Miami Gardens Marriage License
Marriage license applications in Miami Gardens go through the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts. Miami Gardens is the third-largest city in Miami-Dade County with a population of about 116,000. There is no clerk office inside Miami Gardens itself, so couples need to visit one of the Miami-Dade Clerk locations in the area. The main office is in downtown Miami, but there are multiple branch offices throughout the county. This guide covers where to go, what to bring, how much it costs, and what the rules are for getting a marriage license in Miami Gardens.
Miami Gardens Quick Facts
Miami Gardens Marriage License Filing
Miami Gardens is part of Miami-Dade County. The Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts handles all marriage licenses for the county. Under Florida Statute 741.01, only the clerk of the circuit court can issue marriage licenses. No city office in Miami Gardens handles this. You have to go to a Miami-Dade Clerk location.
The main clerk's office is at 73 W. Flagler Street in downtown Miami. The phone number is (305) 275-1155. The Miami-Dade Clerk website lists all branch locations throughout the county. Miami-Dade is a large county, and the clerk operates several satellite offices. Check which locations offer marriage license services before you go. Not every branch handles every type of service.
A marriage license issued by Miami-Dade County works anywhere in Florida. You do not have to have the wedding in Miami Gardens or even in Miami-Dade County. The license is valid statewide for 60 days after it becomes effective.
Miami Gardens Marriage License Online
The Miami-Dade County Clerk homepage provides information about marriage license services and other court records.
You can search for existing marriage records through the Miami-Dade Clerk's online portal. The MyFloridaCounty portal is another option for looking up official records across all Florida counties. If a Miami Gardens marriage license has been filed and recorded, it should appear in these systems.
Requirements for a Miami Gardens License
Both people must appear in person at the clerk's office. This is not optional. You cannot send someone else. Bring a valid photo ID. The clerk takes driver's licenses, state IDs, passports, and military IDs. You need your Social Security number as well. The physical card is not required. Just know the number.
Under Florida Statute 741.04, both applicants must be 18 or older. A minor who is 17 may apply with parental consent, but the other person cannot be more than two years older. No blood test is needed. There is no residency requirement to get a marriage license in Miami-Dade County. Anyone can apply, whether they live in Miami Gardens, somewhere else in Florida, or out of state entirely.
If you were married before, have the date your last marriage ended ready. The clerk will ask whether it was a divorce, death, or annulment. You must also read the Family Law Handbook from the Florida Bar before you go. This is required by state law.
Note: Couples with children born in Florida together may need to complete an additional affirmation form at the clerk's office.
Marriage License Cost in Miami Gardens
The standard fee is $86. Every Miami-Dade Clerk location charges the same amount. This fee is set by Florida law. Taking a four-hour premarital course reduces the fee to $61. That is a $25 savings. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, both people must bring their course completion certificates to qualify for the reduced rate.
The premarital course does two things. It lowers the fee and it waives the three-day waiting period. Many Miami Gardens couples find the course worth the time. Four hours is not much when you save money and skip the wait. Part of the $86 fee goes to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund and part to the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund, as required by Florida law.
Waiting Period for Miami Gardens Couples
Florida residents face a three-day wait. The clerk issues the license, but you cannot use it right away. Three full days must pass before the ceremony. Non-residents skip this. If both people are from out of state, the license is valid immediately. The premarital course also eliminates the wait for Florida residents.
After the waiting period (or after the course waiver), the license stays valid for 60 days. This is from Florida Statute 741.041. If 60 days go by with no ceremony, the license expires. You would then need to apply again and pay the fee a second time. Miami Gardens couples should keep this timeline in mind when planning the wedding.
Ceremony Options in Miami Gardens
Under Florida Statute 741.07, several types of people can officiate a wedding. Judges, ordained ministers, notary publics, and clerks of the circuit court are all authorized. The Miami-Dade Clerk can perform a civil ceremony at one of their offices. You can also have a private ceremony at a church, a venue, a park, or any other place you choose.
After the wedding, the officiant returns the signed marriage license to the Miami-Dade Clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it and sends a copy to the Florida Department of Health for the state's permanent records. If you need certified copies later, you can get them from the Miami-Dade Clerk or from the state Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl Street in Jacksonville. Online orders are available through VitalChek for an extra processing fee.
Miami Gardens Marriage Records
The Florida Department of Health has marriage records from June 1927 to the present. The search fee is $5 plus $4 per copy. The Florida Clerks and Comptrollers website provides general guidance about marriage license procedures in all 67 counties. Miami Gardens marriage licenses that have been filed with the Miami-Dade Clerk are part of the county's official record system.
For more recent records, contacting the Miami-Dade Clerk directly is usually the fastest route. The clerk's office can issue certified copies of marriage licenses that were filed in the county. The phone number is (305) 275-1155.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Miami Gardens also file marriage licenses through the Miami-Dade Clerk or nearby county clerks. Browse them for additional local info.
Miami-Dade County Marriage License Records
Miami Gardens is in Miami-Dade County. The Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts handles all marriage license filings for the area. For the full county page with all office locations and more details, see below.