Palm Beach County Marriage Records

Marriage records from Palm Beach County are kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller in West Palm Beach. The clerk issues marriage licenses, handles ceremony requests, and stores all recorded licenses as part of the county's official records. Palm Beach County offers an online official records search where you can look up marriage licenses and print uncertified copies for free. You can also order certified copies online. Whether you need a record for legal use or personal research, the Palm Beach County clerk office has several ways to help. The office serves residents from West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, and all other Palm Beach County communities.

Palm Beach County Clerk Office

The Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller handles all marriage license services. The main office sits at 205 N. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Call (561) 355-2996 or email publicrecords@mypalmbeachclerk.com for questions. The clerk protects and maintains Palm Beach County's official records, which include court judgments, deeds, liens, marriage licenses, mortgages, plats, and tax deeds.

Both parties must come in person to apply for a Palm Beach County marriage license. You need a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver license, passport, military ID, or state ID card works. U.S. citizens provide their Social Security number. If you have been married before, bring the exact date your last marriage ended. Under Florida Statute 741.04, both parties sign an affidavit as part of the application process.

The standard marriage license fee in Palm Beach County is $86. With proof of a premarital course, the fee is $61. Civil ceremonies are available for $30. The license is valid for 60 days and can be used in any county in Florida. Florida residents face a three-day waiting period unless they have completed a premarital course. Non-residents can marry the same day the license is issued.

Palm Beach Marriage Records Online

Palm Beach County has a strong online records system. The clerk's records portal lets you search official records, including marriage licenses. You can view search results and print uncertified copies on your own printer for free. This is a good option if you just need to check a date or confirm that a marriage took place in Palm Beach County. It works for genealogy researchers too.

Certified copies are different. They carry the clerk's seal and are accepted as legal proof. You can order electronic certified copies of official records through the Palm Beach County clerk website. The ordering process is straightforward. Genealogy researchers often use this tool to find court records, mortgages, deeds, and marriage records from ancestors who lived in Palm Beach County. The marriage licenses and ceremonies page has full details.

Under Florida Statutes Chapter 119, marriage records are public. Section 119.07 says anyone can inspect and copy public records. The custodian must allow access at any reasonable time. Certain details like Social Security numbers are redacted under Section 119.071. But the core marriage record data stays open to anyone who asks.

Note: For Palm Beach County marriages from before June 6, 1927, you must contact the clerk directly since those records are not in the state system.

Getting Copies of Palm Beach Marriage Records

There are several ways to get copies of Palm Beach County marriage records. The simplest is the free online search. Go to the clerk's official records search, type in the names, and print what you find. These uncertified copies are fine for personal reference. If you need a certified copy for a legal purpose, you have two choices. Order online through the clerk's electronic certified copies service. Or visit the office in person at 205 N. Dixie Hwy. in West Palm Beach.

The state also holds Palm Beach County marriage certificates. The Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics has records from June 6, 1927 to the present. A state search with one certified copy costs $5. Each extra copy is $4. You can order from the state by mail, in person in Jacksonville, or online through VitalChek. The county route is often faster and cheaper for Palm Beach County marriage records if you know the marriage took place here.

After a ceremony, the signed marriage license goes back to the Palm Beach County clerk for recording. The clerk files it as part of the official records and sends the data to the state. This takes about 60 days. For a recent marriage, contact the Palm Beach County clerk office directly to get proof of your marriage faster than waiting for the state to process it.

Palm Beach Marriage License Process

Here is what you need to do to get a marriage license in Palm Beach County. The process follows Florida law and is the same at all county locations:

• Both parties come to the clerk office in person together
• Bring valid photo ID and know your Social Security number
• Provide the date your last marriage ended if applicable
• Read the Family Law Handbook before applying
• Pay $86 (or $61 with premarital course certificate)

The three-day waiting period applies to Florida residents under state law. Completing a premarital course from an approved provider waives this wait and cuts the fee by $25. The course must be done within one year of applying. Under Section 741.041, the Palm Beach County marriage license expires after 60 days. You must use it before then. A license issued in Palm Beach County can be used for a ceremony anywhere in Florida.

Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judges, clerks and their deputies, and notaries public of Florida can all perform the marriage ceremony. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and it must be returned to the Palm Beach County clerk within 10 days for recording. Under Section 741.09, the clerk keeps a correct record of every marriage license issued in the county.

Note: The Palm Beach County Clerk's office also handles public records requests by email at publicrecords@mypalmbeachclerk.com.

Cities in Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County covers a wide area with many cities. All marriage licenses come from the Palm Beach County Clerk. Pick a city below for local details.

Nearby Counties

If you need marriage records from a county next to Palm Beach, see the links below.