Hillsborough County Marriage Record Search

A Hillsborough County marriage record search is an inquiry made to find and obtain official documents recorded by Hillsborough's Clerk of Circuit Court concerning local marriages. These offical documents include marriage applications, licenses, and certificates.

Like Hillsborough County Court Records, marriage records contain specific information about an individual's recorded past in the county. As a result, they are sought after by interested persons for various reasons, including tracing family history through genealogy research and ascertaining whether an acquaintance, friend, or family member has previously been married. Furthermore, newlyweds typically search for and obtain certified copies of their marriage records to use them to facilitate legal processes like name change or immigration. Individuals may also seek marriage records to verify details about historical marriages.

Are Marriage Records Public?

Yes. Marriage records are considered part of public records described under Florida Public Record Law, codified in Florida Statutes Chapter 119. As a result, marriage records in Hillsborough County are usually available to members of the general public upon request.

Types of Marriage Records in Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County mainly has two types of marriage records: marriage license and marriage certificate. Each of these types of marriage records is explained below:

Marriage License:

A marriage license is an official permit that authorizes prospective spouses to perform their marriage ceremony and solemnize their marriage anywhere in Hillsborough County or Florida. Per Florida Statute 741, the Hillsborough's Clerk of the Circuit Court office has the authority to act as an agent of the State of Florida for issuing marriage licenses. The office also performs marriage ceremonies as a public service. The requirement for obtaining a marriage license from Hillsborough's Clerk of the Circuit Court includes:

• Both parties may apply in person at the Clerk of the Circuit Court office
• Both parties must be 18 years or older and provide an acceptable form of identification to prove their age, such as a valid state identification card, driver's license, or passport.
• Applicants must pay the $86 marriage license fee. However, applicants who are residents of Florida and have completed a premarital preparation course with a qualified registered course provider are eligible for a reduced marriage license fee of $61.

After a marriage license is issued, there is a three (3) day waiting period before it can used. Generally, a marriage license remains valid for 60 days after its issuance date, and the marriage ceremony must be performed within this timeframe. A marriage license will expire after the 60-day validity period and can no longer be used.

Marriage Certificate:

A marriage certificate is an offical document that certifies that a marriage was finalized and recorded per Florida State Laws. A marriage certificate is issued after a marriage license is returned to the issuing Clerk of Circuit Court to be filed and recorded following a marriage ceremony. Generally, the certificate contains an abstract of information obtained from a marriage license, such as the date of the marriage, the location of the marriage, the signature of the person who performed the ceremony, and other information.

How to Find Marriage Records in Hillsborough County

Interested persons can find marriage records in Hillsborough County through the following places:

• The Hillsborough's Clerk of the Circuit Court office
• The Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics
• The University of South Florida online library
• Third-party websites

Hillsborough County Marriage License Lookup

Inquirers can look up Hillsborough County marriage licenses through the Hillsborough's Clerk of the Circuit Court Official Records Library or online system and the University of South Florida online library.

Records and indexes of marriage licenses from 1846 to the present are available for viewing and purchasing at Hillsborough's Clerk of the Circuit Court Official Records Library. The library is located at 419 Pierce Street, Room 140, and inquirers are not charged a fee for viewing marriage licenses in the library.

On the other hand, record seekers can use Hillsborough's Clerk of the Circuit Court online system to look up marriage license records from 1972 to the present. Users can search and view marriage license records for free on the system by inputting either spouse's name at the time of their marriage and selecting "(MAR) Marriage Records" under the document type option.

Meanwhile, Some historical Hillsborough County marriage license records from 1846 to 1964 are viewable for free through the University of South Florida online library.

Where Do I Get A Certified Copy Of My Marriage Certificate

Record seekers can order certified copies of a Hillsborough County marriage certificate from the Hillsborough's Clerk of the Circuit Court or the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics.

The cost for ordering a certified copy of a marriage certificate from Hillsborough's Clerk of the Circuit Court is $3 ($1 per page and $2 for document certification). Hillsborough's Clerk of the Circuit Court office offers different avenues for requesters to order a certified marriage certificate, including by mail, phone, online, and in person. To order by mail, requesters can draft a written request containing both spouses' current names (if applicable, they may provide maiden names) and the marriage date. Requesters must also prepare a check or money order payable to the "Clerk of the Circuit Court" to cover the aforementioned cost for a marriage certificate. Requesters should mail their written request and the fee payment to:

Clerk of Court - Marriage,
P.O. Box 3249,
Tampa, FL 33601-3249

The processing time for mail-in requests is 4-6 business days. To order by phone, requesters can contact the Hillsborough's Clerk of the Circuit Court at (813) 276-8100. Note that the required fees for a certified marriage certificate are strictly paid with a credit card for phone orders and are subject to an additional 3.5% fee. Phone orders are typically processed within 2-3 business days.

The Hillsborough Clerk of the Circuit Court also offers walk-in services for in-person requests. Walk-in requesters can expect to receive the certificate they request on the same day their request is made. Accepted forms of payment for in-person requests include cash, check, money order, and credit card. Credit card payments are subject to an additional 3.5% processing fee. Meanwhile, record seekers can order a certified marriage certificate online through the Hillsborough Clerk of the Circuit Court eCertify portal.

On the other hand, interested persons can order a certified Hillsborough County marriage certificate from the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics for a $5 fee. Note that additional fees may be applicable. These include but are not limited to $4 for additional certified copies, $5 per calendar year searched (when the exact year is unknown), a $10 rush fee, and a $1 shipping and handling fee. Request can be made by completing the DH261 Application for Marriage Certificate and submitting it along with the required fee payment by mail or in person at:

Walk-in:
1217 N Pearl Street,
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Lobby hours: M-F 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Mail-in:
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics,
P.O. Box 210,
Jacksonville, Fl 32231-0042

Get a Marriage Certificate Online in Hillsborough County

Record seekers can get a Hillsborough County marriage certificate online through traditional government-provided resources like the Hillsborough Clerk of the Circuit Court eCertify portal or reputable third-party websites. These third-party websites offer an easy-to-use interface for searching for marriage certificates by party name or case number and have faster processing times than government-provided resources. However, users are usually charged a fee for searching, accessing, or ordering marriage certificates through most third-party websites.

Find Public Marriage Records Free Online

Interested persons can find Hillsborough marriage records online for free through the Hillsborough's Clerk of the Circuit Court online system. On the system, users can search for marriage records by supplying the name of either spouse named in the sought-after marriage and selecting "(MAR Marriage Record)" under the "Document Type" option. Search results are generally provided as a single-page document that contains three sections: application to marry, license to marry, and certificate of marriage.