Lake County Marriage Records Search

Marriage records in Lake County are filed and maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Tavares. The Lake County Clerk issues all marriage licenses, records them after ceremonies, and provides copies to the public. You can look up Lake County marriage records through the clerk's website or at the courthouse. The clerk office handles a steady volume of marriage license applications and record requests. The state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville also has marriage certificates going back to June 1927 for every Florida county, Lake included. For records from before that date, the Lake County clerk is the only source. Start with the clerk office in Tavares or the state portal to find the marriage records you need.

Lake County Clerk of Court

The Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court is based in Tavares. You can reach the office at (352) 742-4100. The clerk handles all marriage license applications, recording, and copy requests. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Both people applying for a marriage license must show up together. Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID. The Lake County clerk accepts driver licenses from any state, passports, U.S. military IDs, and state identification cards. U.S. citizens also need their Social Security number on file.

Under Florida Statutes Chapter 741, the clerk issues licenses when no legal impediment exists. Section 741.04 requires both people to sign an affidavit with their true ages. If either party was married before, the exact end date is required. Both must also read the Family Law Handbook from the Florida Bar before applying. There is no residency or citizenship requirement. A Lake County marriage license can be used for a ceremony anywhere in the state of Florida.

Lake County Marriage License Fees

The fee for a marriage license in Lake County is $86 without a premarital course. With a course certificate, it drops to $61. Florida Statute 741.0305 sets the discount. The approved course must be completed within one year before the application. Course completion also waives the three-day waiting period for Florida residents. Couples from outside the state have no waiting period at all and can marry the same day they pick up the license in Lake County.

A Lake County license is good for 60 days from the date it is issued. That comes from Section 741.041. The license works anywhere in Florida. After the wedding, the signed license has to go back to the Lake County clerk within 10 days for recording. A ceremony at the clerk office costs $30. Under Section 741.07, ordained ministers, judges, clerks and their deputies, and notaries public of Florida can perform the ceremony. Once the clerk records the license, the couple gets a certified copy. The data then goes to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics for permanent storage.

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

Search Lake County Marriage Records Online

The Lake County Clerk website provides information about official record searches. Some Florida county clerks offer online search tools where you can look up marriage licenses by name. Check the Lake County clerk site or call (352) 742-4100 to find out what online access is available. For in-person searches, the courthouse in Tavares handles requests during business hours.

Marriage records are public in Florida. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes gives anyone the right to inspect and copy public records. Section 119.07 requires the custodian to allow this at any reasonable time. You do not have to be named on the record or give a reason for wanting it. Social Security numbers and bank details are protected under Section 119.071, but all other Lake County marriage record information stays public.

The My Florida County Records site is a state-run portal that covers official records in many Florida counties. It can be a useful first step when searching for a Lake County marriage license without visiting the courthouse.

Lake County Clerk Website

The Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains an online presence at lakecountyclerk.org. The site provides details about marriage license services, fees, and how to request records. Below is a view of the clerk's website.

From the clerk site, you can find office hours, directions to the Tavares courthouse, and contact numbers. The Lake County clerk handles everything from new license applications to copies of older marriage records. If you need help finding a specific record, the office staff can assist with searches by name and date.

State Marriage Certificates for Lake County

The Florida Department of Health keeps marriage certificates from June 6, 1927 to the present for every county in the state. A Lake County marriage certificate from the state is an abstract showing both names, the marriage date, and the county. It is accepted as proof that the marriage was recorded. The fee is $5 for a one-year search and one certified copy. Extra copies run $4 each. If you do not know the year, each additional year costs $2, up to a cap of $50.

You can order by mail to P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042 or walk in at 1217 N Pearl Street in Jacksonville. Online orders go through VitalChek, the only vendor the state contracts with. VitalChek charges $15 state fee plus $7 processing. UPS shipping is extra. Processing takes 3 to 5 business days for records from 1970 on. Older records take longer. After a ceremony in Lake County, the data reaches the state about 60 days later. For very recent marriages, go to the Lake County clerk for a copy instead of the state.

Lake County License Requirements

Florida law sets the same rules in every county. Both people must be at least 18 to get a Lake County marriage license without parental consent. A 17-year-old can marry with written consent from both parents, provided the other party is no more than two years older. Both applicants appear at the clerk office with their ID and Social Security number. The process moves fast for most couples.

• Both parties in person at the Lake County clerk in Tavares
• Valid photo ID and Social Security number each
• Exact date of prior marriage end if applicable
• Payment of $86 or $61 with premarital course
• Three-day wait for Florida residents without course
• License valid 60 days in any Florida county

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory lists all 67 county clerks. Under Section 741.09, the Lake County clerk keeps a correct record of every license issued. After recording, the couple gets one free certified copy and the data goes to the state.

Cities in Lake County

Lake County includes the growing cities of Clermont and Leesburg. All marriage licenses for these communities are issued through the Lake County Clerk of Court in Tavares.

Nearby Counties

Lake County is in central Florida, surrounded by several other counties. Each has its own clerk office for marriage license and record services.