Find Okaloosa County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Okaloosa County are held by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, with the main office in Crestview. Okaloosa County is in the Florida Panhandle and includes communities like Fort Walton Beach, Destin, and Niceville. The county has a large military presence due to Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, which means the clerk office regularly handles license applications from active-duty service members and their families. Whether you are looking for an existing Okaloosa County marriage record or planning to get a new license, the clerk office is where all of it happens. State-level certificates are also available from the Florida Department of Health for marriages dating back to June 1927.

Okaloosa County Clerk of Court

The Okaloosa County Clerk of the Circuit Court handles all marriage license applications for the county. The main courthouse is in Crestview, the county seat. You can reach the clerk at (850) 651-7200. Both people applying for the license must appear at the same time. Each person needs valid government-issued photo ID. Driver licenses, passports, military IDs, state ID cards, and alien registration cards are all accepted. U.S. citizens must provide a Social Security number.

Military members stationed at Eglin or Hurlburt Field can use their military ID as valid identification. If either party was married before, the exact date the prior marriage ended is required. It does not matter how it ended. Under Florida Statutes Chapter 741, Section 741.04, both parties sign an affidavit with their true ages and eligibility. No residency or citizenship requirement applies.

Note: Both applicants must read the Family Law Handbook from the Florida Bar before the Okaloosa County clerk will issue the license.

Okaloosa County Marriage License Fees

A marriage license in Okaloosa County costs $86 without a premarital course. With proof of an approved course, the fee drops to $61. Florida Statute 741.0305 provides this discount and also waives the three-day waiting period for Florida residents. The premarital course must be completed within one year before the application date. Non-residents of Florida do not wait regardless of whether they took a course.

The $86 fee includes the $2 application charge and $25 Domestic Violence Trust Fund fee required by Section 741.01. Civil ceremonies at the Okaloosa County clerk office cost $30 if available. The clerk accepts cash, money orders, and most major credit cards. A surcharge may apply to card payments. Certified copies of recorded Okaloosa County marriage licenses have a separate fee, typically between $2.50 and $9 for the first copy.

For state-level certificates, the Florida Department of Health charges $5 for a one-year search plus one certified copy. Additional copies run $4 each. Online orders through VitalChek cost $15 for the state fee plus $7 for processing.

Searching Okaloosa County Marriage Records

The Okaloosa County Clerk website may offer online tools for searching official records, including recorded marriage licenses. You can also visit the courthouse in Crestview in person or call (850) 651-7200 to request a search. The My Florida County Records portal covers official records from many Florida counties and is useful when searching across county lines.

Marriage records in Okaloosa County are public under Florida Statutes Chapter 119. Anyone can inspect and copy them. Section 119.07 guarantees this right. You do not need to be named on the record or explain why you want it. Social Security numbers and some other sensitive data get redacted under Section 119.071. The rest of the marriage record stays open for public viewing.

Records before June 6, 1927 are only at the county level. The state did not collect marriage data until that date. For newer records, the Florida Department of Health has state-level certificates. Processing takes 3 to 5 business days for records from 1970 onward. Older records need more time.

Ceremonies and Recording in Okaloosa County

Florida Statute 741.07 lists who can officiate a marriage. Ordained ministers, judges, clerks of the circuit court and their deputies, and Florida notaries public all have the authority. Many Okaloosa County couples choose private officiants for beach ceremonies in Fort Walton Beach or Destin. The clerk office in Crestview may perform civil ceremonies for $30 as well.

After the ceremony, the signed license must be returned to the Okaloosa County clerk within 10 days. Section 741.09 requires the clerk to keep a correct record of all licenses. The clerk records the completed license and sends the data to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics, which takes about 60 days. One free certified copy goes to the couple after the license is recorded. If you need proof of your marriage before the state has it, the Okaloosa County clerk can help.

The license is valid for 60 days from the effective date under Section 741.041. It can be used anywhere in the state. A license from Okaloosa County does not limit you to having the ceremony in Okaloosa County. But the completed license must be returned here for recording.

Military Marriages in Okaloosa County

Okaloosa County sees many marriage licenses issued to military personnel from Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field. Active-duty members can use their military ID as one form of identification. The process is the same as for civilians. Both parties appear in person, sign the affidavit, and pay the fee. Military members stationed in Okaloosa County who are Florida residents still face the three-day waiting period unless they take a premarital course.

Non-resident military members who are stationed in Florida but maintain legal residence in another state may or may not be considered Florida residents for the waiting period. Call the Okaloosa County clerk at (850) 651-7200 to clarify your situation. The clerk staff deal with military applicants regularly and can walk you through the requirements specific to your case.

Cities in Okaloosa County

All marriage licenses in Okaloosa County are issued through the county clerk office. The cities below have their own pages with more local information about marriage records.

Nearby Counties

Okaloosa County is in the Panhandle. These neighboring counties have their own clerk offices for marriage records.