Manatee County Marriage License

Manatee County marriage license records are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Bradenton. The clerk's office on Manatee Avenue West handles all new applications and keeps the recorded copies on file after each ceremony takes place. If you need to apply for a marriage license in Manatee County or want to search for an existing record, the Bradenton office is the right place to start. Both people must appear in person together. Couples from Bradenton, Palmetto, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Longboat Key, and other Manatee County communities all use this same clerk's office.

Manatee County Clerk of Court Marriage Office

The Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court issues marriage licenses from the office at 1115 Manatee Avenue West in Bradenton. No appointment is needed. Walk in during regular business hours and the staff will guide you through the application. The clerk issues licenses under Florida Statute 741.01, which gives clerks across all 67 Florida counties the authority to issue marriage licenses.

Manatee County sits on the Gulf Coast just south of Tampa Bay. The Bradenton office serves a growing population, so the clerk handles a large number of marriage license applications each year. The process is the same as it is throughout Florida, but each couple's experience at the Manatee County clerk's office is handled individually by the staff.

Check the Manatee County Clerk homepage for office hours and general information before your visit to the Bradenton location.

Call (941) 749-1800 if you have questions about what to bring or need help planning your trip to the clerk's office.

How to Get a Manatee County Marriage License

Both people must go to the Manatee County clerk's office in Bradenton at the same time. Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport. You need to provide your Social Security number, but you do not need the actual card. Under Florida Statute 741.04, both applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply without parental consent.

If you were married before, bring the exact date of the prior marriage ending and know whether it was a divorce, death, or annulment. The clerk needs this info plus the state and county where the divorce happened. Without this, the Manatee County clerk cannot finish your application.

Before your visit, read the Family Law Handbook. The Florida Bar publishes this guide. The clerk will ask if you have reviewed it as part of the process. No blood test is needed.

The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers website has a general overview of the full marriage license process that applies in Manatee County and all other Florida counties.

Manatee County Marriage License Fees

A marriage license in Manatee County costs $86. If both people take a four-hour premarital preparation course before applying, the fee drops to $61. That $25 savings is allowed under Florida Statute 741.0305. Bring the original certificate of completion when you visit the Bradenton office.

Part of the license fee is directed to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund. Another part goes to the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund. These splits are set by the Florida legislature and apply across all 67 counties.

Note: Check with the Manatee County clerk's office about accepted payment methods before your visit.

Waiting Period for Manatee County Marriage License

Florida residents face a three-day waiting period after getting a marriage license in Manatee County. The license is not valid during this time. This waiting period is part of Florida Statute 741.04 and applies statewide.

Skip the wait by completing a four-hour premarital course. Both people have to finish it. The provider must be registered with the clerk's office. Bring the original certificate and the license becomes valid the same day you apply. You also save on the fee. Out-of-state couples do not face any waiting period at all.

After the Ceremony in Manatee County

Once the wedding takes place, the signed marriage license must be returned to the Manatee County Clerk within 10 days. The person who performs the ceremony usually handles this step. The clerk records the license and forwards a copy to the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. This state-level filing process takes about 60 days.

The license stays valid for 60 days from the issue date. Under Florida Statute 741.041, the ceremony must happen within that window. If it does not, the license expires and you need to apply again in Manatee County with a new fee.

Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judicial officers, clerks of the circuit court, and notaries public can all perform a marriage ceremony. The ceremony can be held anywhere in Florida, not just in Manatee County.

Copies of Manatee County Marriage Records

You can get copies of recorded marriage licenses from the Manatee County Clerk's office in Bradenton. The MyFloridaCounty official records portal lets you search for documents filed in Manatee County and other Florida counties. Certified copies may need to be requested in person or by mail.

The Florida Department of Health keeps marriage certificates from June 6, 1927 to the present. You can order copies from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville or through VitalChek, the state's contracted online vendor. The search fee is $5 for one year and one certified copy.

Note: For marriages before June 1927, contact the county clerk where the license was originally issued.

Cities in Manatee County

All cities and towns in Manatee County use the clerk's office in Bradenton for marriage license services. The county includes Bradenton, Palmetto, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Longboat Key, Ellenton, Parrish, and Lakewood Ranch. None of these communities have their own clerk offices for marriage licenses. Everyone goes to the main Bradenton location on Manatee Avenue West.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Manatee County. A marriage license from any Florida county is valid statewide, so you can apply wherever is most convenient for you.