Find Hillsborough County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Hillsborough County go back to 1846, making it one of the oldest collections in Florida. The Clerk of Court in Tampa manages all marriage license applications and keeps the recorded files. You can get certified copies of Hillsborough County marriage records in person at the clerk office or by mail. The county also has a rich archive of historical marriage licenses available through the USF Tampa Library. For residents of Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, and other parts of Hillsborough County, the clerk office on Twiggs Street is the main place to go for all marriage license and certificate needs.

Hillsborough County Clerk of Court

The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court has its main office at 800 E. Twiggs St., Tampa, FL 33602. Call (813) 276-8100 for general inquiries about marriage licenses and records. The clerk handles license applications, ceremonies, and certified copy requests. Both parties must appear in person together with valid photo ID. U.S. citizens need their Social Security number. If either person has been married before, the exact date the prior marriage ended is required.

Hillsborough County charges $86 for a marriage license without a premarital course. The reduced rate is $61 with proof of course completion. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, the course must be taken within one year. It also waives the three-day waiting period that Florida residents normally face. Non-residents of Florida do not wait. The license is good for 60 days from the date it is issued and can be used anywhere in the state.

Note: Postage is charged for Hillsborough County marriage licenses and records that are mailed out.

Hillsborough Marriage Record Copies

Certified copies of Hillsborough County marriage records cost $7 without a record search or $9 with a record search included. The certificates can be purchased for any marriages recorded in Hillsborough County. The Hillsborough clerk's marriage and divorce records page has details on ordering copies. You can request them in person at the Tampa office or by mail. Mail requests should include a check or money order for the correct amount plus postage.

The Florida Department of Health also stores Hillsborough County marriage certificates from June 6, 1927 to the present. The state charges $5 for one search and one certified copy. Additional copies from the state are $4 each. For marriages before 1927, you have to go through the Hillsborough County clerk since the state did not collect marriage data before that date. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, all marriage records are public. Anyone can request a copy. No reason is needed.

After a ceremony, the completed license is returned to the Hillsborough County clerk for recording. Under Section 741.09, the clerk keeps a correct record of every license issued. The clerk then sends the data to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. This takes about 60 days. If you need proof of a recent Hillsborough County marriage right away, go directly to the clerk office in Tampa.

Hillsborough County Historical Records

Hillsborough County has some of the oldest marriage records in Florida. Marriage licenses from 1846 to 1964 are available at the USF Tampa Library Special Collections. Over 14,400 marriage licenses from 1878 to 1912 have been digitized and are viewable online through the university's digital collections. This is a rare resource for genealogy researchers who need Hillsborough County marriage records from the 19th century.

Printed indexes for Hillsborough County marriages from 1846 to 1877 and 1913 to 1964 are also housed in Special Collections at USF. These cover the gap between the digitized period and the modern clerk records. For more recent records, the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court is the right place. The clerk office has marriage license records from the mid-1960s forward in their own files.

If you are researching Hillsborough County marriage records from a long time ago, the combination of USF archives and the county clerk covers the full range back to 1846. Few Florida counties can match this depth. It gives researchers and family members a continuous line of marriage records spanning almost 180 years in Hillsborough County.

Hillsborough Marriage License Requirements

Florida law sets the same basic rules for every county. In Hillsborough County, both parties must be at least 18 to apply without parental consent. A 17-year-old can apply with written consent from both parents, but only if the other party is no more than two years older. No blood test is needed. Both parties show up together with valid photo ID at the clerk office in Tampa.

The application includes an affidavit that both parties must sign under Section 741.04. Both must also read the Family Law Handbook from the Florida Bar before applying. There is no residency or citizenship requirement. Anyone can get a Hillsborough County marriage license and use it to get married anywhere in Florida. The license is valid for 60 days per Section 741.041. Under Section 741.07, ceremonies can be performed by ordained ministers, any Florida judge, a clerk of court or deputy, or a Florida notary public.

• Valid photo ID for both parties
• Social Security number for U.S. citizens
• Date of last divorce or death of prior spouse if applicable
• $86 fee (or $61 with premarital course)
• Both parties present in person at the same time

After the ceremony, the signed license must go back to the Hillsborough County clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it and a certified copy is provided to the couple. This recorded license then becomes part of the county's official records and is forwarded to the state for permanent filing.

Note: The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website can help you find specific contact details for any clerk office in the state.

State Records for Hillsborough County

The Florida Department of Health keeps marriage certificates for Hillsborough County from June 6, 1927 to the present. You can order from the state by mail, in person at the Jacksonville office, or online through VitalChek. The state charges $5 for a search and one certified copy. VitalChek charges an extra $7 processing fee on top of the $15 state fee for online orders. Rush service costs $10 more.

When you order from the state, you need both spouse names, dates of birth, the marriage date, and the county where the license was issued. The state certificate is an abstract. It shows the basic facts of the marriage and proves it was recorded. If you need more detail, like the number of previous marriages, note that on your request. Processing takes 3 to 5 business days for records from 1970 forward. Older Hillsborough County records take longer.

Cities in Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County is a large county with Tampa as its county seat. All marriage licenses are issued by the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court. Select a city below for local information.

Nearby Counties

Hillsborough County borders several other Florida counties. If you need marriage records from a neighboring area, check below.