Suwannee County Marriage License

Suwannee County marriage license records are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Live Oak. Both people who plan to wed need to visit the clerk's office to fill out an application and get the license in hand. The clerk keeps all recorded marriage license files for Suwannee County and sends a copy to the state. If you want to search for an old marriage license or apply for a new one, the courthouse on South Ohio Avenue is the place to start. Residents across Suwannee County, from Branford to McAlpin, use this same office for all marriage license needs.

Suwannee County Clerk of Court Office

The Suwannee County Clerk of the Circuit Court handles all marriage license applications in the county. The office sits on South Ohio Avenue in Live Oak, which is the county seat. Staff at the clerk's office walk each couple through the steps to fill out the application and submit the right forms. You do not need an appointment in most cases, but it helps to call ahead if you plan to visit late in the day.

Suwannee County falls within Florida's 3rd Judicial Circuit. The clerk here follows the same rules as every other Florida county. Under Florida Statute 741.01, the clerk is the sole office that can issue a marriage license in each county. That means you must visit the Suwannee County courthouse in person. No other office in the county can do this for you.

The clerk's homepage has the most current info on Suwannee County marriage license services, including office hours and contact details.

If you need to reach the Suwannee County Clerk by phone before your trip, call the number listed below. The staff can tell you what to bring and how long the process takes on any given day.

How to Apply for a Suwannee County Marriage License

Both people must go to the Suwannee County clerk's office at the same time. Bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, or passport all work. You need to give your Social Security number on the application, but you do not need the card itself. Under Florida Statute 741.04, both applicants must be at least 18 years old. A 17-year-old can apply with written consent from both parents, but the other person must not be more than two years older.

If either person was married before, the clerk needs to know when that marriage ended. Was it a divorce, death, or annulment? You also need the state and county where the divorce took place. Without this info, the Suwannee County clerk cannot process your application.

Read the Family Law Handbook before you go. The Florida Bar publishes this guide in three languages. The clerk will ask if you have read it when you apply in Suwannee County.

Note: No blood test is needed for a marriage license in Suwannee County or anywhere else in Florida.

Marriage License Fees in Suwannee County

The standard fee for a marriage license in Suwannee County is $86. Every Florida county charges the same amount. If both people complete a four-hour premarital preparation course before they apply, the fee drops to $61. Florida Statute 741.0305 allows this $25 discount. Bring the original certificate of completion to the clerk's office in Live Oak when you apply. The Suwannee County Clerk accepts cash and other common payment methods for the fee.

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 state law. If you need certified copies later, those run about $3 each from the Suwannee County Clerk. Some counties also perform civil ceremonies for $30, so ask the clerk if that is available in Suwannee County.

Suwannee County Marriage License Waiting Period

Florida residents face a three-day waiting period after the marriage license is issued. This applies in Suwannee County and every other county in the state. The license is not valid until three full days pass. You cannot hold the ceremony before that time runs out.

There is a way to skip the wait. Take a four-hour premarital course from a provider registered with the Suwannee County Clerk. Bring the original certificate when you apply. The license becomes valid right away, and you save $25 on the fee too. Out-of-state residents do not have a waiting period at all, no matter what.

The course covers topics like communication skills, handling conflict, money management, and parenting. Both people can take it together or on their own. Ask the Suwannee County clerk's office for a list of registered course providers in the area.

Note: The premarital course must come from a provider approved by the clerk's office to count toward waiving the wait.

After the Wedding in Suwannee County

Once the ceremony is done, the signed marriage license must go back to the Suwannee County Clerk. The person who performed the wedding usually handles this step. Under Florida Statute 741.041, the marriage license is valid for 60 days. If the ceremony does not happen within that time, the license expires and you have to apply again with a new fee.

The clerk records the license and sends a copy to the Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics. This state-level filing takes about 60 days after the ceremony date. Until then, the state may not have your record on file. You can still get copies from the Suwannee County Clerk during that time.

Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judicial officers, notaries public, and clerks of the circuit court can all perform weddings in Suwannee County. You have plenty of choices for who can officiate your ceremony.

Copies of Suwannee County Marriage Records

The Suwannee County Clerk keeps recorded marriage license files at the courthouse. You can request copies in person or by mail. The MyFloridaCounty official records portal lets you search for recorded documents in Suwannee County and other counties across the state.

The Florida Department of Health also keeps marriage certificates from June 6, 1927 to the present. You can order copies from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. The search fee is $5 for one year and one certified copy. For online orders, VitalChek is the only vendor the state works with. Marriages that took place before 1927 must be requested from the county clerk where the license was first issued.

Cities in Suwannee County

Suwannee County includes the communities of Live Oak, Branford, McAlpin, and several other small towns. None of these cities have their own clerk offices. All Suwannee County residents go to the courthouse in Live Oak for marriage license services. No cities in Suwannee County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page, so the county clerk's office is your sole resource for local marriage license help.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Suwannee County. A marriage license from any Florida county is valid statewide, so you can apply at whichever clerk's office is most convenient.