Miami Dade County marriage license records are public files kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. They show when a couple applied for a license, when they married, and who performed the ceremony.
Anyone can request a copy for legal proof, genealogy work, or personal use. This page covers every step to find, request, and read these records across Miami Dade and other Florida counties.
How Miami Dade Marriage License Records Work
Marriage license records in Miami Dade County follow state law from start to finish. The Clerk’s office writes the license, the couple marries, the officiant signs the form, and the Clerk stores the file. Once filed, the record becomes part of Florida’s permanent public archive.
What These Records Show
A Miami Dade marriage license record lists the full names of both spouses, their ages at the time of marriage, and their dates of birth. It also shows the date the license was issued, the date of the ceremony, and the location where the marriage took place. The officiant’s name appears on the record along with witness names if any were present. Each file carries a unique book and page number that ties it back to the Clerk’s office.
Who Keeps the Records
Two agencies hold Miami Dade marriage license records. The Miami Dade Clerk of Courts keeps the original document on file at the county level. The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics holds a statewide copy in its main database. Both agencies work together so the same record exists at two levels for safety and easy access.
Laws That Govern Them
Florida Statute 741.01 gives county clerks the power to issue marriage licenses. Florida Statute 741.04 sets the age rules and the three-day waiting period. Florida Statute 741.07 lists who can perform a legal marriage in the state. Florida Statute 741.041 sets the sixty-day expiration window for unused licenses. These four laws shape how every record is created and filed in Miami Dade.
Where to Get Miami Dade Marriage Records
People can get Miami Dade marriage records through the county clerk, the state vital records office, or approved online portals. Each option has its own fee, wait time, and document format. Pick the path that fits your situation.
Miami Dade Clerk of Courts
The Miami Dade Clerk of Courts is the first stop for local records. The main office sits at 73 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130. Phone service runs through (305) 275-1155. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Clerk’s site at miamidadeclerk.gov lists every service location across the county.
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics is part of the Florida Department of Health. It holds statewide records from June 6, 1927 to the present day. You can order a certified copy through the Florida Department of Health at floridahealth.gov or by mail with a signed application. The state office covers older records that some counties no longer store on site.
Online Search Portals
Online portals give quick access to marriage records without a trip to the clerk’s office. The MyFloridaCounty official records portal at myfloridacounty.com searches recorded documents by name and date. VitalChek is the state’s approved vendor for online vital record orders at vitalchek.com. Both portals accept credit cards and offer certified copies by mail.
How to Request a Marriage Record Copy
Requesting a Miami Dade marriage record copy can happen three ways. In-person visits work for same-day needs. Mail requests suit people outside the area. Online orders through VitalChek handle fast statewide requests. Pick the method that fits your timeline and location.
In-Person Requests
Walk into any Miami Dade Clerk location with a photo ID and the full names of both spouses. Tell the clerk the year of the marriage and the book and page number if you have it. Pay the copy fee at the counter and receive the record the same day. Most locations handle walk-in requests between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Mail-In Requests
Mail requests need a signed application, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for the fee. Send the package to the Miami Dade Clerk of Courts at the 73 West Flagler Street address. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return mailing. Mail orders take seven to ten business days to process.
Online Requests
Online requests through VitalChek run twenty-four hours a day. Create an account, enter the spouse names and the marriage year, and pay the fee by credit card. The system emails order updates as the request moves through the queue. Certified copies arrive by mail within five to seven business days after approval.
Marriage License Application Requirements
Marriage license applications in Miami Dade County follow Florida rules on age, ID, and fees. Both people must come to the clerk’s office together. Each applicant brings the same set of documents and signs the form in front of the clerk.
Who Can Apply
Both applicants must be at least eighteen years old to marry without consent in Florida. A seventeen-year-old can apply with written consent from both parents or legal guardians, and the other party cannot be more than two years older. Same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples use the same form and follow the same rules. No blood test or residency check applies in Florida.
Documents Needed
Each applicant brings one valid photo ID. A driver’s license, state ID, or passport all work. Bring your Social Security number, though the actual card is not required. If either person was married before, write down the exact date the prior marriage ended, the way it ended (divorce, death, or annulment), and the state and county where it ended.
- One valid photo ID per applicant
- Social Security numbers for both applicants
- Prior marriage end date and location (if applicable)
- Payment for the license fee
- Premarital course certificate (if applying for the lower fee)
Fees and Costs
The standard marriage license fee in Miami Dade County is $86.00. Couples who complete a four-hour premarital course from a registered provider pay $61.00 instead, a $25.00 savings. Certified copies of a recorded license cost about $3.00 each. All Florida counties charge the same base fees under state law.
| Service | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard marriage license | $86.00 | All Florida counties |
| License with premarital course | $61.00 | $25.00 discount |
| Certified copy of recorded license | $3.00 | Per copy |
| Online order processing (VitalChek) | $5.00 to $17.00 | Added to state fee |
Timeline and Waiting Rules
Miami Dade County marriage licenses follow a strict timeline from issue date to expiration. Florida residents face a three-day wait. Out-of-state residents can marry the same day. Unused licenses expire after sixty days.
3-Day Wait Period
Florida residents who apply for a marriage license in Miami Dade face a three-day waiting period before the license becomes valid. The countdown starts the day after the clerk issues the license. Couples cannot hold the ceremony during the wait. The rule comes from Florida Statute 741.04 and applies across every county in the state.
Premarital Course Option
A four-hour premarital preparation course from a registered provider removes the three-day wait. The course must be approved by the Miami Dade Clerk before you apply. Bring the original certificate of completion when you visit the office. The clerk issues a license valid the same day, and the fee drops to $61.00.
License Expiration
A marriage license in Miami Dade County expires sixty days after the clerk issues it. Couples must hold the ceremony before the expiration date. The signed license must go back to the clerk’s office within ten days of the ceremony. Once the license expires without use, the couple must apply again and pay a new fee.
After the Ceremony
Once the couple marries, the officiant signs the marriage license and sends it back to the clerk. The clerk files the document and sends a copy to the state. The record enters both the county and state databases within a few months.
Filing the Signed License
The officiant, judge, or notary who performed the ceremony signs the marriage license and returns it to the Miami Dade Clerk within ten days. The clerk records the document in the county’s official records system. A copy is then forwarded to the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics for the statewide database.
Getting Certified Copies
Certified copies of a recorded Miami Dade marriage license cost about $3.00 each. Order them through the Clerk’s office, the MyFloridaCounty portal, or VitalChek. Each certified copy has a raised seal or stamped seal that makes it valid for legal use. Banks, courts, and government agencies accept these certified copies as proof of marriage.
Other Florida County Records
Florida marriage records exist at the county level for every county in the state. Each county clerk runs its own office with the same state rules but different locations and hours. Couples can apply at any Florida county clerk, and the license works anywhere in the state.
Broward County
The Broward County Clerk of Courts handles marriage licenses in Fort Lauderdale and surrounding cities. The county office sits at 201 Southeast Sixth Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Phone service runs through (954) 831-6525. Broward charges the same $86.00 fee as other Florida counties and follows the same three-day wait for residents.
Orange County
Orange County marriage licenses go through the Orange County Clerk of Courts in Orlando. The main office sits at 425 North Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801. Phone service runs through (407) 836-2000. The county serves Orlando, Kissimmee, and the central Florida region. Same fees and same wait rules apply.
Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County marriage licenses run through the Clerk of the Circuit Court in West Palm Beach. The main office sits at 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Phone service runs through (561) 355-2996. Palm Beach follows the same state fee and waiting period rules.
Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County marriage licenses go through the Clerk of Court in Tampa. The main office sits at 800 East Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602. Phone service runs through (813) 276-8100. Tampa-area couples follow the same application rules and fees as the rest of Florida.
Duval and Pinellas Counties
Duval County marriage licenses run through the Clerk of Courts in Jacksonville at 501 West Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Pinellas County marriage licenses run through the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Clearwater at 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756. Both counties charge the same $86.00 fee and follow the same three-day wait for residents.
Free Search Methods
Free searches for marriage records in Florida come with limits. Public indexes give names and dates but not certified copies. Genealogy databases cover older records from 1900 onward. Free tools work for casual lookups, not legal proof.
Public Index Tools
Public index tools let anyone search by name without paying. The MyFloridaCounty official records portal searches recorded documents at no charge. FamilySearch.org hosts free genealogy databases with Florida marriage records back to the 1800s. These tools show whether a record exists but do not provide certified copies.
Limits of Free Searches
Free searches show basic facts like name, year, and county. They do not provide certified copies that banks or courts accept. Free indexes may have gaps for very old records or recent filings still in process. For legal use, order a certified copy through the clerk’s office or VitalChek.
How to Find Marriage Records for Genealogy
Genealogy searches for Florida marriage records go through county clerks, state archives, and online databases. Older records from 1900 to 1927 may only exist at the county level, since the state started statewide filing on June 6, 1927. Researchers should contact the county clerk first for older records.
The Florida State Archives in Tallahassee holds historical marriage records from many counties. Records on FamilySearch.org include indexed images that researchers can view for free. Marriage records often list parents’ names, which helps build family trees back another generation.
Marriage License Verification
Marriage license verification checks whether a license is valid and on file. Banks, insurance companies, and government agencies sometimes ask for verification before processing paperwork. The Miami Dade Clerk’s office handles verifications by phone, mail, or in-person visit. Online verifications run through the MyFloridaCounty portal and VitalChek.
Verifications show the license number, the issue date, and the filing status. They do not replace a certified copy for legal proceedings. Anyone needing proof of marriage for a court case, name change, or benefit claim should order a certified copy instead.
Miami Dade Clerk Contact Details
Main Office: 73 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130. Phone: (305) 275-1155. Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Official Website: miamidadeclerk.gov. The clerk’s office runs additional service locations in Hialeah, Miami Beach, Homestead, and other parts of the county for local convenience. Walk-in service runs at every location during regular business hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
People often ask similar questions about Miami Dade marriage license records. The answers below cover search methods, certified copies, fees, wait times, and older record access. Each answer gives clear steps based on current Florida rules and clerk office procedures.
How do I search Miami Dade marriage records by name for free?
The MyFloridaCounty official records portal at myfloridacounty.com lets anyone search Miami Dade marriage records by name at no charge. Enter the full name of one spouse, add a date range, and the portal lists matching records. FamilySearch.org also hosts free Florida marriage indexes that go back many decades. Free searches give names and dates but do not include certified copies for legal use.
Can I get a certified copy of a Miami Dade marriage license online?
Yes. VitalChek is the state-approved vendor for online vital record orders at vitalchek.com. Create an account, enter the spouse names and the marriage year, and pay by credit card. The state fee runs $3.00 per certified copy plus a service fee. Certified copies arrive by mail within five to seven business days after the order is approved.
How long does it take for a Miami Dade marriage record to show up?
Couples should wait at least sixty days after the wedding for the record to enter the state database. The Miami Dade Clerk records the license within ten days of receiving it from the officiant. The state filing then takes another forty-five to sixty days to complete. Online indexes update after the state filing finishes.
Are old Miami Dade marriage records from the 1900s still available?
Yes. Miami Dade marriage records from 1900 to 1927 are held at the county clerk’s office and the Florida State Archives. Records from June 6, 1927 onward are also on file with the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. Older records may only exist on microfilm or in physical books. Researchers can request older records by mail with the full names and approximate year of the marriage.
What if I do not know the exact marriage date?
You can still request a Miami Dade marriage record without the exact date. Provide the full names of both spouses and a date range of five to ten years. The clerk’s office will search the indexes for any matching records. A wider search takes longer and may include extra results, but the office staff can help narrow down the right record once they see the candidates.
Does the 3-day waiting period apply to all couples in Miami Dade?
The three-day wait applies to Florida residents only. Out-of-state residents can marry the same day they apply for the license. Both Florida residents who complete a four-hour premarital course from a registered provider can also skip the wait. The clerk checks proof of residency and the course certificate before issuing the license.
Can I order a Miami Dade marriage record by phone?
Yes. The Miami Dade Clerk’s office takes record requests by phone at (305) 275-1155 during business hours. Phone requests need the full names of both spouses, the marriage year, and a credit card for payment. Staff mail the certified copies within seven business days after payment clears. Phone orders work well for people who cannot visit in person or order online.