Search Hendry County Marriage Records

Marriage records for Hendry County are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in LaBelle. The clerk issues marriage licenses, records them after the ceremony, and keeps the county's official marriage files. If you need to find a Hendry County marriage record, you can visit the courthouse in LaBelle or contact the clerk by phone. Certified copies are available for a fee. The state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville also holds marriage certificates from 1927 to the present for all Florida counties, including Hendry. For records that go further back than 1927, the Hendry County clerk is the sole source. Getting a marriage license or looking up an old record both start at the same office in LaBelle.

Hendry County Clerk Office

The Hendry County Clerk of the Circuit Court is located at the courthouse in LaBelle. Call (863) 675-5217 for information about marriage licenses or records. The office handles license applications, ceremonies, and record searches during regular weekday hours. Both parties must appear together in person to apply for a marriage license. You need a valid government-issued photo ID. Accepted forms include a driver license from any U.S. state, a passport, military ID, or a state ID card. U.S. citizens must also give their Social Security number.

Under Florida Statutes Chapter 741, the clerk issues licenses when no impediment exists. Section 741.04 says both people must sign an affidavit stating their true ages. If either party has been married before, the exact date the prior marriage ended is required. Both parties must read the Family Law Handbook put out by the Florida Bar before they can apply for a Hendry County marriage license. There is no residency requirement. You can apply in Hendry County and marry anywhere in the state.

Hendry County Marriage License Fees

The fee for a marriage license in Hendry County is $86 without a premarital course. With proof of completing an approved course, the cost drops to $61. Florida Statute 741.0305 sets this discount. The course has to be done within one year before the application date. Taking the course also gets rid of the three-day waiting period that Florida residents face. Non-residents can marry right away without a course or a wait.

A Hendry County marriage license stays valid for 60 days. Section 741.041 sets that time frame. It works anywhere in Florida, not just in Hendry County. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and it must come back to the Hendry County clerk within 10 days for recording. The clerk office also performs ceremonies for $30 if you want a simple wedding at the courthouse. Under Section 741.07, ministers, judges, clerks, and Florida notaries public are all allowed to officiate.

Note: The $86 fee includes a $2 application charge and a $25 Domestic Violence Trust Fund contribution required by state law.

Finding Hendry County Marriage Records

Hendry County does not have a public online search portal for marriage records at this time. You need to contact the clerk office in LaBelle to look up a record. Call (863) 675-5217 or visit the courthouse. The clerk can search by the names of the parties and the approximate date. Marriage records in Florida are public under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Section 119.07 says any person can inspect and copy public records. You do not need to explain why you want the record or prove any connection to the people named on it.

The My Florida County Records site may help if you want to try an online search of official records across Florida counties. Some counties participate in this state-run portal. For Hendry County marriage certificates from 1927 on, you can also request them from the Florida Department of Health. The state fee is $5 for a search of one year and one certified copy. You can order by mail to P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042, or online through VitalChek for $15 plus $7 processing.

Records before June 6, 1927 only exist at the Hendry County clerk office. The state did not begin collecting marriage data until that date. For old records, a trip to the courthouse in LaBelle or a phone call is your best option.

Certified Copies from Hendry County

Certified copies of Hendry County marriage licenses come from the clerk office. The cost varies but generally falls between $2.50 and $9 for the first copy at most Florida county offices. Call the clerk at (863) 675-5217 to confirm the exact fee. You can request copies in person at the courthouse in LaBelle or send a written request by mail. Include both spouse names, the date of marriage, and your payment with the request.

If you need a state-issued marriage certificate instead of the county license copy, the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville is the source. State certificates cost $5 for a search and one copy. Extra copies are $4 each. The state certificate is an abstract that shows both names, the marriage date, and the county where the license was issued. It is accepted as legal proof that a marriage was recorded. Under Section 741.09, the Hendry County clerk keeps a correct record of every license issued and sends the data to the state after recording.

Hendry County Marriage Requirements

Florida law sets the requirements for getting married. They are the same in Hendry County as in every other county. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. A 17-year-old can marry with written consent from both parents, but only if the other party is not more than two years older. Both people must appear at the Hendry County clerk office together. Each person needs a valid photo ID and their Social Security number.

• Both parties present in person with valid photo ID
• Social Security number for U.S. citizens
• Date of last marriage ending if previously married
• $86 fee or $61 with premarital course
• Three-day wait for Florida residents unless course is completed

After you get your license, you have 60 days to use it. Pick any spot in Florida for the ceremony. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website has a full directory of all 67 county clerk offices if you want to compare procedures or find a different location. The signed license goes back to the issuing Hendry County clerk for recording, no matter where the wedding takes place in Florida.

The Florida Clerks Association directory shown above helps you find the Hendry County clerk and every other county clerk office in the state. Use it to locate contact info and services for marriage records across Florida.

Nearby Counties

Hendry County is in southwest Florida. These neighboring counties each have their own clerk office where marriage licenses are issued and records are kept.