Introduction to Florida Marriage Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a Florida Marriage certificate.  Marriage Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Marriage Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Marriage Certificates is that states have not been registering marriages for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register marriages.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the marriage took place.

Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Marriage Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Marriage Certificate; this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Marriage certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Marriage certificate by following the correct procedure.  

Florida Marriage certificates have been maintained by the Florida Office of Vital Statistics, Department of Health for individuals married in the state of Florida since 1927.

Florida Marriage Certificate Authorized Persons

Florida marriage certificates are open to the general public.  Anyone over 18 years of age may request a copy of any Florida marriage certificate.

Florida Marriage Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Any Florida Marriage certificate is available for genealogy reasons.

Florida Marriage Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order Florida Marriage Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your Florida Marriage Certificate.  Order online and you will get your Florida Marriage Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order Florida Marriage Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your Florida Marriage certificate online.  It usually takes 10 business days upon receipt of request to be sent to you:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the Florida Marriage certificate:

• Full name of husband on the Florida Marriage certificate
• Full maiden name of wife on the Florida Marriage certificate
• Date of Marriage on the Florida Marriage certificate
• County (or city) of Marriage on the Florida Marriage certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose Florida Marriage certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the Florida Marriage certificate is to be mailed 
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

Bureau of Vital Statistics

Attn: Customer Services

P.O. Box 210

Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042

Option 3 – In Person

In Person in Florida: You may go to any county health department in the State of Florida to obtain a certified copy of a Florida Marriage certificate. Most Florida Marriage certificates can be issued while you wait.

Florida Marriage Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for an Florida marriage certificate is $5.00, which includes one certified copy of the Florida marriage certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the Florida marriage certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $4.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "Vital Records." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.