Okeechobee County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Okeechobee County are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the city of Okeechobee, the county seat. The clerk office issues marriage licenses, records completed licenses after ceremonies, and provides certified copies. Okeechobee County is in south-central Florida, near Lake Okeechobee. It is a rural county with a small population, so all marriage license services run through the single clerk office at the courthouse. If you need to search for an Okeechobee County marriage record, apply for a license, or get a certified copy, this page explains how each part of the process works and who to contact.

Okeechobee County Clerk of Court

The Okeechobee County Clerk of the Circuit Court is the office that handles marriage licenses for the county. Call (863) 763-2131 to reach them. Both parties must appear in person together to apply. Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID. Driver licenses from any U.S. state, passports, military IDs, state ID cards, and alien registration cards are accepted. U.S. citizens must also give their Social Security number.

If either person has been married before, the exact date the previous marriage ended is required. Divorce, death, annulment, whatever the case. You need the date. Under Florida Statutes Chapter 741, Section 741.04, both parties sign an affidavit that states their true ages and confirms nothing prevents the marriage. There is no residency or citizenship requirement, so anyone can apply for an Okeechobee County marriage license.

Both parties must read the Family Law Handbook prepared by the Florida Bar. The Okeechobee County clerk should have copies at the office. This is a statewide requirement.

Okeechobee County Marriage License Fees

The cost of a marriage license in Okeechobee County is $86 without a premarital course. Take an approved course and the price drops to $61 under Florida Statute 741.0305. The course must be finished within one year of the application. It also waives the three-day waiting period that Florida residents otherwise face. Non-Florida residents do not have a waiting period at all.

The $86 total includes the $2 application fee and $25 Domestic Violence Trust Fund charge set by Section 741.01. Civil ceremonies, if the clerk offers them, cost $30. Payment options at the Okeechobee County clerk office may be limited since it is a smaller county. Cash and money orders are safe choices. Call ahead at (863) 763-2131 to verify what forms of payment they accept and what the certified copy fees are. Most Florida counties charge between $2.50 and $9 for the first certified copy of a marriage license.

Note: A returned check carries a $15 surcharge under Florida law.

Searching Okeechobee County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Okeechobee County are public under Florida Statutes Chapter 119. Section 119.07 gives every person the right to inspect and copy public records. You do not need to be a spouse or relative. No reason is required. The Okeechobee County clerk keeps the original marriage licenses at the courthouse. Social Security numbers and some other protected information are blacked out on copies per Section 119.071.

The My Florida County Records portal provides online access to official records from many Florida counties. This may include Okeechobee County recorded documents. It is a good first step before calling or visiting the courthouse if you are searching for an Okeechobee County marriage record from out of the area.

For state-level certificates, the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics has records from June 6, 1927 to the present. A search of one year plus one certified copy costs $5. Order by mail, in person at the Jacksonville office, or online through VitalChek ($15 state fee plus $7 processing). Records from before 1927 are only at the Okeechobee County clerk office.

After the Ceremony in Okeechobee County

Once the ceremony is done, the officiant signs the marriage license. The completed license must go back to the Okeechobee County clerk within 10 days. Under Section 741.09, the clerk records it into the official records and then sends the information to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. That process takes about 60 days. If you got married recently and need proof before the state has it, call the Okeechobee County clerk at (863) 763-2131.

Florida Statute 741.07 authorizes ordained ministers, judges, clerks and their deputies, and Florida notaries public to perform ceremonies. The Okeechobee County clerk may offer civil ceremonies for $30 at the courthouse. After recording, the couple gets one free certified copy. Additional copies cost a small fee.

Premarital Course for Okeechobee County

Taking a premarital preparation course is not required to get a marriage license in Okeechobee County. But it helps. You save $25 on the license fee and skip the three-day wait. The course must be done within one year of the application. Approved providers offer both in-person and online options. Topics include communication, conflict resolution, and financial management.

Present the certificate of completion to the Okeechobee County clerk at the time of application. The license takes effect the same day it is issued instead of three days later. For couples who want to get married quickly in Okeechobee County, this is the simplest way to make it happen without delay. Florida Statute 741.0305 sets the rules for the course and the fee reduction.

Nearby Counties

Okeechobee County is surrounded by several counties in central and south Florida. Each has its own clerk office for marriage records. If your search does not find what you need in Okeechobee County, try one of these neighbors.