Palm Beach County Marriage Record Search

Palm Beach County Marriage records are official documents that provide information about the union of two parties in the county. Provisions for its management are codified under the domestic relations section of Florida family laws. These records provide information about the marriage and personal information about the parties involved in the marriage union. According to Chapter 741 of the Florida 2024 statutes, Palm Beach County recognizes two kinds of marriage records: marriage licenses and marriage certificates. To obtain any of these marriage records, the parties must be married per state law, and the marriage must not break any of the marital stipulations set out by law. For example, the spouses must be over 18 years old, and the married persons must not be of the same sex. In Palm Beach County, marriage licenses are necessary for a marriage to be deemed legally valid. On the other hand, a marriage certificate is produced following a marriage ceremony and serves as official documentation of the union.

The county court judge or the circuit court clerk issues marriage records in Palm Beach. Copies of these records are eventually sent to the Florida Department of Health for maintenance and distribution to interested members of the public. These records are regarded as part of Palm Beach County court records.

Are Marriage Records Public?

Yes, marriage records are regarded as public records in Palm Beach County. As per the Florida Public Records Act, interested persons have the right to request marriage records issued by any court in Palm Beach County. Custodians of marriage records must respond to requests for marriage records and make them available to interested members of the public.

Florida laws do not recognize secret marriages or non-public documentation of secret marriages. Marriage records cannot be sealed in Florida unless on infrequent occasions. Social security numbers and other sensitive details are usually omitted from official marriage certificates to protect the parties' privacy.

Types of Marriage Records in Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County has three central recognized marriage records: marriage certificates, marriage licenses, and certificates of premarital preparation.

Marriage License: A marriage license is a permission document that gives persons the legal right to perform a marriage union under state law. A marriage license gives marriage credibility and validates the ceremony per state and federal statutes. A Palm Beach County marriage license is issued before a marriage can occur. Potential couples must apply to the Palm Beach Circuit Court clerk's office to obtain a marriage license in Palm Beach. Applicants will also need to pay a $2 fee. When the clerk receives the application for a marriage license, an extra $25 must be paid. Following an application, the county court judge or circuit court clerk will grant the license if there isn't a barrier to marriage.

Marriage licenses in Palm Beach County are only valid for 60 days after they are issued, and after that time, no one is permitted to hold any marriage ceremony using an expired license.

Marriage Certificate: A marriage certificate is a document that proves that two people are legally married. It confirms that the marriage has been finalized and recorded and shows information about the two people involved in the marriage union.

Commemorative Marriage Certificate: These certificates are issued by the State Registrar of the Bureau of Vital Statistics. It is used to show that a marriage occurred and is issued to record much older marriages. A Commemorative certificate is not acceptable for official purposes.

Certificates of Premarital Preparation: The county clerks recognize and record these unique documents created by third parties(course providers). They show that the married persons completed a course that prepared them for marriage.

How to Find Marriage Records in Palm Beach County

Citizens can find marriage records at the following locations:

• The clerk of the circuit court office
• The Florida Department of health's office
• Third-party websites

Palm Beach County Marriage License Lookup

Interested individuals can perform a Palm Beach County marriage license lookup at the Palm Beach County Circuit Court clerk's office. Anyone can request a lookup by visiting the Clerk's Records Service Center at the Main Courthouse or one of the branch sites:

Palm Beach Main Courthouse
205 N. Dixie Hwy.
West Palm Beach,
FL 33401

To start a search, requesters must complete the records request form and supply the names of married individuals. Documents can be mailed to the individual who made the request or picked up in person. County marriage licenses can also be searched online through the county's official records database. Each certified electronic copy costs $8, which includes a $6 service charge and a $2 statutory fee.

Where Do I Get A Certified Copy Of My Marriage Certificate?

Palm Beach marriage certificates recorded by the Clerk of Circuit Court from June 6, 1927, to the present are accessible via the Bureau of Vital Statistics or the Palm County Circuit Clerk's office. The certificate is valid as proof that a marriage was consummated and documented and is issued as an abstract of the data extracted from the marriage license.

Interested persons can request certified marriage certificates in person, through mail, or online from the Bureau of Vital Statistics. To make a request, individuals must complete the marriage certificate request form. Walk-in or mail-in services are available from the Bureau of Vital Statistics for submitting the request form. Requestors can also contact the Bureau of Vital Statistics at (904) 359-6900. Each search costs a mandatory fee of $5, with an extra 10 to expedite the process. The bureau charges $4 for additional certified copies of certificates. The standard processing time for electronic certificates is 3 to 5 business days.

Similarly, individuals can request marriage certificates at the county clerk's office. Requesters may need to provide a valid form of identification and pay specific fees to request a certified copy of their marriage certificate from the Palm County Court Clerk's office.

Get a Marriage Certificate Online in Palm Beach County

Interested parties can acquire uncertified copies of marriage certificates online through specific third-party aggregating websites. Third-party websites offer easy access to remote searchable marriage records. Additionally, third-party platforms have been tested to be easily understandable for persons who use them. Some third-party sites provide public records in a single online database, such as warrants, arrests, criminal, and vital records. These websites typically charge for their use, and to identify the required certificate, users must supply precise information about it. These details include the name of the husband and bride and the marriage date. Meanwhile, each service provider may have different fees. Interested parties can locate these third-party websites by searching for websites or resources that provide online ordering.

Find Public Marriage Records Free Online

In Palm Beach County, public marriage records can be found online at the county court clerk's office. The county clerk's official records portal allows individuals to search and view marriage records entered into its system at no cost. Interested persons can search for marriage licenses and certificates using the names of the married parties, the marriage license number, and the date the marriage license application was filed.