DeSoto County Marriage License Search

DeSoto County marriage license records are available through the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Arcadia. Couples can apply at the clerk's office on East Oak Street. The process covers the application, ID check, fee payment, and issuance of the license. Once the ceremony takes place and the signed license comes back, the clerk files it as a public record. You can search for DeSoto County marriage license records at the clerk's office or online through the state portal. The office also handles ceremonies by appointment for couples who want a courthouse wedding in DeSoto County.

DeSoto County Marriage License Office

The DeSoto County Clerk of the Circuit Court manages all marriage license applications. The office sits on East Oak Street in downtown Arcadia. Both people must come in together. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Plan to arrive no later than 4:00 p.m. to give the staff enough time to finish your application before they close for the day.

You need a state-issued driver's license, state ID, or valid passport. Both people must bring their Social Security numbers. If the parties have children in common born in Florida, they must fill out the Affirmation of Common Children form. The clerk handles everything on site in DeSoto County once you have the right documents.

Applying for a DeSoto County Marriage License

Both applicants walk in together. The clerk fills out the application. You sign under oath and pay the fee. The whole thing usually takes under 30 minutes. If either person was married before, bring the date and details of how it ended.

Under Florida Statute 741.04, both applicants must be at least 18. Applicants under 18 but at least 16 need a birth certificate, proof of ID, and notarized written consent from both parents. Anyone under 16 needs a county court judge to approve. These are state rules that the DeSoto County Clerk follows.

Florida residents have a three-day waiting period. The license is not valid until three days after it is issued. Taking a premarital course waives the wait. Nonresidents do not wait at all. Bring the original course certificate to the clerk's office if you took the class.

Note: Use only black ink when signing all marriage license documents in DeSoto County.

DeSoto County Marriage License Fees

The license costs $86 without a premarital course. With the course, it drops to $61. Florida Statute 741.0305 allows this $25 discount. The premarital course must be at least four hours and from an approved provider.

DeSoto County also offers ceremonies. A ceremony performed by the clerk's office costs $40 and is by appointment only. This is a bit higher than the $30 fee charged in most other Florida counties, so keep that in mind if you are comparing options. An amendment to the license costs $30. Call the clerk at (863) 993-4876 to set up a ceremony time.

Certified copies of a filed marriage license are available from the DeSoto County Clerk. The Florida Department of Health also stores marriage certificates and can provide copies of records from 1927 forward.

DeSoto County Marriage License Rules

The license is valid for 60 days under Florida Statute 741.041. If you miss this window, the license expires and you start over with a new application and fee. The ceremony can happen anywhere in Florida. You do not have to get married in DeSoto County just because you got the license there.

After the wedding, the officiant must return the signed license to the DeSoto County Clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it and sends a copy to the state for permanent filing. Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judicial officers, clerks, and notaries public can all perform the ceremony. The license is only valid in the state of Florida.

The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers website has a full guide to the marriage license process that applies across all counties, including DeSoto.

DeSoto County Clerk Marriage Records

The screenshot below shows the DeSoto County Clerk's marriage records page with details about the application process and local requirements.

Check the clerk's website for any changes to hours, fees, or procedures before you visit the office in Arcadia. The site also has forms you can download ahead of time to speed up the process.

Cities in DeSoto County

Arcadia is the main city and county seat of DeSoto County. All marriage license applications go through the single clerk's office on East Oak Street. There are no other qualifying cities in DeSoto County with their own pages, but the clerk serves everyone in the area.

Nearby Counties

DeSoto County is in south-central Florida. These counties sit next to it. You are free to apply for a marriage license in any of them if a different office is closer to where you live.