Coral Gables City Florida marriage records are official documents that prove a marriage took place within the city or within Miami-Dade County. These records include the marriage license, the marriage certificate, and certified copies that anyone can request.
The city of Coral Gables does not keep its own records. All marriage records for Coral Gables residents are filed with the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court and the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. This page explains how to search, order, and use these records in clear and simple terms.
Marriage Records in Coral Gables Explained
Coral Gables sits inside Miami-Dade County. State law requires every marriage license issued in Florida to go through the county clerk where one of the applicants lives. Since Coral Gables falls under Miami-Dade, all license applications and marriage certificates for city residents are filed at the county level. Three main offices handle these records.
Where Records Are Stored
The Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court Marriage License Bureau keeps original records. The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics, which operates under the Florida Department of Health, keeps statewide copies from June 1927 forward. Older records from before that date stay only at the county level. Local churches, synagogues, and other places of worship may also keep their own logs, but those are private records and not part of the official state system.
Types of Records Available
There are four main types of marriage records in Florida. A marriage license is the permit that lets a couple marry. A marriage certificate is the proof that the marriage already happened. A marriage index is a list of names and dates used for searching. A certified copy is an official duplicate with a raised seal that courts and agencies accept.
What Information Records Contain
A standard Florida marriage certificate shows the full legal names of both spouses, their dates of birth, the date of the marriage, the city or county where the marriage took place, the name of the officiant, the names of witnesses if any were used, and the license number. Social Security numbers appear on the application but get redacted from public copies under Florida law.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
Couples who plan to marry in or near Coral Gables must apply for a license through the Miami-Dade County Clerk. The process takes about 30 minutes if all paperwork is ready. Both applicants must appear together at the clerk’s office.
Office Locations and Hours
The main Marriage License Bureau sits at Overtown Transit Village South, 601 NW 1 Court, Suite 1900, Miami, FL 33136. Phone number is (786) 469-2400. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Miami-Dade also runs five satellite locations across the county. Applicants can visit any location to apply. The clerk accepts walk-ins, but online appointments reduce wait time.
Documents You Need to Bring
Both applicants must show valid photo ID. Accepted forms include a driver’s license from any state, a U.S. passport, a military ID, a state-issued ID card, an alien registration card, or a naturalization certificate. U.S. citizens also need to provide a Social Security number. If either applicant was married before, that person must know the exact date the previous marriage ended. That date can be a divorce date, an annulment date, or a spouse’s date of death. No proof document is needed for this question, but false statements carry legal penalties.
License Fees and Total Costs
A standard marriage license in Miami-Dade costs $86. Couples who finish an approved premarital course within one year of applying pay $61 instead. The course must come from a provider registered with the Florida court system. A clerk-performed ceremony costs an extra $30. Couples can also pay for a duplicate license for $30 if the original gets lost. Changes to a filed license require a court order plus a $30 fee.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard marriage license | $86 |
| License with premarital course | $61 |
| Clerk-performed ceremony | $30 |
| Duplicate license | $30 |
| License correction with court order | $30 plus court costs |
Waiting Period and License Validity
Florida law requires a three-day waiting period between the license issue date and the ceremony date for Florida residents. Non-residents skip this waiting period. Couples who complete a premarital course also skip the waiting period. After the ceremony, the license stays valid for 60 days. If the marriage does not happen within those 60 days, the couple must apply and pay again.
Search Marriage Records Online
Free search tools exist for anyone who wants to check marriage records without leaving home. These systems cover different date ranges, so users should pick the right one for their needs.
Miami-Dade Online Search System
The Miami-Dade Clerk runs the Online Marriage License Bureau search at www2.miamidadeclerk.gov/mlsweb. The database holds records from 1971 to the present. Users can search by full name or by license number. Results show both spouse names and the marriage date. The system runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and does not charge a fee. Records from before 1971 require a phone call to the clerk at (786) 469-2400.
Florida Department of Health Records
The Florida Department of Health keeps statewide marriage records from June 6, 1927 to the present. Their website at floridahealth.gov/certificates-records/marriage-certificates offers a search portal. State copies cost $5 for the first certificate and $4 for each extra certificate ordered at the same time. Processing takes about 5 to 10 business days for mail orders. New records take up to 60 days to appear in the state system after the county files them.
Third-Party Search Services
VitalChek is the official third-party vendor for Florida vital records. Their website at vitalchek.com charges $15 plus $7 for shipping and handling per certificate. This service works well for people who live out of state or who need rush delivery. Other genealogy sites like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch have older Florida marriage indexes, but these come from county courthouse books and may not match state records exactly.
Order Certified Copies of Records
A certified copy is a paper copy of a marriage certificate with an official seal. Banks, courts, immigration offices, and passport agencies require certified copies. There are three ways to order them in Miami-Dade County.
Order Copies Online
The fastest way to get a certified copy is through the clerk’s website at miamidadeclerk.gov/clerk/marriage-licenses-certified-copies.page. Users fill out an online form, pay by credit card, and receive a PDF copy by email within minutes. Paper copies mailed by USPS take about 5 to 7 business days. Online orders cost $9 for the first copy and $7 for each extra copy.
Order Copies In Person
Walk-in customers can visit the Marriage License Bureau at 601 NW 1 Court, Suite 1900, Miami, FL 33136. The office accepts cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. No personal checks. In-person requests get same-day service if the record is on file and the clerk can locate it quickly.
Order Copies by Mail
Mail orders require a written request that includes both full names, the date of marriage, the license number if known, and a daytime phone number. Payment must be a cashier’s check or money order made out to Clerk of the Courts. The mailing address is P.O. Box 011711, Miami, FL 33101. Mail orders take 2 to 3 weeks for processing plus mail time.
Fees for Certified Copies
The base fee for the first certified copy is $9. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $7. If the clerk needs to search more than one year of records to find the file, the fee goes up by $2 per year searched. This happens most often with older records from before 1971.
| Order Method | First Copy Fee | Extra Copies | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online PDF | $9 | $7 each | Minutes |
| Online paper by mail | $9 | $7 each | 5 to 7 business days |
| In person | $9 | $7 each | Same day |
| By mail | $9 | $7 each | 2 to 3 weeks |
Records Before and After 1927
The year 1927 marks a major split in Florida marriage records. State law required all county clerks to send marriage data to the state starting on June 6, 1927. Records from that date forward exist in two places. Older records only exist at the county level.
Records After June 1927
Anyone can search for Florida marriages from June 6, 1927 to today through the Florida Department of Health. The state holds a master index that links to digital images of original certificates. Some early years have only handwritten indexes, which take longer to search. The state accepts mail, online, and in-person requests for these records. Most modern records from 1971 forward are also searchable through the Miami-Dade online portal.
Records Before June 1927
Coral Gables was founded in 1925. Marriage records from that year and earlier in Miami-Dade County only exist at the county clerk’s office. The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics does not have them. Researchers must contact the Miami-Dade Clerk by phone or in person. The clerk’s archivists pull old ledgers and check handwritten entries by hand. This process can take several weeks for each record.
Genealogy Research Methods
Family historians who want older Coral Gables marriage records can use three main sources. First, the Miami-Dade County Clerk archives hold original ledgers and indexes. Second, FamilySearch.org has scanned many Florida county records, including some from Miami-Dade. Third, local churches in Coral Gables, like the Coral Gables Congregational Church and St. Theresa Catholic Church, keep their own marriage logs from the 1920s onward. Researchers should call ahead to confirm hours and access rules.
Use Records for Legal Purposes
Marriage records serve many legal needs beyond genealogy. Banks, courts, and government agencies require these documents for name changes, insurance updates, immigration cases, and passport applications.
Name Changes After Marriage
A certified marriage certificate acts as the legal proof for a name change in Florida. The Social Security Administration requires an original or certified copy to issue a new Social Security card. The Florida DMV requires the same document to update a driver’s license. The U.S. Passport Agency accepts it for passport renewals with a new name. Each agency has its own form and fee, so applicants should check each website before visiting.
Apostille for International Use
Couples who need to use their marriage certificate in another country often need an apostille. An apostille is a state certificate that confirms the document is real. The Florida Department of State issues apostilles at their office in Tallahassee. The fee is $10 per document. Processing takes 5 to 10 business days by mail. Some countries use a different process called authentication, which requires U.S. Department of State approval after the state step.
Correcting Errors in Records
Mistakes on marriage certificates do happen. Common errors include misspellings, wrong birth dates, and incorrect county names. To fix an error, the applicants must file a correction request with the Miami-Dade Clerk. Minor errors cost $30 to fix. Major errors that change the meaning of the record require a court order from a Florida judge. The court order, plus the $30 clerk fee, gets the record corrected and a new certified copy issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers cover the most common questions about Coral Gables marriage records. Each answer gives clear, direct facts based on Florida law and current Miami-Dade County policy.
How long does it take to get a marriage certificate after the wedding?
The officiant signs the marriage license and returns it to the clerk within 10 days of the ceremony. The clerk then files the record and sends the data to the state. Certified copies from the county clerk are ready within 2 to 4 weeks after the wedding. State copies through the Florida Department of Health take 60 days to appear in the system. Couples who need proof faster should order from the county clerk, not the state.
Can anyone get a copy of a Florida marriage certificate?
Yes. Florida marriage certificates are public records under Florida Statute Chapter 119. Any adult can request a certified copy for any reason. The state redacts Social Security numbers before issuing public copies. People who want to keep their record private can file a request under Section 119.071, but this only affects future copies and does not remove the record from the public index.
What if I cannot find my marriage record online?
If the record does not appear in the Miami-Dade online search, it may be older than 1971. It may also be too new, since the county updates the online database daily but delays of 2 to 3 days can happen. Call the clerk at (786) 469-2400 for help. The clerk can search by name, date range, and license number to find the record.
Do I need an appointment to get a marriage license?
No appointment is required. The Miami-Dade Marriage License Bureau accepts walk-ins Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are available online and can cut wait times for busy periods. Couples who schedule appointments usually wait less than 15 minutes. Walk-in customers during peak times like February and June may wait 1 to 2 hours.
Can I marry myself in Coral Gables?
No. Florida law requires a licensed officiant to perform the marriage. Accepted officiants include ordained ministers, rabbis, imams, priests, judges, court clerks, deputy clerks, and Florida notary publics. A notary can perform a marriage only after filing an oath with the county clerk. The officiant must sign the license and return it to the clerk’s office within 10 days.
How do I prove I am divorced if I lost my divorce decree?
The clerk’s office cannot issue a copy of a divorce decree. Divorce records in Florida are kept by the Clerk of Court in the county where the divorce was granted. Miami-Dade divorce records go through the same Clerk of Court at 73 W. Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130. Each certified copy of a divorce decree costs $7. Older divorce records from before 1971 may require a manual search with a $2 per year fee.
What is the difference between a marriage license and a marriage certificate?
A marriage license is the permit that allows a couple to marry. The couple gets this before the ceremony. A marriage certificate is the proof that the marriage already happened. The officiant signs the license after the ceremony, and the clerk files it as a certificate. Both documents have the same names and dates, but the certificate has the official seal and the clerk’s signature. Banks and courts only accept the certificate, not the license.