Polk County Marriage Records

Polk County marriage records are managed by the Clerk of Court and Comptroller with offices in Bartow, Lakeland, and Lake Alfred. If you need a marriage license or want to search for an existing record, the clerk office is where to start. Polk County sits in central Florida and serves a large population spread across many cities and towns. The clerk handles all marriage license applications, ceremonies, and certified copy requests for the county. You can begin the process online or walk in to any of the three branch locations. Finding Polk County marriage records is straightforward once you know which office to contact and what to bring with you.

Polk County Clerk of Court

The Polk County Clerk of Court and Comptroller issues all marriage licenses in the county. The main office is in Bartow. Two branch offices in Lakeland and Lake Alfred also handle marriage services. All three locations accept walk-in applicants. Appointments are not available. Both parties must show up in person to finalize the license. You need a valid photo ID and your Social Security number if you are a U.S. citizen. If you were married before, bring the exact date your last marriage ended. The clerk staff will guide you through the rest once you arrive.

The Bartow office is the main courthouse. Lakeland and Lake Alfred branches provide the same marriage services. Walk-ins only at all sites. Credit cards are accepted but carry a 3.5% service charge. Cash is also fine. The clerk does not take personal checks for marriage license fees in Polk County.

How to Get a Polk County Marriage License

Polk County uses a step-by-step process for marriage licenses. The clerk's application guide walks you through it. First, fill out the online marriage application before you visit. The application must be submitted within 90 days. Then both parties go to any clerk office in person. You will need to read the Marriage Handbook before you get there. This is a state rule under Florida Statutes Chapter 741, Section 741.0306. The Florida Bar creates the handbook and it covers the rights and duties of marriage.

A premarital course is not required but helps. Couples who take one get a lower fee and skip the three-day wait. Florida Statute 741.0305 gives this benefit to anyone who finishes an approved course within one year of applying. Without the course, Florida residents must wait three days after the license is issued before getting married. Non-Florida residents do not have this waiting period in Polk County or anywhere in the state.

After the ceremony, the signed license goes back to the clerk. They record it into the official records and mail you a free certified copy. If you need extra copies later, you can request them from the Polk County Clerk office. The whole process from application to recorded license is straightforward if you have your documents ready.

Note: The online application must be submitted within 90 days or it expires and you will need to start over.

Polk County Marriage License Fees

The fee for a Polk County marriage license with proof of a premarital course is $61. This is the reduced rate set by Florida Statute 741.0305. Without a course, the standard fee is $86. Ceremonies at the clerk office cost an extra $30. If the couple has children born in Florida, there is a $7 charge for the Affirmation of Children Born in Florida form.

Cash and credit cards are the only payment methods. Credit card users pay a 3.5% surcharge on top of the license fee. Personal checks and business checks are not accepted at the Polk County Clerk offices. Keep this in mind if you plan to pay at the counter. Under Section 741.01, part of the fee goes to a $2 application charge and a $25 Domestic Violence Trust Fund payment. These are built into the total cost you pay at the clerk window.

Polk County Marriage Services Online

The Polk County marriage services page has details on fees, steps, and what to bring. Here is a look at the clerk's online portal for marriage services.

The page lists each step from the online application through the ceremony and final recording. Polk County also posts a blog-style guide that breaks the process into seven clear steps. It covers the pre-application, the handbook, the premarital course option, the office visit, the waiting period, the ceremony, and the final recording of the license.

The clerk's how to apply guide gives more detail on what to expect when you visit in person.

You can also get copies of marriage records through the state. The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics holds Polk County marriage certificates from June 1927 to the present. A search plus one certified copy costs $5 from the state office. County copies may cost less depending on the type of copy you need.

Searching Polk County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Polk County are public. Florida Statutes Chapter 119 says all state, county, and municipal records are open for inspection and copying. You do not need to be a spouse or family member. Anyone can ask. Section 119.07 sets the rules. Copies cost up to 15 cents per page for regular printouts and $1 for a certified copy under the state fee schedule. The Polk County Clerk may charge slightly different rates for official certified copies of marriage licenses.

Some personal data is protected. Social Security numbers and bank account numbers get removed from public copies under Section 119.071. The marriage itself, the names of both spouses, the date, and the county are all part of the public record. These are the details most people look for when searching Polk County marriage records. Under Section 741.09, the clerk must keep a correct record of all licenses issued. This makes the clerk office the best local source for any marriage license filed in Polk County.

Note: Records from before June 6, 1927 are only available from the county clerk, not the state Bureau of Vital Statistics.

State Resources for Polk County Records

The Florida Department of Health keeps a copy of every marriage certificate recorded since 1927. Their office in Jacksonville processes requests by mail, online, and in person. VitalChek is the only approved online vendor for ordering from the state. The fee is $15 for the state charge plus $7 for processing. Phone orders go through VitalChek at 1-877-550-7330. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers site has a directory of every county clerk office if you need to reach Polk County or any other county directly.

For records that happened in Polk County but need to be verified through the state, processing takes 3 to 5 business days for computer certificates from 1970 forward. Older records take longer. Rush service adds $10 and is only for walk-in requests at the Jacksonville office. Most people find it faster to go straight to the Polk County Clerk for local marriage records.

Cities in Polk County

Several cities in Polk County have large populations. Residents of these cities get their marriage licenses from the Polk County Clerk offices in Bartow, Lakeland, or Lake Alfred. Florida cities do not issue marriage licenses on their own.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Polk County. Each has its own Clerk of Court that handles marriage records for that area.