Search Pinellas County Marriage License

Pinellas County marriage license applications are handled by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Clearwater. The clerk's office serves residents of St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Pinellas Park, and every other community on the peninsula. Whether you need to apply for a new marriage license or search for an existing record, the Pinellas County Clerk at 315 Court Street is your starting point. Both partners must visit the office at the same time to complete the application. The Pinellas County Clerk of Courts provides marriage license services as part of their recording division.

Pinellas County Marriage License Clerk Office

The Pinellas County Clerk of Courts issues all marriage licenses in the county from the courthouse in Clearwater. Both people must show up in person. You cannot send one person alone or do it by mail. The Pinellas County Clerk provides marriage license services as part of their broader recording and court functions. Staff at the clerk's office will check your identification, take your fee, and process the application on the spot. Most visits take under 30 minutes if you come prepared with the right documents.

Pinellas County is one of the most populated counties in Florida. The clerk's office handles a high volume of marriage license applications each year. Calling ahead or checking the clerk's website for current wait times is a good idea, especially on Fridays and around holiday weekends when demand tends to spike.

The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers website has statewide guidance on marriage license requirements that also apply in Pinellas County.

The image above shows the statewide marriage license information page from the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers, which covers all rules that apply in Pinellas County.

How to Get a Marriage License in Pinellas County

Both applicants must go to the Pinellas County Clerk's office together. Bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, or passport all work. You need your Social Security number too, though the card itself is not required. Under Florida Statute 741.04, you must be at least 18. A 17-year-old can apply only with parental consent from both parents, and the other person cannot be more than two years older.

Previously married? Have the date your last marriage ended. Know whether it ended by divorce, death, or annulment. The Pinellas County clerk will need the state and county where the prior divorce was filed. Without this information, the clerk cannot finish your application. Also, read the Family Law Handbook before your visit. The Florida Bar publishes this guide, and the clerk will ask if you have reviewed it.

Note: Same-gender couples may apply for a Pinellas County marriage license on the same terms as any other couple.

Marriage License Fees in Pinellas County

The fee for a marriage license in Pinellas County is $86. This is the standard fee across all Florida counties. Both people can lower this to $61 by finishing a four-hour premarital preparation course before they apply. The $25 savings comes from Florida Statute 741.0305. Bring the original course completion certificate to the Pinellas County Clerk's office. A copy will not be accepted.

Credit and debit cards are accepted in Pinellas County. A small processing surcharge may be added for card payments. Cash, checks, and money orders are also fine. Certified copies of a recorded marriage license cost a few dollars each. The Pinellas County Clerk's office can tell you the exact copy fee when you visit.

Part of the $86 fee funds the Domestic Violence Trust Fund, and another portion goes to the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund. These amounts are set by state law.

Pinellas County Marriage License Waiting Period

Florida residents who apply for a marriage license in Pinellas County must wait three days before the license takes effect. The license sits idle for those three days. You cannot hold the ceremony until the waiting period ends. This is a statewide rule under Florida Statute 741.04.

There is a way around it. Both people can take a four-hour premarital preparation course from a provider registered in Pinellas County. Bring the certificate to the clerk's office. The license becomes valid right away, and you save $25 on the fee at the same time. Out-of-state couples do not face any waiting period in Pinellas County, regardless of whether they take a course.

Once issued, the Pinellas County marriage license stays valid for 60 days under Florida Statute 741.041. If you do not hold the ceremony within that window, you must apply again and pay the full fee. The ceremony can be held anywhere in Florida, not just in Pinellas County.

After the Wedding in Pinellas County

The officiant must return the signed marriage license to the Pinellas County Clerk within 10 days. Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judicial officers, circuit court clerks, and notaries public are all allowed to perform weddings. The clerk records the license and sends a copy to the Florida Department of Health. This state-level filing takes around 60 days.

You can get copies of a recorded Pinellas County marriage license at the clerk's office. The MyFloridaCounty official records portal lets you search for documents filed in Pinellas County and across the state. The Florida Department of Health holds certificates from June 6, 1927 to the present. You can also order through VitalChek, the state's only approved online vendor.

The portal above allows you to select Pinellas County from a drop-down and search official records filed with the clerk.

Cities in Pinellas County

Pinellas County is home to several large cities. All of them use the same clerk's office in Clearwater for marriage license services. St. Petersburg is the largest city in the county. Clearwater and Largo are also major population centers. Smaller towns like Dunedin, Pinellas Park, Safety Harbor, and Tarpon Springs are part of Pinellas County as well.

Residents of Dunedin, Pinellas Park, and other smaller Pinellas County communities visit the Clearwater courthouse for all marriage license needs.

Nearby Counties

Pinellas County sits on a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides. The counties below are nearby. A Florida marriage license is valid statewide, so you can apply wherever works best for you.