Getting a Marriage License in Palm Beach County
The Clerk issues marriage licenses by appointment at five offices: Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Royal Palm Beach, and Belle Glade. Both parties must apply in person for an in-person license. Couples who cannot make an in-person appointment may be eligible to apply entirely online after meeting extra requirements. The application begins at the Clerk's marriage kiosk, where each applicant first acknowledges the Family Law Handbook.
The ID rules are firm. Each person needs a valid, unexpired U.S. driver's license, federal or state ID, or passport showing name and date of birth. Birth certificates and green cards are not accepted. There is no blood test. Florida residents face a three-day waiting period after applying unless they complete a qualifying premarital course. Non-residents who present valid out-of-state ID have the waiting period waived. The couple must marry in Florida within 60 days, or the license expires.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
A little preparation makes the appointment quick. Bring valid ID, know the exact date and manner that any prior marriage ended, and read the Family Law Handbook ahead of time. Copies of a prior divorce are not required, but the date and manner are.
- Acknowledge the Family Law Handbook on the marriage kiosk and request an in-person appointment.
- Both parties attend the appointment together at one of the five Clerk offices.
- Present a valid, unexpired government photo ID showing name and date of birth.
- Provide any prior-marriage end date and manner, then pay the license fee.
- Observe the three-day waiting period if a Florida resident and no waiver applies, then marry within 60 days.
Marriage License Application Fields
The kiosk and in-person application gather the items below before issuing a license. The Family Law Handbook acknowledgment is the gate that opens the rest of the application.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Family Law Handbook acknowledgment | Yes | Select Yes before the application opens |
| Valid photo ID | Yes | U.S. driver's license, federal/state ID, or passport |
| Both parties present | Yes | Required for an in-person license |
| Prior marriage end date and manner | If applicable | Exact date and manner; copies not required |
| Florida residency | Informational | Sets the three-day waiting period unless waived |
Palm Beach County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Copy and certification fees are set by the Florida Legislature. The specific marriage license and divorce filing fees were not published in the figures gathered, so confirm those amounts with the Clerk before applying. The fees below are the Clerk's published copy and certificate charges that apply to marriage and divorce records.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Certifying copies, per instrument | $2.00 |
| Copies up to 8.5 x 14, per page | $1.00 |
| Electronic certified document | $8.00 plus 3.5% processing |
| Certificate of No Marriage | $7.00 plus $2.00 per year searched |
Note: confirm the current marriage license and divorce filing fees with the Clerk, since those specific amounts were not in the published figures gathered.
How to Look Up Palm Beach County Marriage Records
Once a license is recorded, it becomes part of the Clerk's Official Records. The public can search Official Records online and print uncertified copies for free where available. Certified copies can be ordered online or obtained from the Records Service Center or a branch office. If the license came from another county or state, search that jurisdiction instead. Florida's court structure keeps marriage recording at the county level, with the Clerk acting as county recorder.
To find a recorded marriage, search by the parties' names and the recording year. Useful inputs include complete names, the recording date, and the instrument number if you have it. Florida's court structure page shows how the unified system places these records with the county Clerk.
The Florida court structure page shown above explains why marriage licenses and divorce cases both run through the county Clerk under the unified state system.
How to Find Palm Beach County Divorce Records
Divorce, called dissolution of marriage in Florida, is a Circuit Court family case. Records live in the Clerk's eCaseView portal under Domestic Relations/Family. Related case types include Dissolution, Annulment of Marriage, Child Support, Custody, paternity matters, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Name Change. Search by party name or case number, and narrow by the family court type when a common name returns too many results.
Family case data is searchable, but document images for family cases are restricted to registered users or the attorney of record. The final judgment of dissolution is the key certified document for proof of divorce. To file a divorce, start with the Clerk's Self-Service Center or the Florida Courts family law forms, file the petition where venue and residency are met, pay the filing fee or seek a fee waiver, serve the other party, and complete any required financial affidavits, parenting plan, and hearings.
Getting Certified Copies
The Clerk's copy system has three levels. First, many uncertified marriage and family documents can be viewed and printed for free online. Second, electronic certified copies can be purchased online for $8 per document plus a 3.5 percent processing charge and are delivered soon after purchase. Third, manually stamped certified copies, authenticated or exemplified copies, and records not online go through the Records Service Center by email, mail, phone, or in person at Room 4.2500 of the Main Courthouse. A certified copy is required when a court or agency needs proof of a marriage or divorce.
Q: Can I get a Certificate of No Marriage?
Yes. The Records Service Center offers a Certificate of No Marriage for $7.00 plus an extra $2.00 for each year searched. Requests go through the Records Service Center with sufficient payment, and checks are made payable to Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Palm Beach County.
Divorce When a Spouse Is in Custody
A divorce can move forward even when one spouse is held in the county jail. Service of the petition still has to reach the incarcerated party, and contact rules at the PBSO detention centers shape how the parties communicate. PBSO houses inmates at the Main Detention Center on Gun Club Road and the West Detention Center in Belle Glade, and its corrections rules govern mail and visits.
The Main Detention Center page shown above is where a petitioner can confirm the facility holding a spouse who must be served in a dissolution case.
For a spouse held in the western part of the county, the West Detention Center page lists the Belle Glade address and contact details. Mail and contact follow the PBSO corrections rules.
The West Detention Center page pictured here helps locate a spouse held in Belle Glade who must receive divorce papers.
Reaching an incarcerated spouse about a case follows the jail's mail and contact rules, which the Sheriff's corrections FAQ explains in detail.
The corrections FAQ shown above outlines the mail and contact rules that apply when a divorce involves a spouse in PBSO custody.