Bradford County Florida marriage records are official documents that prove a marriage took place within the county. These records are held by the Bradford County Clerk of the Circuit Court in Starke, Florida.
The same clerk office also issues marriage licenses before a wedding. Once the wedding happens, the signed license is sent back to the clerk for recording. After that, the record becomes part of the public file. People can request certified copies of these records at any time.
This page covers how to request Bradford County Florida marriage records, who keeps the files, and what steps to follow for both new licenses and old records. It also explains how to use the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics, the state office that keeps records dating back to 1927. Everything below is based on current Florida law and the latest clerk office rules.
What Are Bradford County Florida Marriage Records
Bradford County Florida marriage records are written proof that two people were legally married in the county. Each record lists the full names of both spouses, the date of the wedding, the county where the wedding took place, and the name of the officiant. The record also includes the date the marriage license was issued and the license number.
Who Maintains These Records
Two main offices hold Bradford County marriage records. The first is the Bradford County Clerk of the Circuit Court in Starke. This office handles all marriage licenses issued in the county and keeps the original documents after the ceremony. The second is the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. This state office keeps a central index of all marriages across Florida starting June 6, 1927.
Both offices can issue certified copies. The county clerk gives copies based on local records. The state office gives copies from its statewide index. Either copy works as legal proof of marriage. The choice depends on which office has the faster turnaround or lower cost for your needs.
What Information Is Found in These Records
A Bradford County marriage record shows the legal names of both people who got married. It lists their ages or birth dates at the time of marriage. The record shows the date and place of the ceremony. The officiant who performed the wedding signs the document. The two witnesses who were present also sign the record.
If either spouse was married before, the record shows the date that prior marriage ended. This can be a divorce date or a death date. The license number and the date the license was issued are also part of the file. Some older records may have less detail, but the basic facts stay the same.
Public Access and Privacy Rules
Florida law makes marriage records public documents. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes says all state, county, and city records are open for inspection. Anyone can request a copy. You do not need to be related to the people in the record. You do not need to give a reason for your request.
Some private details are removed before the record is shown to the public. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and medical details are kept private under Section 119.071. The names, dates, and other marriage facts stay open for public view.
How to Get a Marriage Certificate in Bradford County
You can get a certified copy of a Bradford County marriage certificate in three ways. You can visit the Bradford County Clerk of Court office in Starke in person. You can mail a request to the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. You can order the certificate online through VitalChek, the only vendor the state allows.
Apply in Person at the Clerk’s Office
Visit the Bradford County Clerk of the Circuit Court at 945 N Temple Ave, Starke, FL 32091. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Bring a valid photo ID with you. You will need to fill out a request form at the front desk.
Tell the clerk the full names of both spouses, the date of the marriage, and the license number if you have it. The clerk will search the records and give you a certified copy the same day in most cases. The fee for a certified copy at the county level is set by state law. Call (904) 966-6280 before you go to confirm the current fee and accepted payment methods.
Apply by Mail Through the State Office
Mail your request to the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics at P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042. Include a check or money order for the search fee. The current state fee is $5 for the search, which includes one certified copy. Each extra copy is $4.
Your letter must list the full names of both spouses, their dates of birth, and the date and county of the marriage. Without these facts, the state office cannot locate the record. The bureau keeps records for all Florida counties going back to June 6, 1927. Processing time for mail requests is 3 to 5 business days for marriages from 1970 forward. Older records take longer to process.
Order Florida Marriage Certificate Online
VitalChek is the only online service the Florida Department of Health works with. Go to vitalchek.com and choose Florida. Select marriage certificate. Fill in the names of both spouses and the date of marriage. Pay the fee with a credit or debit card.
The state fee for online orders is $15. VitalChek adds a $7 processing fee for each order. You will get a certified copy mailed to your home address. Online orders work for any Florida county, including Bradford County. The state warns against using any other online vendor for Florida vital records.
Request a Certified Copy of Florida Marriage Certificate
A certified copy has a raised seal or stamped seal from the issuing office. This seal makes the copy legal proof of marriage. You need a certified copy for name changes, insurance, Social Security updates, immigration cases, and many other legal tasks. A regular photocopy does not count as legal proof.
The Bradford County clerk can give you a certified copy from local records. The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics gives a certified copy from the state index. Both copies are accepted by all government agencies and most private companies. Pick the office that has the record you need and matches your timeline.
Florida Marriage License Requirements and Application
Before you can get married in Florida, you need a marriage license. The license is the legal permission to have a wedding. After the wedding, the officiant signs the license. The signed license is sent back to the clerk office to become a marriage record.
Who Can Apply for a License
Any two adults can apply for a marriage license in Bradford County. Both people must be at least 18 years old. If either person is 17, a parent or guardian must appear with them and sign a consent form. People under 17 need a court order to get a license in Florida.
You do not need to be a Florida resident to apply. Anyone from any state or country can apply for a license in any Florida county. The license works for a wedding anywhere in Florida for 60 days after it is issued.
Documents Needed for the Application
Both people must appear in person at the Bradford County Clerk office. Each person needs a valid photo ID. A driver license, state ID card, passport, or military ID all work. U.S. citizens must give their Social Security number. Non-citizens can give a passport, visa, or other government-issued ID instead.
If either person was married before, bring proof of how that marriage ended. A divorce decree, annulment paper, or death certificate all count. The exact date the prior marriage ended is required. The clerk enters this date into the application under oath.
License Fees and Cost Breakdown
The marriage license fee in Bradford County is $86 for most couples. This fee covers the cost of the license and one certified copy of the marriage record after the wedding. Florida law under Section 741.0305 sets this fee.
If both people finish an approved premarital preparation course, the fee drops to $61. The course must be finished within one year of the application date. The course provider must give you a signed certificate. Bring the certificate to the clerk office to get the lower fee.
| License Type | Fee | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Standard License | $86 | No premarital course |
| Reduced Fee License | $61 | Premarital course certificate |
| Additional Certified Copy | $4 (state) / varies (county) | After recording |
Waiting Period and License Validity
Florida residents must wait 3 days after the license is issued before the wedding can happen. This waiting period ends at the close of the third business day. The waiting period is waived if both people show a premarital course certificate.
Non-Florida residents do not have to wait. The license works right away for people whose home state is outside Florida. Once the waiting period is over, the license is valid for 60 days. The wedding must happen within those 60 days. After 60 days, the license expires and you need to apply for a new one.
Florida Marriage License Application Process
The Florida marriage license application process takes about 30 to 45 minutes at the clerk office. Both people must be present at the same time. The clerk will walk you through each step. The whole process is simple and follows the same rules in every Florida county.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Both people visit the Bradford County Clerk office together. The clerk gives you an application form to fill out. You write down your full legal names, birth dates, addresses, and Social Security numbers. Both people sign the form and swear the facts are true under oath.
The clerk reviews your photo IDs and checks your information. You pay the license fee. The clerk prints the marriage license. You leave with the license in hand. The waiting period starts the day the license is issued. You can now schedule the wedding within the 60-day window.
After the Ceremony – Recording the Marriage
After the wedding, the officiant signs the marriage license. The two witnesses also sign the document. The officiant must send the signed license back to the Bradford County Clerk office within 10 days. The clerk records the marriage in the county records.
The clerk then sends the recorded marriage to the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. The state office adds the marriage to the statewide index. This state filing takes about 60 days to complete. The couple gets one free certified copy of the marriage record from the clerk office. Any extra copies need to be ordered and paid for.
Florida Marriage License Requirements for Non-Residents
People from other states and countries can apply for a marriage license in Bradford County. The same documents are needed. You must show a valid photo ID. You do not need a Florida address. The license lets you get married anywhere in Florida.
Non-residents skip the 3-day waiting period. This rule makes Florida a popular place for destination weddings. The license still expires 60 days after the date it was issued. Make sure to plan the wedding date within that 60-day window.
Ordering Records Online and Through VitalChek
Online ordering is a fast way to get a copy of a Bradford County Florida marriage record. The Florida Department of Health uses VitalChek as its only approved online partner. Other websites may look similar, but they are not connected to the state and charge higher fees.
How VitalChek Works
Go to vitalchek.com and pick Florida from the state list. Choose marriage certificate from the record type list. Enter the full names of both spouses, the date of the wedding, and the county where the wedding happened. VitalChek searches the state database to find the record.
Pay the state fee ($15) and the VitalChek processing fee ($7). You can pay with a credit card or debit card. VitalChek mails the certified copy to the address you give. Standard shipping takes about 5 to 7 business days. Rush shipping is available for an extra fee.
Florida Marriage Records Database
The Florida marriage records database is run by the Bureau of Vital Statistics. It has every marriage reported in Florida from June 6, 1927, to the present day. The database includes all 67 Florida counties. The state adds new records as the county clerks send in signed licenses.
You cannot search the state database by yourself on the bureau website. The bureau only takes direct requests. VitalChek gives you one way to search online. The Bradford County Clerk office also has its own local database you can search in person.
Florida Marriage Record Verification
Florida marriage record verification is the process of confirming that a marriage record is real and accurate. Government agencies and foreign embassies sometimes ask for verification before accepting a marriage record. The Florida Department of Health provides verification letters for an extra fee.
You can also get a Florida marriage record apostille from the Florida Department of State. An apostille is a stamp that proves the record is real for use in foreign countries that joined the Hague Apostille Convention. The apostille goes on top of the certified copy of the marriage record.
Bradford County Clerk of Court Contact Details
The Bradford County Clerk of the Circuit Court is the main office for marriage licenses and local marriage records. The office sits in the Bradford County Courthouse in Starke, the county seat.
- Office: Bradford County Clerk of the Circuit Court
- Address: 945 N Temple Ave, Starke, FL 32091
- Phone: (904) 966-6280
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
- Website: bradfordclerk.com
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics Contact Details
The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics handles state-level marriage records for every Florida county, including Bradford County. The office keeps records starting June 6, 1927.
- Office: Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
- Address: 1217 Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202
- Mail Address: P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042
- Phone: (904) 359-6900
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Website: floridahealth.gov/certificates-records/marriage-certificates
Florida Marriage Records by County and Name Search
Marriage records in Florida are filed by the county where the license was issued. The same record is also sent to the state office. You can search Florida marriage records by name through the state office or by county through the local clerk. Each Florida county runs its own clerk office with its own records.
Florida Marriage Records by County
Florida has 67 counties. Each county clerk office keeps marriage records for that county. Larger counties have bigger offices with more staff and faster processing. Smaller rural counties like Bradford County give personal service with shorter wait times.
Popular Florida counties for marriage record searches include Miami-Dade, Broward, Orange, Hillsborough, Duval, Palm Beach, and Pinellas. Each office has its own hours, fees, and request forms. A Florida marriage license works in any of the 67 counties.
Florida Marriage Records by Name
You can search Florida marriage records by name at the state or county level. The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics can search by the names of both spouses. The Bradford County Clerk office can also search by name in the local records.
You need to give the full legal names of both spouses for the search. The date of marriage helps narrow the search but is not required. The clerk office will search the records and report back. There is a fee for the search even if no record is found.
Florida Marriage Records Genealogy Research
Genealogy researchers often need old marriage records to build family trees. Florida marriage records from 1927 forward are available through the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Older records from before 1927 may be held by the county courthouse or local libraries.
Some older Florida marriage records are on microfilm at the State Archives of Florida. The Family History Library run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also has Florida marriage indexes on microfilm. Online genealogy sites may have scanned copies of older Florida marriage records.
Special Cases and Additional Services
Some requests need extra steps beyond a simple record copy. Below are common special cases people run into when they need Bradford County Florida marriage records.
Florida Marriage Certificate Replacement
A Florida marriage certificate replacement is what you request when the original is lost, stolen, or damaged. The process is the same as requesting a new certified copy. The Bradford County Clerk office or the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics can issue a replacement.
The replacement has the same legal value as the original. The fee is the same as a regular certified copy. There is no limit on how many replacement copies you can order. Many people order two or three certified copies so they have spares.
Florida Marriage Record Apostille
A Florida marriage record apostille is a stamp from the Florida Department of State that proves a Florida marriage record is real for use in foreign countries. The apostille is needed when the record will be used in a country that joined the Hague Apostille Convention.
You must first get a certified copy of the marriage record from the clerk office or the state bureau. Then you send the certified copy to the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee. The department adds the apostille stamp. There is a fee for the apostille service.
Florida Historical Marriage Records
Florida historical marriage records are records from before 1927. These older records are not held by the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Each county courthouse keeps its own older records. The State Archives of Florida in Tallahassee has microfilm copies of many older records.
Bradford County was created in 1858. Marriage records from 1858 to 1927 may be in the county courthouse or with local churches. Some of these older records are on the FamilySearch website. Researchers may need to visit the county in person to view the oldest records.
Florida Marriage Index Access
The Florida marriage index is a list of all marriages reported to the state. The index lists the names of both spouses and the date of marriage. The index does not include the full marriage record. The index helps researchers and the public locate marriages across the state.
The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics keeps the official state marriage index. The index goes back to June 6, 1927. You can ask the bureau to search the index for a specific name. There is a search fee even if no matching record is found.
FAQ
The questions below cover common topics about Bradford County Florida marriage records. Each answer gives clear facts based on current Florida law and clerk office rules. Use these answers to handle most requests without extra research.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Marriage Record Copy?
The time depends on which office you use. The Bradford County Clerk office gives copies the same day in most cases when you visit in person. The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics takes 3 to 5 business days for mail requests on records from 1970 forward. VitalChek online orders take 5 to 7 business days for standard shipping. Rush options cut the time down for an extra fee. Older records from before 1970 take longer at the state office because staff need to pull them from archive storage.
Can Anyone Request a Marriage Record in Florida?
Yes. Florida marriage records are public under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. You do not need to be related to either spouse. You do not need to give a reason for your request. You only need to provide the names of both spouses and the date of the marriage. The clerk office or state bureau will give you a certified copy after you pay the fee.
What Is the Difference Between a Marriage License and a Marriage Certificate?
A marriage license is the legal paper that lets two people get married. It is issued before the wedding. A marriage certificate is the official record that proves the marriage happened. It is recorded after the wedding. The signed marriage license becomes the marriage certificate once the clerk office files it. Both documents have legal value at different stages of the marriage process.
Can a Florida Marriage License Be Used in Another State?
No. A Florida marriage license only works for weddings inside the state of Florida. The license is valid for 60 days from the date it was issued. If you want to get married in another state, you need a license from that state. Some states do accept an existing Florida marriage record as proof of marriage after the wedding takes place.
How Do I Get a Marriage Record for a Marriage That Happened Before 1927?
Marriages before June 6, 1927, are not in the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. Contact the Bradford County Clerk office for local records from that time. Some older records may be with the State Archives of Florida, local churches, or on microfilm at the Family History Library. You may need to visit the county in person to view the oldest records.
What If I Need a Marriage Record for Immigration Purposes?
For immigration, you need a certified copy of the marriage record with a raised seal. The certified copy proves the marriage is real. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) accepts certified copies from the county clerk or the state bureau. Some immigration cases also need an apostille if the record is going to a foreign consulate.
How Much Does a Marriage Record Cost in Bradford County?
The fee depends on which office you use. The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics charges $5 for the search, which includes one certified copy. Each extra copy is $4. VitalChek online orders cost $15 for the state fee plus $7 for VitalChek processing. The Bradford County Clerk office sets its own copy fee. Call (904) 966-6280 to check the current county fee before you visit.