Pinellas County Marriage Records Lookup

Marriage records in Pinellas County are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. The clerk's Recording Services division handles marriage licenses, ceremonies, and records for the entire county. Pinellas County has one of the longest-running online marriage record archives in Florida, with searchable licenses dating back to May 1972. You can look up records online, order copies, or visit one of the three clerk office locations in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, or the North County office. Residents of Largo, Pinellas Park, Dunedin, and other Pinellas County communities all use this same clerk office for their marriage license needs.

Pinellas County Clerk Office

The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller operates out of the Clearwater Courthouse as its main location, Room 150. Call (727) 464-3341 for questions about marriage licenses or records. The clerk also has branch offices in St. Petersburg and North County. All three locations handle marriage license applications and issue licenses.

Under Florida Statute 741.01, the Pinellas County clerk acts as an agent of the state to issue marriage licenses within the county. Both parties must apply in person at the same time with valid photo ID. U.S. citizens need their Social Security number. The clerk accepts driver licenses, passports, military IDs, state ID cards, and alien registration cards. If you were married before, you must give the exact date of your divorce, death of spouse, or annulment.

No appointment is needed for license applications or ceremonies in Pinellas County. Walk-ins are accepted at all locations during business hours.

Pinellas Marriage License Fees

The standard marriage license fee in Pinellas County is $86. With proof of a premarital preparation course, the fee is $61. A civil marriage ceremony at the clerk office costs $30. The clerk also offers a marriage photo for $10 and a wedding certificate for $5. Additional certified copies are $3 each. These extras make Pinellas County one of the more complete clerk office experiences for marriage services in Florida.

Florida Statute 741.0305 allows the fee reduction when both parties finish a premarital course from an approved provider within one year of their application. Completing the course also waives the three-day waiting period for Florida residents. Non-residents have no waiting period at all. The Pinellas County marriage license is valid for 60 days from the issue date. Under Section 741.041, the license expires after 60 days and a new one must be purchased.

The Pinellas County Recording Services page explains that if a ceremony is performed before the effective date or after the expiration date, the marriage license is not valid. This is an important detail. The effective date is not always the purchase date. For Florida residents without a premarital course, the effective date is three days after purchase. Check the dates on your license carefully.

Note: Pinellas County provides one certified copy to the couple at no charge after the completed license is recorded.

Search Pinellas County Marriage Records

Pinellas County keeps one of the best online archives for marriage records in Florida. Marriage licenses from May 1972 to the present are searchable through the Pinellas County Official Records portal. You can search by name at no cost. The search shows both parties and the recording information. From the results, you can order certified copies online through the Copy Request and Payment Center.

This online archive covers over 50 years of Pinellas County marriage records. For records before May 1972, contact the clerk office directly at (727) 464-3341. Older records may be on microfilm or in physical files at the Clearwater Courthouse. The Florida Department of Health also has Pinellas County marriage certificates from June 6, 1927 to the present through the state Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Marriage records are public in Florida. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, anyone can inspect and copy them. Section 119.07 gives this right without restriction. You do not need to be a party to the marriage. Certain information like Social Security numbers is redacted for privacy, but the basic marriage record details are fully public.

Pinellas County Marriage Ceremony Details

Civil marriage ceremonies at the Pinellas County clerk office cost $30. No appointment is needed. Walk in during business hours and the clerk can perform the ceremony. No witnesses are legally required under Florida law, but having them is a good idea. The clerk also sells a marriage photo for $10 and a decorative wedding certificate for $5 if you want something beyond the standard license.

After the ceremony, the completed Pinellas County marriage license must be returned to the clerk for recording. This is true even if the ceremony takes place somewhere else in Florida. A license obtained in Pinellas County can be used for a ceremony anywhere in the state, but it must be recorded back in Pinellas County. The clerk records it into the official records and provides one certified copy to the couple without charge. Under Section 741.07, ordained ministers, judges, clerks and their deputies, and Florida notaries public can all perform ceremonies.

• Marriage license: $86 (or $61 with premarital course)
• Ceremony fee: $30
• Marriage photo: $10
• Wedding certificate: $5
• Additional certified copies: $3 each

The waiting period for Florida residents is three days from the date of purchase. Under Florida Statute 741.04, this is a mandatory wait unless you have completed a premarital course. When both parties are non-residents, the license is effective immediately and the ceremony can happen the same day. The license clearly shows both the effective date and the expiration date, so there is no guessing.

State Records for Pinellas County

The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics stores marriage certificates for all Florida counties, including Pinellas. These records go from June 6, 1927 to the present. A search and one certified copy from the state costs $5. Additional copies are $4 each. You can order by mail, walk in at the Jacksonville office, or go through VitalChek online for $15 plus $7 processing.

The state certificate is an abstract of the marriage license information. It proves the marriage was finalized and recorded. If you need it fast, VitalChek offers UPS shipping for an extra fee. For Pinellas County marriages within the last 60 days, the clerk office is a better bet since the state may not have recorded the license yet. The My Florida County Records portal can also help you search across counties if you are not sure where a marriage was filed.

Cities in Pinellas County

Pinellas County is densely populated with many cities and towns. All marriage licenses come from the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Select a city for more details.

Nearby Counties

Pinellas County sits on a peninsula and borders three counties. If you need marriage records from a neighboring area, use the links below.