Jefferson County Marriage Records Lookup

Marriage records in Jefferson County are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the courthouse in Monticello. The clerk issues new marriage licenses, records completed ones after the ceremony, and stores them as part of the official county files. You can search for Jefferson County marriage records by calling the clerk, visiting the office, or making a mail request. State marriage certificates are also available through the Florida Department of Health for marriages from June 1927 forward. Records from before that year only exist at the Jefferson County clerk office. This small county in the Big Bend region of Florida keeps its marriage records at the same courthouse where the license was originally issued.

Jefferson County Clerk of Court

The Jefferson County Clerk of the Circuit Court sits at the courthouse in Monticello. Call (850) 342-0218 for any questions about marriage licenses or record searches. The clerk office is open on regular weekday hours. Both people must be there in person at the same time to apply. Each brings a valid photo ID. Driver licenses, passports, military IDs, and state ID cards all work. U.S. citizens need their Social Security number too.

The rules come from Florida Statutes Chapter 741. Section 741.01 says the clerk issues licenses when there is no impediment. Both parties sign an affidavit per Section 741.04 with their correct ages. Anyone who was married before gives the exact date that marriage ended. The Family Law Handbook from the Florida Bar must be read before you apply. There is no residency rule. A Jefferson County marriage license is good anywhere in the state.

Note: Jefferson County is one of the least populous counties in Florida, so wait times at the clerk office tend to be short.

Marriage License Fees in Jefferson County

A marriage license costs $86 in Jefferson County. Couples with a premarital course certificate pay $61 instead. Florida Statute 741.0305 provides the $25 discount and waives the three-day waiting period. The course must be done within one year of the application. Non-Florida residents have no waiting period regardless of course completion. Once issued, a Jefferson County license is valid for 60 days under Section 741.041. You can marry anywhere in the state with it.

The clerk office can also perform a ceremony for $30. Under Section 741.07, ministers, judges, clerks, and Florida notaries public are authorized to officiate weddings. After the ceremony, wherever it takes place, the signed license must be returned to the Jefferson County clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it into the official records and sends the information to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. The whole transfer to the state takes about 60 days.

Looking Up Jefferson County Marriage Records

Jefferson County does not have an online portal for marriage record searches. Contact the clerk office in Monticello at (850) 342-0218 or visit in person. The clerk can look up records by name and date. Under Florida Statutes Chapter 119, marriage records are public. Section 119.07 gives any person the right to inspect and copy them. You do not have to be one of the people named on the record. Social Security numbers and bank information get redacted under Section 119.071. Other information stays open.

The Florida Department of Health holds state marriage certificates from 1927 onward. A search costs $5 for one year and one copy. You can order by mail, walk in at the Jacksonville office, or use VitalChek online. VitalChek charges $15 state fee plus $7 processing. The My Florida County Records portal is another way to search official records across Florida counties from your computer.

Certified Copies of Jefferson County Records

Certified copies of Jefferson County marriage licenses come from the clerk office in Monticello. Fees vary but typically fall between $2.50 and $9 at Florida county offices. Call (850) 342-0218 to find out the exact cost. Include both spouse names and the marriage date when making a request. Under Section 741.09, the clerk keeps a correct record of every license issued in Jefferson County. After a ceremony, the couple gets one free certified copy once the license is recorded.

State-issued certificates are also available from the Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl Street in Jacksonville. The fee is $5 for a search and one copy. Extra copies cost $4. Mail orders go to P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042 with a check or money order to Vital Statistics. Do not send cash. State processing takes 3 to 5 business days for records from 1970 to the present. Older records take longer. A state certificate serves as legal proof that a Jefferson County marriage was finalized.

Jefferson County Marriage Process

Both people need to be at least 18. A 17-year-old can get a license with written parental consent, as long as the other party is no more than two years older. The steps are the same in Jefferson County as anywhere in Florida:

• Both parties go to the clerk office in Monticello together
• Bring photo ID and Social Security number
• Pay $86 or $61 with a premarital course
• Wait three days if a Florida resident without a course
• Marry within 60 days anywhere in Florida

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website lists contact information for all 67 county clerks. Jefferson County is a small office, but it handles the same statutory duties as every other clerk in the state. After the ceremony, the signed license goes back to Monticello for recording. The data then reaches the state Bureau of Vital Statistics about 60 days later.

Use the Florida Clerks Association directory above to find the Jefferson County clerk and all other county clerk offices in the state.

Nearby Counties

Jefferson County sits between Tallahassee and the Big Bend coast. If your marriage record search takes you to a neighboring county, each has its own clerk office.