Leon County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Leon County are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Tallahassee, the county seat and state capital. The clerk issues marriage licenses, performs civil ceremonies, and keeps the official record of every license filed in the county. You can search Leon County marriage records through the clerk office or request certified copies by mail, online, or in person. Tallahassee is the only city in Leon County over the population threshold, and all marriage license services run through this single clerk office. Whether you need a new license or a copy of an old one, the Leon County clerk handles both from the same location downtown.

Leon County Clerk of Court

The Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court office in Tallahassee handles all marriage license services for the county. You can reach them at (850) 577-4000. Both parties must appear in person at the same time to apply for a marriage license. A valid government-issued photo ID is required for each person. Accepted forms include a driver license from any U.S. state, a passport, military ID, state ID card, or alien registration card. U.S. citizens must also provide their Social Security number.

If either person has been married before, the exact date of the last divorce, death, or annulment must be provided. This is a firm rule across all Florida counties, and Leon County is no different. The clerk will not issue a license without this information. Both parties also sign an affidavit under Florida Statutes Chapter 741, Section 741.04, confirming their ages and eligibility.

Before applying, both parties must read the Family Law Handbook prepared by the Florida Bar. The Leon County clerk office has copies on hand.

Marriage License Fees in Leon County

A marriage license in Leon County costs $86 without a premarital course. Couples who complete an approved premarital preparation course pay $61 instead. The reduced fee is set by Florida Statute 741.0305. The course must be done within one year of applying. Completing it also waives the three-day waiting period that Florida residents face. Non-residents of Florida do not have a waiting period regardless. Civil marriage ceremonies performed by the Leon County clerk cost $30 on top of the license fee.

Leon County accepts several payment methods at the clerk window. Cash and money orders are taken. Most major credit cards work too, though a surcharge may apply. Personal checks are not accepted at many Florida clerk offices, so call ahead if that is your only option. Certified copies of recorded marriage licenses have a separate fee. Most Florida counties charge between $2.50 and $9 for the first certified copy. The Leon County clerk can give you exact copy costs when you call at (850) 577-4000.

Note: The $86 license fee includes the $2 application fee and $25 Domestic Violence Trust Fund fee required by Section 741.01.

Leon County Marriage Records Search

You can search for Leon County marriage records through the clerk office. The My Florida County Records portal also provides access to official records from many Florida counties, including Leon. This is a good starting point if you are not sure which county issued a particular license. The state-level search covers marriage records that have been recorded into the official records system.

Under Florida Statutes Chapter 119, marriage records are public. Section 119.07 says any person can inspect and copy public records at any reasonable time. You do not need to be named on the record. No reason is required to look something up. Certain details like Social Security numbers are redacted under Section 119.071, but the core marriage record stays open to the public in Leon County.

For records from before June 6, 1927, you must go to the Leon County clerk directly. The state Bureau of Vital Statistics only keeps marriage certificates from that date forward. Older Leon County marriage records are held at the county level and may be on microfilm or in physical archives at the courthouse in Tallahassee.

State Marriage Certificates for Leon County

The Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics keeps marriage certificates from June 6, 1927 to the present. This includes marriages recorded in Leon County. After a ceremony, the signed license goes back to the Leon County clerk. The clerk records it and sends the information to the state. This process takes about 60 days. If you need proof of a Leon County marriage sooner than that, contact the clerk office at (850) 577-4000 rather than the state bureau.

State fees are $5 for a search of one calendar year plus one certified copy. Additional copies cost $4 each. The search fee is nonrefundable. You can order from the state by mail, in person at the Jacksonville office, or online through VitalChek. VitalChek is the only contracted vendor for the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. Online orders cost $15 for the state fee plus $7 for VitalChek processing. Rush service adds $10 and applies to walk-in requests for pre-1970 records.

Processing takes 3 to 5 business days for records from 1970 onward. Older records need more time. Mail orders go to P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042. Make your check payable to Vital Statistics. The state will not accept cash by mail.

Who Can Perform Ceremonies in Leon County

Florida Statute 741.07 lists who may solemnize a marriage. Ordained ministers and elders in communion with a church can do it. All judicial officers in Florida, including judges, have the authority. Clerks of the Circuit Court and their deputies can perform ceremonies too. Florida notaries public are also authorized. The Leon County clerk office offers civil ceremonies for $30. This is a simple option if you do not want a religious ceremony or a large event.

Once the ceremony is done, the officiant signs the marriage license. The completed license must be returned to the Leon County clerk within 10 days. Under Section 741.09, the clerk keeps a correct record of all licenses issued and records the completed license into the official records. The couple then gets one free certified copy by mail from the clerk. Any Leon County marriage license is valid anywhere in Florida for 60 days from the issue date, per Section 741.041.

Cities in Leon County

Tallahassee is the main city in Leon County and the state capital. All marriage license services for the city go through the Leon County Clerk of Court.

Nearby Counties

Counties that border Leon County have their own clerk offices for marriage records. If a marriage took place in a neighboring county, you will need to contact that county's clerk.