Polk County Marriage License Search

Polk County marriage license records are on file at the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Bartow. The Polk County Clerk handles all new applications and keeps the recorded copies after each ceremony takes place. If you need to apply for a marriage license or look up an existing record, the clerk's main office on North Broadway Avenue is where you go. Lakeland, Winter Haven, Haines City, and all other Polk County communities share this office for marriage license services. Both people must come to the clerk's office at the same time. No exceptions.

Polk County Clerk of Court Marriage License Office

The Polk County Clerk of the Circuit Court issues every marriage license in the county. The main office is at 255 N. Broadway Avenue in Bartow. Walk in, bring your ID, and the staff will guide you through the application. The whole process usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes once you reach the counter. Polk County is a large county in central Florida, and the clerk handles thousands of marriage licenses each year.

Under Florida Statute 741.01, the clerk is the only official in the county authorized to issue a marriage license. No other office in Polk County can do this. The Polk County Clerk's website has information about recording services, forms, and office hours that you should check before you visit.

You can view the Polk County Clerk's homepage for the latest updates on services and schedules.

The Polk County Clerk's website is shown above. It links to marriage license forms and other recording division resources for county residents.

Note: Polk County may have satellite offices, but call (863) 534-4000 to confirm which locations accept marriage license applications.

How to Apply for a Polk County Marriage License

Both people go to the Polk County Clerk in Bartow. Bring a valid photo ID. Driver's license, passport, or state ID all work fine. You need your Social Security number too. You do not have to carry the card, but the clerk will ask for the number. Florida Statute 741.04 says both people must be 18 or older. A 17-year-old can apply with written consent from both parents if the age gap between the two applicants is two years or less.

Anyone who was married before must tell the Polk County clerk when that marriage ended and how. Divorce, death, or annulment are the three options. Provide the state and county of the prior divorce. The clerk also requires you to read the Family Law Handbook from the Florida Bar before you apply.

Florida residents who get a marriage license in Polk County have a three-day wait. The license does not become valid until three full days pass. Out-of-state applicants skip this entirely. So do couples who take a four-hour premarital preparation course and bring the certificate to the clerk.

Polk County Marriage License Fees

A Polk County marriage license costs $86. This is the same fee at every clerk's office in Florida. Take a premarital course of at least four hours and the fee drops to $61. Florida Statute 741.0305 allows the $25 discount. The course covers topics like communication, conflict management, financial planning, and parenting. Both people can take it together or on their own.

Cash is always accepted. Some Polk County offices also take credit cards, checks, and money orders. A card surcharge may apply. Part of your fee funds the Domestic Violence Trust Fund, and another part goes to the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund.

Marriage License Validity and Ceremony Rules in Polk County

Your Polk County marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date the clerk issues it. Florida Statute 741.041 sets this deadline. If the 60 days pass without a ceremony, the license expires. You would then have to apply again and pay the full fee at the Polk County Clerk's office. The ceremony can be held anywhere in Florida. It does not need to happen in Polk County.

After the wedding, the officiant returns the signed license to the Polk County Clerk. The clerk records it and forwards a copy to the Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics. This state filing takes roughly 60 days. Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judicial officers, clerks of the circuit court, and notaries public can all officiate in Polk County.

Copies of Polk County Marriage Records

Recorded marriage licenses are on file at the Polk County Clerk's office. You can get copies by visiting in person or by mail. The MyFloridaCounty official records portal lets you search for documents in Polk County and across every Florida county. For state-level records, the Florida Department of Health keeps marriage certificates from 1927 to the present. VitalChek is the state's only approved online vendor for vital records orders.

The state search fee is $5 for one year and one certified copy. Additional copies cost $4 each.

Note: For Polk County marriages before 1927, contact the clerk's office directly since the state does not have those older records.

Cities in Polk County

Polk County covers a large area of central Florida and includes many cities and towns. Lakeland is the largest city in the county. Winter Haven, Haines City, and Auburndale are also significant communities. All of them use the Bartow clerk's office for marriage license services.

Smaller Polk County cities like Winter Haven, Haines City, Auburndale, and Lake Wales do not have their own clerk offices. Residents go to the Bartow courthouse for all marriage license needs.

Nearby Counties

Polk County borders many other Florida counties. You can apply for a marriage license in any of them. The license is valid statewide.