Fort Myers City Florida marriage records are public files that show who got married, when the wedding took place, and where the marriage was filed. The Lee County Clerk of Courts keeps these records for Fort Myers and all of Lee County.
The Florida Department of Health in Jacksonville also holds statewide marriage records from June 6, 1927 to today. People search Fort Myers marriage records for many reasons. Some need a certified copy for a name change at the Social Security office. Others need proof of marriage for a bank account, passport, or insurance policy. Genealogy researchers look for older records to build family trees. Foreign governments often ask for certified copies too.
This page explains how to get records, what fees apply, where to apply, and which documents you need. Fort Myers serves as the county seat of Lee County. So residents can handle all marriage paperwork without leaving the city.
Lee County Clerk of Courts Marriage Records
The Lee County Clerk of Courts keeps every marriage record filed in Fort Myers and the rest of Lee County. The clerk office issues marriage licenses, files signed licenses after weddings, and issues certified copies of marriage certificates. The main clerk office sits in downtown Fort Myers. Two branch offices in Cape Coral and Bonita Springs offer limited services for license applications.
Office Location and Hours
The Lee County Clerk of Courts main office sits at 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901. The phone number for marriage records and license questions is (239) 533-5007. Office hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office closes on weekends, state holidays, and county holidays.
Walk-in visitors get served on a first-come, first-served basis. Lines tend to be longer on Mondays, Fridays, and the days right after holidays. Early mornings around 8:00 a.m. usually have shorter waits. Free public parking sits next to the courthouse for visitors coming to apply for a license or pick up certified copies. Bring a valid photo ID to pass through the security entrance.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
Couples who want to marry in Fort Myers must apply for a license at the clerk office. Both people must show up together. The clerk will not issue a license to just one partner. Plan to spend about 30 to 45 minutes at the office for the full application. Some couples finish in 15 minutes when lines are short.
Each person needs to bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Driver licenses, passports, military IDs, and state-issued ID cards all work. You also need to know your Social Security number. The clerk will not photocopy the Social Security card, but the number must be provided on the application. If either person was married before, bring the exact date the prior marriage ended. This means the final divorce date, the date of death of a former spouse, or the date of annulment.
The clerk accepts cash and credit or debit cards for payment. Personal checks are not accepted for marriage license fees. After payment, the clerk prints the license on the spot. The license stays valid for 60 days from the issue date. Couples must hold the wedding ceremony within those 60 days. After 60 days, the license expires and a new application is required along with a new fee.
Florida residents face a 3-day waiting period before the license becomes valid. So a license issued on Monday becomes valid on Thursday. Couples who complete an approved premarital course skip this 3-day wait. The course must come from a registered provider under Florida Statute Chapter 741. Couples who finish the course within the past year also get a lower license fee.
Marriage License Fees in Fort Myers
The standard marriage license fee in Fort Myers is $86 as of 2026. Couples who complete a registered premarital course pay $61 instead. The savings come out to $25 per couple. The lower fee applies only if the course completion certificate is shown at the time of application. A course older than one year does not qualify for the discount.
A civil ceremony performed by a clerk or deputy clerk costs an extra $30. Many couples combine the license application with a same-day civil ceremony for a total of $116. Both partners must still be present for the ceremony. Witnesses are not legally required in Florida. So couples can marry privately with just the clerk and the officiant.
| Service | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage License (Standard) | $86 | 3-day wait applies |
| Marriage License (With Course) | $61 | No waiting period |
| Civil Ceremony by Clerk | $30 | Added to license fee |
| Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate | $7 | First copy |
| Additional Certified Copies | $5 each | Same order |
Search Fort Myers Marriage Records Online
Many Fort Myers marriage records can be searched online without visiting any office. Three main online options exist for people who want to look up or order records. The Lee County Clerk portal covers local records. The Florida Department of Health covers statewide records. VitalChek handles online orders through a private vendor that partners with the state.
Lee County Official Records Search
The Lee County Clerk runs an online records portal on the clerk website at leeclerk.org. The portal covers marriage records filed in Lee County. Anyone can search without paying. You can search by either spouse name or by date range. Partial name searches work for older records where spelling may differ.
The free search shows basic record data. The data includes both names, the marriage date, and a document number. To get a full certified copy through the portal, you pay a fee by credit card. The portal accepts Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. Search results usually show within seconds for records filed after 1990. Older records may take longer to load as the system scans older index files.
Florida Department of Health Records
The Florida Department of Health keeps statewide marriage records from June 6, 1927 forward. The Bureau of Vital Statistics office sits in Jacksonville at 1217 Pearl Street. State records cover all 67 Florida counties, including Lee County. State records are useful when you do not know the exact county where the marriage took place.
Online orders through the Florida Department of Health cost $5 for the search. The fee includes one certified copy. Extra certified copies at the same time cost $4 each. Standard mail delivery takes 2 to 3 weeks. Rush service ships in about 5 business days for an extra fee of $10. Online payment is by credit or debit card.
The state office holds all marriage records filed after June 6, 1927. Records before that date stay only at the county level. So very old Fort Myers marriages from the late 1800s and early 1900s exist only in Lee County archives. Researchers need to contact the county clerk for those older records.
VitalChek Online Service
VitalChek works as an official partner of the Florida Department of Health. The service lets you order marriage records fully online. You fill out the request form with both names and the marriage date, pay by credit card, and receive the certified copy by mail. VitalChek operates a secure payment system that meets state security rules.
VitalChek charges $15 for the base search plus a service fee of around $10 to $15. The total fee often runs $25 to $30. Some people prefer this option because no office visit or letter is needed. The whole process happens online from start to finish. Delivery by regular mail takes 7 to 10 business days. Express shipping options cost extra.
Order Certified Copies of Marriage Certificates
A certified copy of a marriage certificate has a raised seal or stamp from the issuing office. Banks, insurance companies, courts, and foreign governments require certified copies. Regular printouts from a website do not count for legal use. A certified copy proves the marriage on file with the state or county government.
In-Person Requests at the Clerk Office
The fastest way to get a certified copy is to visit the Lee County Clerk office in Fort Myers. Walk in during business hours. Fill out a request form at the records counter on the first floor. Pay the fee and receive your copy the same day in most cases. Some requests for very old records may need a search and a short wait.
The cost is $7 for the first certified copy. Each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $5. Bring a valid photo ID for the request. State the full names of both spouses and the year of the marriage to help staff locate the record. Including the marriage date or month speeds up the search. Staff can look up records by name alone, but a date narrows the search.
Mail-In Requests
Mail requests work for people who live outside the Fort Myers area. Send a written request to the clerk office address. Include both full names, the date or year of marriage, your contact info, and a check or money order for the fees. Make checks payable to Lee County Clerk of Courts.
Mail the request to Lee County Clerk of Courts, P.O. Box 2467, Fort Myers, FL 33902. Processing time runs about 7 to 10 business days. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for return mail. Online tracking through the clerk website lets you check the status of mail orders.
Online Orders
Online orders through the Lee County portal work for many records filed after 1990. Pay by credit card. The system processes the order and mails the certified copy. Online orders take about 5 to 7 business days for delivery. Each certified copy costs $7 online, the same as in-person fees.
For records filed before 1990, you may need to contact the clerk office directly. Some older records were not fully digitized. The clerk staff can search older index books for you. The search fee may add $2 to the base certified copy fee.
Historical and Genealogy Marriage Records
Genealogy researchers often need older Fort Myers marriage records. These records help build family trees and prove ancestry for citizenship, trust funds, or heritage societies. Records older than 1927 only exist at the county level. The state office does not have them. Older records often have less information than newer ones.
Pre-1927 Records
Florida did not collect marriage records at the state level until June 6, 1927. So any Fort Myers marriage before that date lives only in the Lee County archives. The clerk staff can search older books, ledgers, and microfilm for these records. Some early Lee County marriage records date back to the 1880s when the county was formed.
Researchers should contact the clerk’s archive section directly by phone at (239) 533-5007. Phone calls help narrow the search. The archive fee for older records may differ from the standard $7 certified copy fee. A typical archive search costs $10 to $15 based on the time needed. Some older records require extra search time and a staff member to pull physical books.
Florida Statewide Marriage Index
The Florida Department of Health runs a statewide marriage index covering 1927 to the present. Researchers can search this index online through the Florida Department of Health website. The index lists both names, the marriage date, and the county where the marriage took place. This tool helps confirm whether a marriage happened in Florida.
Each index entry costs $5 to view the full record details. The fee includes one certified copy. The index helps confirm whether a marriage took place in Florida and points to the right county for further research. Researchers building family trees often use the index to check multiple states for the same family.
Replace a Lost Marriage Certificate
Lost marriage certificates can be replaced. The replacement copy is a new certified copy from the official record. It carries the same legal weight as the original. Many people lose their original copy when moving, going through a divorce, or after a house fire or flood.
Required Documents
To replace a lost certificate, you need to submit a request to the Lee County Clerk or the Florida Department of Health. No proof of loss is required. Fill out the request form with both full names and the marriage date. If you do not know the exact date, an approximate year helps staff narrow the search.
A valid photo ID helps confirm your identity. You do not need to be a party to the marriage to request a copy. Florida marriage records are public under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Family members, lawyers, and genealogists can all request copies of Fort Myers marriage records.
Processing Times and Costs
In-person requests at the Lee County Clerk cost $7 for the first copy. You get the replacement the same day in most cases. Mail and online orders take longer but cost the same amount. The clerk does not charge extra for replacement copies.
State-level requests through the Florida Department of Health cost $5 for the search plus $4 per certified copy. State processing times run 2 to 3 weeks by regular mail. Rush options cut the time to 5 business days for an extra fee of $10. Express shipping through UPS or FedEx costs extra based on the delivery address.
Apostille for Florida Marriage Certificates
An apostille is a special stamp that proves a document is real for use in foreign countries. Countries that joined the Hague Apostille Convention accept apostilled documents. Fort Myers residents often need apostilles for marriages that happen overseas or for name changes abroad. Some countries also require apostilles for property matters, retirement, and immigration.
When You Need an Apostille
You need an apostille when a foreign government or agency asks for one. Common situations include immigration cases, dual citizenship applications, marriage abroad, and overseas property matters. Each country has its own rules. Some do not require an apostille at all. Countries outside the Hague Convention require a different process called authentication.
The Florida Secretary of State issues apostilles in Florida. You cannot get an apostille at the county clerk office. The clerk only certifies the marriage certificate. The Secretary of State adds the apostille after the clerk certifies the document. Two separate steps are needed for a complete apostille.
How to Get an Apostille
First, get a certified copy of the marriage certificate from the Lee County Clerk. Then submit the certified copy to the Florida Secretary of State. The Secretary of State office sits in Tallahassee at 500 South Bronough Street. Mail-in requests work for most people. Walk-in service is also available during business hours.
The apostille fee is $10 per document in 2026. Add return postage or include a prepaid envelope. Processing takes 5 to 10 business days by mail. Some private services offer faster apostille processing for an extra fee. These private couriers pick up the document from the clerk office and deliver it to the Secretary of State directly.
Fort Myers Marriage Records FAQ
This section answers common questions about Fort Myers marriage records. The answers cover fees, processing times, legal rules, and special cases. Each answer gives clear facts based on current Florida law and Lee County procedures in 2026.
Can anyone get a copy of a Fort Myers marriage record?
Yes. Florida marriage records are public under Florida Statute Chapter 119. Anyone can request a copy without showing a reason. You do not need to be a spouse, family member, or lawyer. Sensitive data like Social Security numbers gets redacted from public copies before release. Birth dates and full names stay visible. The clerk removes the Social Security number, race, and any medical data before issuing public copies.
How long does it take to get a certified copy in person?
Same-day service is normal at the Lee County Clerk office in Fort Myers. Most requests finish in 15 to 30 minutes at the records counter. Wait times grow during lunch hours and the first week of each month. Some older records that need manual archive searches may take 1 to 2 business days. The clerk will call you when the record is ready.
What if I do not know the exact date of the marriage?
The clerk staff can search by year or year range. Provide both full names and an approximate date or year. For older records, the archive team can search through books and microfilm. Extra search fees may apply for very old records. The archive fee starts at $10 for a basic search and goes up based on the time needed to find the record.
Are Fort Myers marriage records from 1950 available?
Yes. Florida started collecting statewide marriage data on June 6, 1927. So any Fort Myers marriage from June 6, 1927 forward exists at the state and county level. Earlier records stay only at the Lee County clerk office. You can order certified copies from either the state office or the county clerk for post-1927 records. The county clerk is faster for local Fort Myers records.
Can I get a Florida marriage certificate online?
Yes. The Florida Department of Health, Lee County Clerk portal, and VitalChek all offer online orders. The Lee County portal works best for local Fort Myers records. The state portal and VitalChek work for any Florida county. Online orders ship by mail within 5 to 14 business days. The certified copy you receive in the mail is the same as an in-person copy.
Do I need an appointment for the clerk office?
No appointment is needed for marriage license applications or certified copy requests. The clerk office accepts walk-ins during business hours. Marriage ceremonies with a clerk do require scheduling in some cases. Call (239) 533-5007 to book a civil ceremony at least one week ahead. The clerk can often schedule a ceremony on the same day as the license application.
What is the difference between a marriage license and a marriage certificate?
A marriage license is the legal permission to get married. You get it before the wedding. A marriage certificate is the proof that the marriage happened. The clerk issues the license. After the wedding, the officiant files the signed license. The clerk then records it as a marriage certificate in the county and state records. The certified copy of the marriage certificate is what most people need for legal matters.
Official Resources for Fort Myers Marriage Records
Lee County Clerk of Courts
2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: (239) 533-5007
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Website: https://www.leeclerk.org/
Marriage License: Apply in person, both partners required
Certified Copies: $7 first copy, $5 each extra copy
Online Records: https://www.leeclerk.org/
Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
1217 Pearl Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904) 359-6900
Website: https://www.floridahealth.gov/certificates-records/marriage-certificates
Statewide Records: From June 6, 1927 to present
Search Fee: $5 per record