Bradford County marriage license records are official files held by the Bradford County Clerk of the Circuit Court in Starke, Florida. These records show every marriage license issued in the county, along with the signed copies returned after each ceremony.
Anyone who needs a copy, a verification, or proof of a past marriage in Bradford County can request these records through the clerk’s office or the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. This page covers how the records work, who can get them, and what steps to follow when applying or ordering copies.
Where to Get Bradford County Marriage License Records
All marriage license records in Bradford County start at the local clerk’s office in Starke. The clerk serves as the agent for the state and handles every part of the process, from new applications to storing the signed licenses returned after a wedding.
Bradford County Clerk of Court Office
The Bradford County Clerk of the Circuit Court sits inside the Bradford County Courthouse in Starke. This one office handles every marriage license in the county. People living in Starke, Hampton, Lawtey, Brooker, or any small community in the area all go to this same building. The office also handles passport services, civil traffic cases, and other public records duties.
Contact Details and Office Location
The clerk’s office keeps a direct phone line for marriage license questions. The main office number also works for general questions. Anyone who plans to visit the office can call ahead to check wait times or document needs before driving to Starke.
- Address: Bradford County Courthouse, Starke, FL
- Mailing Address: P.O. Drawer B, Starke, FL 32091
- Main Phone: (904) 966-6280
- Marriage License Line: (904) 966-6289
- Website: bradfordclerk.com
Operating Hours and Appointment Needs
The clerk’s office serves walk-in customers during normal business hours on weekdays. No appointment is needed for a marriage license in most cases. The office may close early on days near major holidays, so calling ahead can save a wasted trip. Both people applying for the license must show up together at the same time.
Who Can Apply for a Marriage License
Florida law sets the rules for who can apply for a marriage license. The Bradford County clerk follows these same rules for every application. Both people must come to the office in person and meet the basic legal requirements.
Age Requirements
Both applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply without parental consent. Florida Statute 741.04 covers this rule. A 17-year-old can still apply in Bradford County, but only with written consent from both parents or legal guardians. The other person applying must be no more than two years older than the 17-year-old in that case.
ID and Document Needs
A valid photo ID is required for each person. Accepted forms include a driver’s license, a state-issued ID card, or a passport. Each applicant must also know their Social Security number. The clerk does not need the actual card, just the number on it. If either person was born outside the United States, a passport or other immigration papers may be required.
Prior Marriage Disclosures
If either person was married before, the clerk must know the exact date the prior marriage ended. The application will ask how it ended: by divorce, death, or annulment. The state and county where the prior marriage ended also matter. Without this data, the clerk cannot move forward with the application. No blood test is required for any marriage license in Florida.
Marriage License Costs and Fee Reductions
Marriage license fees in Florida are set by state law and apply the same way in every county. Bradford County follows the standard fee schedule with a possible discount for couples who complete a premarital course.
Standard License Fee
The base marriage license fee in Bradford County is $86. This fee is the same at every county clerk office across Florida. Part of the fee goes to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund. Another part goes to the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund. The clerk collects the full fee and sends the required amounts to the state as the law directs.
Premarital Course Discount
Couples can lower the license fee from $86 to $61 by completing a four-hour premarital preparation course. Florida Statute 741.0305 allows this discount. The course must come from a registered provider. The original completion certificate must be brought to the Bradford County clerk’s office at the time of application. The clerk keeps the certificate on file.
Accepted Payment Methods
The clerk’s office accepts cash, money orders, and most major debit or credit cards. Personal checks may not be accepted for marriage license fees. Calling the marriage license line before visiting can confirm which payment types work best on the day of the visit.
Waiting Period and License Validity
Florida has a waiting period for marriage licenses, but the rule depends on where each applicant lives. Bradford County applies the same rules as every other Florida county under state law.
Florida Resident Waiting Rule
When both applicants live in Florida, a three-day waiting period applies. The three days start the day after the clerk issues the license. The license becomes valid on the fourth day. Couples who do not want to wait can complete the premarital course and bring the certificate. With the course, the clerk makes the license valid the same day it is issued.
Out-of-State Resident Rule
When neither applicant lives in Florida, the waiting period is waived. The license becomes valid the same day the clerk issues it. This rule helps couples who travel to Florida for a destination wedding. At least one Florida resident still triggers the three-day rule, so couples should know where each person legally lives before applying.
License Expiration Timeline
Under Florida Statute 741.041, every marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. The ceremony must happen before the license expires. If the license expires before the wedding, the couple must apply again in Bradford County and pay a new fee. The 60-day clock starts on the issue date, not the day the license becomes valid.
Performing the Ceremony in Bradford County
Once the license is active, the wedding can take place anywhere in Florida. Bradford County licenses work in every other Florida county. The signed license must come back to the clerk’s office after the ceremony for the marriage to be recorded.
Who Can Officiate a Wedding
Florida Statute 741.07 lists who can perform a marriage ceremony in the state. The list includes ordained ministers, rabbis, elders, clergy of any religion, judicial officers, clerks of the circuit court, and notaries public. Any of these people can officiate a wedding in Bradford County or anywhere else in Florida. The officiant must sign the license after the ceremony.
Marriage License Return Deadline
The signed marriage license must come back to the Bradford County Clerk within 10 days of the ceremony. Usually the person who performed the wedding returns the signed license. Two witnesses must also sign the license, along with the officiant. If the signed license is late, the marriage record may be delayed at the state level.
State Recording Process
The Bradford County clerk records the license in the county’s official records and sends a copy to the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. State-level processing takes about 60 days. Once the state records the marriage, it becomes part of the Florida vital records system and shows up in state and county searches.
Getting Certified Copies of Marriage Records
Couples or third parties may need a certified copy of a marriage certificate for name changes, insurance, or other legal reasons. Certified copies come with a raised seal and serve as legal proof of the marriage.
Order Through Bradford County Clerk
The fastest way to get a certified copy of a Bradford County marriage certificate is through the clerk’s office. The clerk can issue certified copies from local records once the state recording process finishes. Requests can be made in person or by mail. A small fee applies for each certified copy. The clerk can confirm exact fees and turnaround times by phone.
Order Through Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
The Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville holds every marriage record in the state. The bureau can issue certified copies of any Florida marriage certificate, including those filed in Bradford County. Mail requests work for older records that the local clerk may not have in its system.
Online Ordering Through VitalChek
VitalChek is the official online ordering service for Florida vital records. Customers can order a certified copy of a Florida marriage certificate through the VitalChek website. A small processing fee applies on top of the standard state fee. Credit and debit cards are accepted. Orders can be mailed or rushed through expedited shipping.
Searching Old Marriage Records Online
People looking for past marriage records in Bradford County can search several online sources. Some searches are free. Others require a small fee for certified documents.
MyFloridaCounty Official Records Portal
The MyFloridaCounty official records portal lets users search recorded documents across Florida counties, including Bradford County. Marriage licenses that have been returned and recorded show up in this system. Basic searches are free. Viewing or printing full images of the documents may require a subscription or a per-page fee.
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics Archives
The Bureau of Vital Statistics keeps an index of Florida marriages from 1927 forward. Older records from county circuit courts may also be on file. Genealogists and family researchers often use this index to track family history. Some records are searchable online. Others require a written request to the bureau in Jacksonville.
Genealogy Research Resources
Several genealogy websites host Florida marriage record indexes. Sites like FamilySearch, Ancestry, and Findmypast pull from state and county records. Bradford County marriage records from the early 1900s may appear in these databases. Free public libraries often provide access to these paid sites for in-house research.
Cities and Communities in Bradford County
Bradford County is a small, rural county in north-central Florida. All marriage license business goes through the courthouse in Starke. There are no satellite offices in smaller towns.
Starke
Starke is the county seat and the largest city in Bradford County. The Bradford County Courthouse sits in downtown Starke. Couples from every part of the county travel to Starke for marriage license services. The courthouse is easy to find from major roads like U.S. Highway 301.
Hampton, Lawtey, and Brooker
Hampton, Lawtey, and Brooker are the other main communities in Bradford County. Each is small, with populations under 1,500. Residents of these towns use the Starke courthouse for all marriage license needs. Driving time from any of these towns to the courthouse is usually under 20 minutes.
Nearby Florida Counties for Marriage Licenses
Florida marriage licenses work in every county. Couples who live near a county border can apply in any county that fits their needs. Bradford County sits among several other north-central Florida counties.
Adjacent Counties List
The counties that border Bradford County each run their own marriage license services through their clerk of court. Couples can apply in any of these counties if it is more convenient. The license itself still works across the whole state.
| County | Region | Clerk Location |
|---|---|---|
| Alachua County | South of Bradford | Gainesville |
| Union County | South of Bradford | Lake Butler |
| Clay County | East of Bradford | Green Cove Springs |
| Baker County | North of Bradford | Macclenny |
| Columbia County | West of Bradford | Lake City |
| Putnam County | Southeast of Bradford | Palatka |
Common Questions About Bradford County Marriage Records
Many people have questions about how marriage records work in Bradford County. The answers below cover the most common topics people ask before applying for a license or ordering copies of past records. Each answer pulls from Florida state law and the local rules used by the Bradford County Clerk’s office.
Can I search Bradford County marriage records for free?
Yes, basic searches through the MyFloridaCounty official records portal are free. You can look up marriage licenses by name or by document type. Viewing the full document image may cost a small fee per page. The Bradford County clerk’s office can also confirm whether a record exists over the phone at (904) 966-6289.
How long does it take for a Bradford County marriage record to show up in state searches?
After the signed license comes back to the clerk, the county records it within 10 days. The clerk then sends a copy to the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. State-level processing usually takes about 60 days. Older records from before the digital system may take longer to locate through state searches.
Do I need an appointment to apply for a marriage license in Bradford County?
No appointment is needed in most cases. Walk-in customers are served during normal business hours. Both people must show up together. The clerk’s office can get busy close to weekends and holidays, so going earlier in the day often means shorter wait times. Calling the marriage license line ahead of time can confirm the best time to visit.
Can a minor apply for a marriage license in Bradford County?
A 17-year-old can apply only with written consent from both parents or legal guardians. The other applicant must be no more than two years older than the minor. Anyone under 17 cannot apply for a marriage license in Bradford County or anywhere else in Florida. The clerk will ask for proof of age and parental consent at the time of application.
Can I get a certified copy of a marriage record from another Florida county through Bradford County?
No. The Bradford County clerk can only issue certified copies of marriages that were filed in Bradford County. For marriages filed in other Florida counties, the request must go to the clerk in the county where the license was issued or to the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville.
How do I verify a marriage license issued in Bradford County?
The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics runs a verification service for marriage records filed in any Florida county. Employers, insurance companies, and government agencies often use this service. The Bradford County clerk can also confirm local records by phone or in person during business hours.
Is there a way to order Bradford County marriage records from outside the United States?
Yes. International customers can order certified copies of Florida marriage records through VitalChek, the official online service. Mail requests to the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville also work for international customers. Customers should include a self-addressed envelope with international postage and follow the bureau’s instructions for overseas requests.