Search Sumter County Marriage Records

Sumter County marriage records are held by the Clerk of Court with offices in Bushnell and The Villages. The clerk handles all marriage license applications, ceremony services, and copy requests for the county. Sumter County is in central Florida and has grown rapidly in recent years thanks to The Villages retirement community. If you need a new marriage license, want to find an old record, or need a certified copy, the Sumter County Clerk is where you go. The process is the same whether you visit the Bushnell courthouse or the North Sumter annex. This page explains how to search for and obtain Sumter County marriage records.

Sumter County Clerk of Court

The Sumter County Clerk of Court issues marriage licenses from two locations. The main courthouse is in Bushnell. A North Sumter annex on County Road 466 serves The Villages area. Both offices handle the full range of marriage services. Call the Bushnell office at (352) 569-6810 or The Villages annex at (352) 689-4625. Both people must appear together with valid photo ID and their Social Security number. If you were married before, know the date it ended.

Having two locations makes it easier for Sumter County residents. The Villages annex is more convenient for people in the northern part of the county. The Bushnell courthouse handles the same services. Walk-ins are accepted at both. The clerk office also performs civil ceremonies for a $30 fee. Under Florida Statutes Chapter 741, Section 741.07, clerks and their deputies can officiate marriages alongside ministers, judges, and notaries.

Sumter County Marriage License Process

A Sumter County marriage license costs $86 without a premarital course. The reduced fee with a course is $61. Section 741.0305 of the Florida Statutes allows this discount when both parties complete an approved course within one year of applying. Taking the course also waives the three-day waiting period that Florida residents face. Non-Florida residents skip the wait automatically.

Both applicants sign an affidavit per Section 741.04. The license is valid for 60 days under Section 741.041 and works anywhere in the state. After the ceremony, the signed license must come back to the Sumter County Clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it into the official records and sends a copy to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. The couple gets one free certified copy after the recording is done.

Part of the license fee covers a $2 application charge and $25 for the Domestic Violence Trust Fund under Section 741.01. Cash and credit cards are typically accepted. Check with the Sumter County Clerk about payment options and any card surcharges. Both parties must read the Family Law Handbook before the license is issued. This is required by Section 741.0306.

Sumter County Marriage Records Online

The Sumter County Clerk website may offer tools for searching marriage records online. Check the site for the current options. The clerk's homepage is shown below.

For state-level searches, the Florida Department of Health has marriage certificates from June 6, 1927 to the present. A search and one certified copy is $5 from the state. Online orders go through VitalChek at $15 plus $7 processing. The My Florida County Records portal lets you search across counties if you are not sure where the record was filed.

State processing takes 3 to 5 business days for computer certificates from 1970 forward. Older records need more time. For recent Sumter County marriages, the clerk office is faster since the state takes about 60 days to receive the data after a ceremony.

Note: Records from before June 6, 1927 are only at the Sumter County Clerk office.

Public Records in Sumter County

Marriage records in Sumter County are public. Florida Statutes Chapter 119 makes all county records open for inspection. Anyone can request them. Section 119.07 sets the copy fees at up to 15 cents per page for regular copies and $1 for certified copies under state rules. The clerk may have its own fee schedule for certified marriage license copies.

Social Security numbers and bank account details are protected under Section 119.071. Names, dates, and county information remain public. Under Section 741.09, the clerk must keep a correct record of all licenses issued in Sumter County. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website lists all 67 county clerks if you need to reach another county's office.

Cities in Sumter County

The Villages is the largest community in Sumter County. Residents get their marriage licenses from the Sumter County Clerk at either the Bushnell courthouse or The Villages annex.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Sumter County and each has its own Clerk of Court for marriage records.