Bradford County Marriage License

Bradford County marriage license records are handled at the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Starke. This north-central Florida county has one clerk's office that processes all marriage license applications and stores the recorded copies. Whether you live in Starke, Hampton, Lawtey, Brooker, or any other Bradford County community, you go to the same courthouse to apply. The clerk can help you with the full process, from filling out the forms to getting your license in hand. You can also call to ask about specific details before you make the trip to Bradford County.

Bradford County Clerk of Court Marriage Services

The Bradford County Clerk of the Circuit Court issues all marriage licenses in the county from the courthouse in Starke. The office handles civil traffic, passport services, and marriage licenses. Both people must come in together. The clerk cannot process an application with only one person present. Bradford County is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Alachua, Baker, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union counties.

Under Florida Statute 741.01, the clerk acts as an agent for the state when issuing marriage licenses. A license from Bradford County works in any Florida county. You can hold the ceremony wherever you want in the state.

Bradford County is a small county, and the clerk's office is the one stop for everything related to marriage licenses in this area. Call ahead to check hours if you plan to visit on a day close to a holiday.

What You Need for a Bradford County Marriage License

Both people must appear in person at the Bradford County clerk's office. A valid photo ID is required. This can be a driver's license, a state-issued ID card, or a passport. You need to know your Social Security number. The card itself is not needed. Under Florida Statute 741.04, both applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply without parental consent.

If you had a prior marriage, the Bradford County clerk will ask for the exact date it ended. You need to say whether it ended by divorce, death, or annulment. The state and county of the divorce matter too. Without this info, the application cannot move forward. No blood test is needed for a marriage license in Bradford County or anywhere else in Florida.

The Family Law Handbook from the Florida Bar must be read before you apply. The Bradford County clerk will ask about it at the time of your visit.

Note: A 17-year-old can apply in Bradford County only with consent from both parents and if the other party is not more than two years older.

Marriage License Fees in Bradford County

The standard marriage license fee in Bradford County is $86. This is the same at every county clerk office in Florida. You can lower the cost to $61 by taking a four-hour premarital preparation course. This reduction is allowed under Florida Statute 741.0305. Bring the original certificate from the course to the Bradford County office when you apply.

Part of the fee goes to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund. Another part goes to the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund. These splits are set by the legislature. The Bradford County clerk collects the fee and distributes it as the law requires.

Bradford County Marriage License Waiting Period

Florida residents who apply for a marriage license in Bradford County must wait three days before the license is valid. This three-day period starts the day after the clerk issues the license. If you do not want to wait, take the premarital preparation course. Bring the certificate and the Bradford County clerk will make the license effective right away.

Out-of-state residents skip the waiting period entirely. If neither person lives in Florida, the license is active the same day it is issued. Under Florida Statute 741.041, the license is good for 60 days from the date of issue. You need to hold the ceremony before it expires, or you will have to apply again in Bradford County.

After the Wedding in Bradford County

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 it. Florida Statute 741.07 spells out who can perform a marriage: ordained ministers, judicial officers, clerks, and notaries public. Any of these can officiate in Bradford County or anywhere in Florida.

The Bradford County clerk records the license and then sends a copy to the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. State-level processing takes about 60 days. You can search for recorded marriage documents in Bradford County through the MyFloridaCounty official records portal.

If you need a certified copy of your marriage certificate later, you can order one from the clerk's office or from the state through VitalChek.

Cities in Bradford County

Bradford County is a rural county with a few small towns. Starke is the county seat and the largest community. Other places include Hampton, Lawtey, and Brooker. All Bradford County residents use the Starke courthouse for marriage license services. There are no separate offices in the smaller towns.

Nearby Counties

Bradford County sits between several other north Florida counties. You can get a Florida marriage license in any county and use it anywhere in the state.