Highlands County Marriage License Lookup

Highlands County marriage license records are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Sebring. This county sits in the heart of south-central Florida. The Highlands County clerk's office handles new applications and also keeps records of all marriage licenses filed in the area. No appointment is needed, so you can walk in during business hours. Both parties need to come to the office at the same time with proper identification and the required information to complete the application.

Highlands County Clerk of Court Office

The Highlands County Clerk of the Circuit Court issues all marriage licenses in the county. The office is at 590 S Commerce Ave in Sebring, FL 33870. You can reach them at (863) 402-6565. Walk-ins are welcome during regular business hours. There is no need to call ahead or schedule an appointment.

Both parties must provide identification in the form of a driver's license, state ID, or passport. U.S. citizens must give their Social Security number. Non-citizens can provide either a Social Security number or an Alien Registration Number. Both people must be at least 18 years old. An application form must be completed at the Highlands County clerk's office, and if either party has been married before, you must note on the application how and when that marriage ended.

The Highlands County clerk's homepage offers access to various county services including marriage license applications and official records searches.

How to Get a Highlands County Marriage License

Walk into the Highlands County clerk's office with your partner. Both of you must be there at the same time. Bring your photo ID and Social Security number. The clerk gives you an application form to fill out. If you were married before, write down the date and how the last marriage ended. This is a requirement under Florida law.

Under Florida Statute 741.04, both applicants need to be 18 or older. No one under 18 can apply without special consent. There is no blood test. No residency requirement exists either. You can walk into the Highlands County clerk's office from any state and apply. The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers website has a full rundown of all statewide rules.

Make sure you have read the Family Law Handbook from the Florida Bar. The Highlands County clerk may ask you about it during the application process.

Note: Proof of age is required for all applicants in Highlands County, even if you look well over 18.

Marriage License Fees for Highlands County

The standard marriage license fee in Highlands County is $86.00. Florida Statute 741.01 sets this rate for every county in the state. The money is divided between the Domestic Violence Trust Fund and the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund as the legislature requires.

Complete a four-hour premarital preparation course and the fee goes down to $61.00. That is $25.00 off. Under Florida Statute 741.0305, the course covers communication, conflict management, finances, and parenting. Both people can take it together or apart. Bring the original certificate to the Highlands County clerk's office when you apply. This also waives the three-day waiting period for Florida residents.

Highlands County Marriage License Waiting Period

Florida residents who apply for a marriage license in Highlands County must wait three days before the license takes effect. This is a statewide rule. The waiting period starts the day you apply. Your license is valid starting on day four.

You can skip the wait two ways. Take the premarital preparation course and the wait goes away. Or if both of you live outside Florida, there is no wait at all. Once the Highlands County license becomes effective, it lasts for 60 days. Under Florida Statute 741.041, the ceremony must happen within that time frame. The license works anywhere in Florida.

After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed marriage license to the Highlands County clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it and sends a copy to the Florida Department of Health. That state filing process takes about 60 days.

Highlands County Marriage License Records

The Highlands County clerk keeps all local marriage license records. The state Bureau of Vital Statistics holds copies from 1927 to the present. You can get a certified copy from the Highlands County clerk by calling (863) 402-6565. State copies can be ordered by mail, in person at the Jacksonville office, or through VitalChek online.

The state charges $5 for a search and one certified copy. VitalChek adds a $7 processing fee. The MyFloridaCounty portal is another way to search official records in Highlands County and across all Florida counties. For records before 1927, the county clerk is your only source.

Nearby Counties

Highlands County is surrounded by several other Florida counties. You can get a marriage license at any county in the state and use it anywhere in Florida.