Nassau County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Nassau County are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Fernandina Beach. Nassau County sits in the northeast corner of Florida, just north of Jacksonville and Duval County. The clerk office at the courthouse is the only place to apply for a marriage license, search for existing records, or get certified copies within the county. Amelia Island, one of the most well-known spots in Nassau County, attracts destination weddings year-round. All marriage license services for the county go through the Fernandina Beach office. State-level certificates from the Florida Department of Health cover Nassau County marriages from June 1927 onward.

Nassau County Clerk of Court

The Nassau County Clerk of the Circuit Court in Fernandina Beach processes all marriage license applications. You can call the office at (904) 548-4600. Both parties must appear in person at the same time. Valid government-issued photo ID is required. The clerk accepts driver licenses, passports, military IDs, state ID cards, and alien registration cards. U.S. citizens and residents need to provide their Social Security number as well.

If either party was married before, the exact date the last marriage ended is required. Under Florida Statutes Chapter 741, Section 741.04, both people sign an affidavit confirming their ages and that no legal bar prevents the marriage. There is no residency requirement. You do not need to live in Nassau County or Florida to get a license here. Both parties must read the Family Law Handbook from the Florida Bar before the clerk will issue the license.

Note: The Nassau County clerk office may have limited hours for marriage services, so call ahead to confirm before visiting.

Nassau County Marriage License Fees

A marriage license in Nassau County costs $86 without a premarital course. Couples who present proof of an approved premarital course pay $61. Florida Statute 741.0305 sets this discount. The course must be completed within one year before the application. Taking it also waives the three-day waiting period for Florida residents. Non-residents skip the wait regardless.

The $86 fee includes the $2 application charge and $25 Domestic Violence Trust Fund fee under Section 741.01. If the Nassau County clerk offers civil ceremonies, the cost is $30. Check with the office on ceremony availability. Payment options at the Nassau County clerk typically include cash and money orders. Credit cards may be accepted with a surcharge. Certified copies of recorded marriage licenses have a separate fee, usually between $2.50 and $9 for the first copy in most Florida counties.

Searching Nassau County Marriage Records

Nassau County marriage records are public documents under Florida Statutes Chapter 119. Section 119.07 says anyone can inspect or copy public records at any reasonable time. You do not need to be named on the marriage license to request a search or a copy. The Nassau County clerk in Fernandina Beach keeps the original licenses on file. Some records may be available through the clerk website as well.

The My Florida County Records portal is another way to search across Florida counties online. Social Security numbers and certain protected details are redacted from copies under Section 119.071. The rest of the marriage record is fully open to the public.

For marriages after June 6, 1927, the Florida Department of Health has state-level certificates. A certificate costs $5 for one year of search plus one certified copy. Extra copies are $4 each. Order online through VitalChek for $15 plus $7 processing. Records before 1927 exist only at the Nassau County clerk office.

After the Ceremony in Nassau County

The signed marriage license must be returned to the Nassau County clerk within 10 days after the ceremony. Under Section 741.09, the clerk records the license into the official records. The data then goes to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. This takes about 60 days. If you need proof of your Nassau County marriage before the state has it, contact the clerk at (904) 548-4600. The couple gets one free certified copy after the clerk records the license.

Florida Statute 741.07 authorizes several types of officials to perform marriage ceremonies. Ordained ministers, judges, clerks and their deputies, and Florida notaries public can all officiate. In Nassau County, the courthouse in Fernandina Beach may offer civil ceremonies for $30. Many couples who marry on Amelia Island use private officiants, but the license still must come back to the Nassau County clerk for recording.

Nassau County Waiting Period

Florida residents face a three-day waiting period after getting a marriage license in Nassau County. The license is not effective until three days after it is issued. Non-residents can use it right away. The other way to skip the wait is a premarital preparation course. Completing one and showing the certificate to the Nassau County clerk makes the license effective on the day it is issued.

Many couples who come to Amelia Island for a destination wedding are from out of state and do not face this issue. But if you live in Florida and want to get married in Nassau County without delay, the premarital course is worth it. You save $25 on the fee and avoid coming back three days later. The course must be done within one year of the application under Florida Statute 741.0305.

Note: The license stays valid for 60 days from the effective date and can be used anywhere in Florida, not just in Nassau County.

Nearby Counties

Nassau County borders two other Florida counties. If you are looking for marriage records from a neighboring area, contact the clerk offices below.