Pasco County Marriage License

Pasco County marriage license records are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Dade City. Couples who live in New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Land O' Lakes, or anywhere else in the county all go to the same clerk's office for a marriage license. The Pasco County Clerk handles new applications, stores recorded licenses after each ceremony, and can help you search for past records. If you plan to get married in Pasco County or just need a copy of an old license, the clerk's office on Live Oak Avenue is where the process starts. Walk-ins are accepted, though calling ahead can save you time on a busy day.

Pasco County Clerk of Court Marriage Services

The Pasco County Clerk of the Circuit Court runs all marriage license operations in the county. The main office sits at 38053 Live Oak Avenue in Dade City. This is where both people must appear in person to fill out the application and sign the paperwork. Staff at the Pasco County clerk's office will check your IDs, take your fee, and walk you through the forms. The process usually takes less than 30 minutes if you have all your documents ready. Under Florida Statute 741.01, the clerk is the only person in the county who can issue a marriage license.

The Pasco County Clerk's website shows details about all of the recording services, including marriage license information. You can view the clerk's homepage to find links to forms, office hours, and other public records you might need.

Pasco County also has branch offices in New Port Richey and Land O' Lakes. Contact the main office to find out which locations handle marriage license applications on any given day.

Note: Pasco County branch offices may have different hours, so call before you visit a location other than Dade City.

How to Apply for a Pasco County Marriage License

Getting a marriage license in Pasco County starts with both people showing up at the clerk's office. You need a valid photo ID like a driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID card. Know your Social Security number. You do not have to bring the card, but the clerk will ask for the number. Under Florida Statute 741.04, both applicants must be at least 18 years old. A 17-year-old may apply if both parents give written consent and the other person is not more than two years older.

If either person was married before, the Pasco County clerk needs the exact date that marriage ended. You must also know whether it ended by divorce, death, or annulment. Have the state and county of the prior divorce ready. The clerk cannot move forward without this information.

Florida residents who apply in Pasco County face a three-day waiting period. The license will not take effect until three days after the clerk issues it. Out-of-state applicants can skip the wait entirely. Couples who complete a four-hour premarital course also skip it, and they save $25 on the fee. Bring the original certificate of completion when you visit the Pasco County clerk.

Pasco County Marriage License Fees

A marriage license in Pasco County costs $86. Every Florida county charges the same base fee. If both people take a premarital course of at least four hours, the fee drops to $61. Florida Statute 741.0305 allows this $25 reduction. The Pasco County Clerk accepts cash and other forms of payment for the license fee. A small card processing surcharge may apply if you use a credit or debit card.

Part of the $86 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 and hold true in every county across the state. Certified copies of a recorded marriage license cost about $3 each at the Pasco County clerk's office.

Note: Check with the Pasco County Clerk about whether they charge extra for credit card transactions.

Marriage License Validity in Pasco County

Once the Pasco County Clerk issues your marriage license, you have 60 days to hold the ceremony. Florida Statute 741.041 sets this rule. If you miss the window, the license expires and you must apply all over again with a new fee. The ceremony can take place anywhere in Florida. You do not have to hold it in Pasco County just because you got the license here.

After the wedding, the person who performed the ceremony returns the signed license to the Pasco County Clerk's office. The clerk records it and sends a copy to the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. That state filing process can take about 60 days after the ceremony. Your first certified copy is usually part of the original license fee.

Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judicial officers, circuit court clerks, and notaries public can all officiate a wedding in Pasco County. The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers website has more details on the full list of people authorized to perform marriages in the state.

Copies of Pasco County Marriage Records

Recorded marriage licenses in Pasco County are on file at the clerk's office. You can request copies in person or by mail. The MyFloridaCounty official records portal also lets you search for recorded documents from Pasco County and every other Florida county. For older records, the Florida Department of Health keeps marriage certificates dating back to June 6, 1927. You can order copies from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville or through VitalChek, the state's only approved online vendor for vital records.

The state search fee is $5 for one calendar year and one certified copy. Extra copies cost $4 each. A $10 rush fee applies for records before 1970 if you need same-day walk-in service at the Jacksonville office.

Cities in Pasco County

All cities and communities in Pasco County use the same clerk's office for marriage license services. Major communities include New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Land O' Lakes, Zephyrhills, and Holiday. None of these cities have a population above 75,000, so they do not have individual city pages. Residents of any Pasco County city go to the Dade City clerk's office or a branch location for all marriage license needs.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Pasco County. You can apply for a Florida marriage license in any county. It is valid statewide no matter where you get it.