the three-day waiting period for Florida residents. Non-residents do not have to wait at all and can use the Gilchrist County license right away.

Under Section 741.041, the Gilchrist County license is valid for 60 days. It can be used anywhere in Florida. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and the couple returns it to the Gilchrist County clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it and sends the data to the state. One free certified copy goes to the couple.

Ceremonies at the clerk office cost $30. Under Section 741.07, ordained clergy, judges, clerks, and Florida notaries public can all perform marriage ceremonies in Gilchrist County.

Note: Gilchrist County is close to Gainesville in Alachua County, so some couples from that area apply for licenses in Trenton.

Certified Copies of Gilchrist County Records

Get certified copies of Gilchrist County marriage records at the clerk office in Trenton. You can visit in person or send a mail request with both spouse names, the marriage date, and payment. Call (352) 463-3200 to confirm the current fee.

The Florida Department of Health also holds Gilchrist County marriage certificates from June 6, 1927 to the present. The state fee is $5 for a search of one year plus one certified copy. Extra copies cost $4. Mail requests go to the Bureau of Vital Statistics at P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042. Use VitalChek to order online. It is the only vendor approved by the Florida Department of Health. VitalChek charges $15 plus a $7 processing fee. Gilchrist County marriages from before June 1927 only exist at the local clerk office in Trenton.

Processing at the state level takes 3 to 5 business days for records from 1970 onward. Older Gilchrist County marriage records stored in different formats need more time. The Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville handles all state requests.

Gilchrist County Public Records Access

Gilchrist County marriage records are public. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes opens all county records to public inspection. You do not need to state a reason for your request. Section 119.07 limits copy fees to 15 cents per page for plain copies and $1 for a certified copy as a base charge. The Gilchrist County clerk may add certification fees on top of the base amount.

Social Security numbers and bank account details are protected under Section 119.071. Everything else on a Gilchrist County marriage record stays open. Section 741.09 requires the Gilchrist County clerk to keep a correct record of every marriage license issued. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website has a directory of all 67 county clerk offices in the state.

Search Gilchrist County Marriage Records

Gilchrist County is small and online search tools for local records may be limited. The My Florida County Records portal may include some Gilchrist County official records in its statewide search. For certified copies, VitalChek provides online ordering of Gilchrist County marriage certificates from the state.

The Florida Department of Health website shows the process for requesting marriage certificates from any county in the state.

The state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville processes requests for Gilchrist County marriage records by mail and online.

For in-person searches of Gilchrist County marriage records, the clerk office in Trenton can look up files by name and date. Older records may be stored on paper or microfilm. The staff handles requests from people searching for Gilchrist County marriage records that were filed before any digital system existed. Bring as much detail as you can about the marriage to help with the search.

The VitalChek portal gives you online access to order certified Gilchrist County marriage certificates without visiting an office.

VitalChek is the only state-approved vendor for online orders of Florida marriage records from the Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Nearby Counties

These counties surround Gilchrist County in north-central Florida. Each one has a Clerk of the Circuit Court that handles marriage licenses and certified copies.