Santa Rosa County Marriage License Lookup

Santa Rosa County marriage license records are filed at the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Milton. The clerk's office is the only place in the county where you can apply for a new license, and it also keeps recorded copies of past marriage licenses on file. Residents of Navarre, Gulf Breeze, Pace, Jay, and all other Santa Rosa County communities share this one clerk's office for marriage license services. Both people must appear together at the clerk's office to fill out the application. If you need to look up an old marriage license or get a copy, the Milton office handles that too.

Santa Rosa County Clerk Marriage License Office

The Santa Rosa County Clerk of the Circuit Court handles every marriage license issued in the county. The main office is at 6865 Caroline Street in Milton. Walk-ins are accepted. Both applicants come in, show their IDs, pay the fee, and fill out the application. Staff will help you through each step. The process typically takes less than half an hour.

Santa Rosa County is in the Florida Panhandle, just east of Pensacola. Many residents who live closer to Pensacola may find it more convenient to apply in Escambia County instead, since a Florida marriage license from any county is valid statewide. But if Milton is closer, or if you prefer a smaller office with shorter lines, the Santa Rosa County Clerk is a fine choice. Florida Statute 741.01 gives the clerk sole authority over marriage licenses in the county.

Visit the Santa Rosa County Clerk's website for current office hours and forms you can review ahead of time.

The Santa Rosa County Clerk homepage above has links to recording services, public records searches, and other county resources.

Note: Santa Rosa County does not have branch offices for marriage license services, so plan to visit the Milton location.

How to Apply for a Santa Rosa County Marriage License

Both people go to the Santa Rosa County Clerk's office in Milton together. Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, passport, or state ID card. You need your Social Security number but not the physical card. Florida Statute 741.04 requires both people to be at least 18. Parental consent allows a 17-year-old to apply if the other person is not more than two years older.

Anyone who has been married before needs the date that marriage ended. Was it a divorce, death, or annulment? The Santa Rosa County clerk will ask for this, along with the state and county of any prior divorce. You also need to read the Family Law Handbook from the Florida Bar before your visit.

Florida residents face a three-day wait after applying. Take a four-hour premarital course and the wait disappears. You also save $25 on the fee. Out-of-state couples skip the wait entirely.

Santa Rosa County Marriage License Fees

A marriage license in Santa Rosa County costs $86. Take a premarital course and the fee goes down to $61. Florida Statute 741.0305 allows the $25 reduction. The course must be at least four hours and cover communication, conflict management, finances, and parenting. Bring the original certificate to the Milton clerk's office.

The Santa Rosa County Clerk accepts cash and other standard forms of payment. A small surcharge may apply for credit card transactions. Part of your fee goes to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund and part to the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund, as required by Florida law.

Santa Rosa County Marriage License Rules

Your Santa Rosa County marriage license is valid for 60 days. Florida Statute 741.041 sets this limit. If 60 days pass without a ceremony, the license expires. You would need to come back to the clerk in Milton, apply again, and pay a new fee. The wedding can take place anywhere in the state, not just in Santa Rosa County.

After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed license to the Santa Rosa County Clerk. The clerk records it and forwards a copy to the Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics. That state-level filing takes about 60 days. Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judges, court clerks, and notaries public can all perform weddings in Santa Rosa County.

Note: The officiant must return the signed license within 10 days of the ceremony.

Copies of Santa Rosa County Marriage Records

Recorded marriage licenses are on file at the Santa Rosa County Clerk's office. Get copies in person or by mail. The MyFloridaCounty portal lets you search official records from Santa Rosa County and all other Florida counties. For state-level records, the Florida Department of Health has marriage certificates from 1927 to the present. VitalChek is the state's only approved online vendor for ordering vital records.

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

Cities in Santa Rosa County

Santa Rosa County includes Milton, Navarre, Gulf Breeze, Pace, and Jay. None of these cities have a population above 75,000. All residents of Santa Rosa County use the same clerk's office in Milton for marriage license services. Navarre and Gulf Breeze are popular communities along the coast, but the clerk's office is inland in Milton.

Nearby Counties

Santa Rosa County is in the Florida Panhandle. These neighboring counties also issue marriage licenses. A license from any Florida county works statewide.