Marion County Marriage Records Lookup

Marion County marriage records are available through the Clerk of Court and Comptroller in Ocala. The clerk office issues licenses, performs ceremonies, and keeps the official record of every marriage in the county. Marion County has one of the better online systems in the state with a marriage license kiosk that lets you start your application from home. Recorded marriage licenses from 1965 to the present can be viewed online as well. If you need to search for a record or apply for a new license, the Marion County Clerk office in Ocala handles it all. Older records from before 1965 are stored on microfilm at the courthouse and can be accessed in person.

Marion County Clerk of Court

The Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller handles all marriage license services from its office in Ocala. The office is on the first floor at 110 NW 1st Avenue, Room 126. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Both parties must appear in person to apply for a marriage license. You need a valid photo ID and Social Security number. If either person was married before, bring the exact date the prior marriage ended.

Under Florida Statutes Chapter 741, Section 741.04, both parties must sign an affidavit with their correct ages. No blood test is needed. There is no residency requirement. Anyone can get a Florida marriage license from the Marion County Clerk as long as they meet the basic rules.

Marion County Marriage License Kiosk

Marion County offers an online marriage license kiosk that lets you begin the application process from home. You enter both spouses' information and proof of identification details. After submitting the online form, both parties still need to visit the Ocala office to finish the application in person. The kiosk speeds things up because the clerk already has your data when you walk in.

The kiosk is a pre-application tool. It does not replace the in-person visit. Both people must show up together with their IDs. But for couples who want to save time at the counter, it is a good option. Walk-ins are also welcome at the Marion County Clerk office. The kiosk is just an extra convenience. Not every Florida county has this kind of online tool for marriage licenses.

Marion County Marriage Fees

The standard marriage license fee in Marion County is $86. With a premarital course certificate, it drops to $61 and the three-day waiting period goes away. Florida Statute 741.0305 provides this benefit. The course must be completed within one year of applying. A $2 application charge and $25 for the Domestic Violence Trust Fund are built into the total under Section 741.01.

Copy fees for Marion County marriage records are reasonable. Regular copies cost $1 per page. A certified copy adds $2 for the certification. A search by name and year is $2. These fees make it affordable to get older Marion County marriage records from the clerk office. For records from the state level, the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics charges $5 for a search and one certified copy. Each extra copy is $4.

Note: Marion County's $1 per page copy rate is among the lowest in Florida for marriage record copies.

Marion County Clerk Online

The Marion County Clerk website is the main portal for court records, official records, marriage licenses, and other county services. Here is a view of the clerk homepage.

From this site you can access the marriage license kiosk, search official records, and find contact details for the Ocala office. Marriage licenses recorded from 1965 to the present can be viewed through the official records search. Records before 1965 are on microfilm and only available in person at the courthouse.

The VitalChek service handles online orders for state-level marriage certificates at $15 plus $7 processing. You can also order by phone at 1-877-550-7330. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory can help you reach the Marion County office or any other clerk in the state for marriage records.

Public Access to Marion Records

Marriage records in Marion County are public. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes gives everyone the right to inspect and copy public records. You do not need to explain why you want the record. Section 119.07 sets copy rates at up to 15 cents per page for standard copies and $1 for certified copies under the state fee schedule. Marion County has its own rate of $1 per page plus $2 for certification.

Social Security numbers and financial details are removed from public copies under Section 119.071. The marriage date, both spouses' names, and the county are all part of the open record. Under Section 741.09, the Marion County Clerk must keep a correct record of every license issued. This makes the clerk office the primary local source. The My Florida County Records portal also lets you search official records across multiple counties if you are not sure where a marriage was filed.

Marion County Marriage Ceremonies

The Marion County Clerk can perform marriage ceremonies at the Ocala office. Under Florida Statute 741.07, clerks of the circuit court and their deputies have the authority to perform marriages. Other authorized persons include ordained ministers, judges, and notaries public. The ceremony fee at the clerk office is $30. After the ceremony, the signed license must be returned to the Marion County Clerk within 10 days for recording.

Once recorded, the clerk sends the data to the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. This takes about 60 days. Until the state receives the record, the Marion County Clerk is the only source for proof of the marriage. The couple gets one free certified copy after the license is recorded. For anyone looking for a Marion County marriage record from years past, the clerk office and the state bureau are both valid sources depending on how far back you need to go.

Cities in Marion County

Marion County cities and communities get their marriage licenses from the Marion County Clerk office in Ocala.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Marion County. Each has a separate Clerk of Court that handles marriage records.