Taylor County Florida marriage records are public files kept by the Clerk of Court in Perry, Florida. The clerk office issues marriage licenses, stores completed records, and gives copies to anyone who asks.
Taylor County sits on the Gulf Coast in the Big Bend area. Perry is the county seat and the only place inside the county where you can apply for a marriage license. This page covers how to search, request, and get certified copies of Taylor County Florida marriage records. It also lists fees, office hours, phone numbers, and the steps for both new applications and old record lookups.
Where to Get Taylor County Florida Marriage Records
The Taylor County Clerk of Court handles every marriage license and record in the county. There is no other office in Taylor County that issues or stores these files. All requests for certified copies, new licenses, or historical searches go through this one clerk office in the Perry courthouse.
Taylor County Clerk of Court Office
The Clerk of Court is the main office for marriage records in Taylor County. The clerk files licenses after the wedding, keeps old records safe, and makes certified copies. You can visit in person, call, or send mail. The clerk office also performs civil ceremonies for a small fee under Florida law.
Official Website and Online Tools
The clerk office runs a website at taylorclerk.com. The site may have search tools for public records, court records, and some marriage record data. Online tools change over time, so check the site directly for the latest features. Some searches may need a visit to the office in person.
How to Request Taylor County Florida Marriage Records
You can request Taylor County Florida marriage records in person, by mail, or online. The method you choose depends on how fast you need the copy and what type of record you want. A certified copy has a raised seal and works for legal name changes, insurance, and passport applications.
Step-by-Step Request Process
The first step is to gather key facts. You need the full names of both spouses on the marriage license. You also need the year of the marriage if you know it. Without these facts, the clerk may need more time to search old books. The clerk keeps paper records from before 1970 in bound books. Records from 1970 forward are on the state computer system.
- Gather the full legal names of both spouses.
- Find the year of the marriage if possible.
- Choose in-person, mail, or online order.
- Pay the required fee for a certified copy.
- Show valid photo ID if you visit in person.
Who Can Request a Copy
Florida law makes marriage records public. Any adult can ask for a copy of a Taylor County marriage record. You do not need to be a family member. You do not need to show why you want it. The clerk office will still ask for photo ID to protect personal data like Social Security numbers on the file.
Documents You Need to Bring
For a new marriage license, both people must show up in person. Each person needs a valid photo ID, like a driver license, state ID card, or passport. U.S. citizens must give a Social Security number. If either person was married before, you must show the exact date the prior marriage ended by divorce, death, or annulment.
Taylor County Clerk of Court Contact Details
The clerk office is in the county courthouse in downtown Perry. You can call the office, send mail, or visit during business hours. The clerk staff can answer questions about marriage records, fees, and what you need to bring.
Address, Phone, and Hours
The clerk office sits at the Taylor County Courthouse in Perry, Florida. The office phone number is (850) 838-3506. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office closes on state and federal holidays. Call ahead before you drive to Perry, especially if you live outside the county.
Services Offered by the Clerk
The clerk office handles marriage licenses, civil ceremonies, and certified copies of marriage records. The clerk also keeps court records, property records, and other public files. For civil ceremonies, the clerk charges an extra fee. You do not need an appointment for civil ceremonies, but you should call the office to schedule one.
Map and Directions
The Taylor County Courthouse sits in downtown Perry, Florida. Perry is about 50 miles southeast of Tallahassee on U.S. Highway 19. The courthouse address is 108 North Jefferson Street, Perry, FL 32347. Parking is free at the courthouse. The building has wheelchair access at the main entrance.
Taylor County Marriage License Fees
The cost of a marriage license in Taylor County depends on whether you take a premarital course. Florida law lets counties charge a base fee plus state surcharges. The clerk office in Perry follows the state fee schedule set by Florida law.
Standard Marriage License Fee
A standard Taylor County marriage license costs $86.00 without a premarital course. The fee includes a $2.00 application charge and $25.00 for the Florida Domestic Violence Trust Fund under Florida Statute 741.01. The rest covers the clerk fee and state surcharges.
Discounted Fee With a Premarital Course
If both people complete an approved premarital course within one year of applying, the fee drops to $61.00. The course also removes the three-day waiting period for Florida residents. You must bring the course completion certificate to the clerk office when you apply. The course must come from a provider approved by the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Accepted Payment Methods
The clerk office accepts cash, money orders, and most major debit or credit cards at the window. Personal checks are not always accepted. Call the clerk office at (850) 838-3506 before you go to confirm payment options. Small county offices sometimes have limits on card payments.
Marriage License Requirements in Taylor County
Florida law sets the basic rules for marriage licenses. Taylor County follows the same rules as the rest of the state. The clerk office will not issue a license unless you meet every rule listed below.
Age and Identification Rules
Both applicants must be at least 18 years old to marry without parental consent. If either person is 16 or 17, a parent or legal guardian must appear in person and sign a written consent form. Applicants under 16 need a court order. Each applicant must show a valid photo ID. Accepted IDs include a driver license, state ID card, passport, or military ID.
Waiting Period and License Validity
Florida has a three-day waiting period between getting the license and the wedding for Florida residents. The waiting period does not apply if both people are non-residents, if a premarital course was completed, or if a judge waives it. A marriage license stays valid for 60 days from the issue date. If you do not marry within 60 days, the license expires and you must apply again and pay another fee.
Family Law Handbook Requirement
Florida law requires both applicants to read the Family Law Handbook before the clerk issues the license. The handbook covers domestic violence, parenting, and divorce laws in Florida. You can read it online at the clerk office or on the Florida Supreme Court website. The clerk will ask you to sign a form saying you read it.
Searching Taylor County Marriage Records Online
You can search some Taylor County marriage records online without visiting the clerk office. The state of Florida keeps a central database of marriage records from 1927 forward. Taylor County keeps older records in its own office. Several online search tools exist for genealogy and quick lookups.
Florida Department of Health Marriage Index
The Florida Department of Health runs the Office of Vital Statistics. This office keeps marriage records from June 6, 1927 to the present. You can order a search and certified copy for $5.00 plus processing fees. Online orders go through VitalChek at floridahealth.gov. Phone orders are at 1-877-550-7330. Processing takes three to five business days for computer records from 1970 forward.
Clerk’s Website Search Tool
The Taylor County Clerk website may have an online search tool for recorded documents. Some records may be searchable by name or document type. The site tools change, so check the homepage for the latest search options. If the clerk office does not have what you need online, call or visit the office for help.
Third-Party Search Websites
FamilySearch and Ancestry.com have large collections of Florida marriage records. These sites work well for genealogy research. FamilySearch offers free access with a free account. Ancestry requires a paid subscription for most records. The records may include scanned images of original marriage licenses and certificates.
Taylor County Marriage Records by Name and Date
You can search marriage records by the names of the spouses or by the date of the marriage. The clerk office can search by either method if you give enough facts. A name search needs the full legal name of at least one spouse. A date search needs the exact year or a narrow range of years.
Searching by Name
Bring the full legal names of both people on the marriage license. The clerk can search old paper books and computer records by name. A common spelling change can slow the search. The clerk may ask for a date range if there are too many results with the same name.
Searching by Date
If you know the year or month of the marriage, a date search is faster. The clerk can pull the bound book for that year or run a computer query by date. Records from before 1970 sit in paper books organized by year. Records from 1970 forward sit in the state database with the marriage date as a search field.
Taylor County Historical Marriage Records
Taylor County has old marriage records that go back to the 1800s. These records help with genealogy research and legal proof of family ties. The state database only covers records from June 6, 1927 to the present. Older records sit in the Taylor County Clerk office in Perry.
Records Before 1927
The state did not start collecting marriage records until June 6, 1927. Any Taylor County marriage before that date lives only at the Taylor County Clerk office. These old records sit in paper books in the courthouse. The clerk can search these books for you. You must give as much detail as possible to help the search.
Records from 1927 to Present
The Florida Office of Vital Statistics holds every marriage record from June 6, 1927 to the present. You can order a search through the state, the county clerk, or VitalChek. Records from 1970 forward are on the state computer. Records from 1927 to 1970 sit on microfilm at the state office. Taylor County marriage records from 1927 to 1970 may take longer to copy.
Certified Copies and Apostilles for Taylor County Records
A certified copy of a marriage certificate has a raised seal and works for legal purposes. If you need to use the certificate in another country, you may also need an apostille. An apostille is a state seal that proves the document is real for use in countries that joined the Hague Convention.
How to Get a Certified Copy
The clerk office charges a fee for each certified copy. Florida law caps the copy fee at $1.00 per certified copy under Florida Statute 119.07. The clerk may add a search fee if the record is not in the state computer. The search fee is $5.00 per five-year period for records from 1970 forward. Older records have a higher search fee.
Apostille Process for Florida Marriage Certificates
An apostille proves a Florida marriage certificate is real for use in another country. The Florida Department of State handles apostilles. You send the certified copy of the marriage certificate, a request form, and a fee to the Department of State in Tallahassee. The department returns the document with the apostille attached. Processing usually takes a few business days.
Taylor County Marriage Records for Genealogy Research
Taylor County marriage records help people trace family history. The records list full names, ages, birthplaces, and the names of parents. These facts help build family trees and prove family ties across generations. Old records from the 1800s and early 1900s may sit in the county courthouse, on microfilm, or online.
FamilySearch and Ancestry Records
FamilySearch has a free collection of Florida marriage records. The site lets you search by name and view scanned images. Ancestry.com has a larger collection but requires a paid subscription. Both sites have Taylor County records for various years. The records can include marriage licenses, certificates, and church records.
Local Libraries and Archives
The Taylor County Public Library has local history and genealogy resources. The library staff can help you search local records. The library may have old newspapers, family files, and church records that list marriages. The clerk office can also point you to local records not on the state database.
Florida Marriage Records Statewide Database
Florida runs a statewide database of marriage records from June 6, 1927 to the present. The database includes records from all 67 counties. You can search the database through the Florida Department of Health, VitalChek, or approved third-party sites.
Records Covered by the Statewide Database
The database has every marriage license filed in Florida from June 6, 1927 forward. The records include the names of both spouses, the date of the marriage, and the county where the license was issued. The database does not have records from before June 6, 1927. Those records stay with each county clerk office.
How to Search the Statewide Database
The Florida Department of Health runs the search through its website at floridahealth.gov. You can also order through VitalChek online or by phone. The search costs $5.00 for the search and one certified copy. Extra copies cost more. Processing takes three to five business days for records on the state computer.
Taylor County Clerk of Court Quick Reference
The clerk office is the main contact for every marriage record need in Taylor County. The table below lists the key facts about the clerk office.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Office Name | Taylor County Clerk of Court |
| Address | 108 North Jefferson Street, Perry, FL 32347 |
| Phone | (850) 838-3506 |
| Website | taylorclerk.com |
| Office Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| License Fee (Standard) | $86.00 |
| License Fee (With Course) | $61.00 |
| License Validity | 60 days from issue |
| Waiting Period | 3 days (Florida residents) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are clear answers to common questions about Taylor County Florida marriage records. These answers cover searches, copies, fees, and legal use of the records. If your question is not here, call the Taylor County Clerk of Court at (850) 838-3506 for direct help.
How do I find old Taylor County marriage records?
Records from before June 6, 1927 sit only in the Taylor County Clerk office in Perry. You can visit the courthouse or call (850) 838-3506 to ask the clerk staff to search the old paper books. Bring the full names of both spouses and a date range to speed up the search. The clerk charges a search fee plus the certified copy fee for each copy you order.
Can I search Taylor County marriage records for free?
You can search some Taylor County marriage records for free through FamilySearch.org with a free account. The Taylor County Clerk office also lets you search public records in person at no charge. The clerk charges a fee only when you ask for a certified copy or for the staff to run a search on old paper records. Online state searches through VitalChek charge a fee for each search.
How long does it take to get a certified copy?
Computer records from 1970 forward take three to five business days to process. Older records from 1927 to 1970 may take longer because the clerk must pull microfilm or paper books. In-person requests at the Taylor County Clerk office can sometimes be filled the same day for records on the state computer. Mail requests add shipping time on top of the processing time.
Do I need an appointment for a marriage license in Taylor County?
You do not need an appointment for a marriage license at the Taylor County Clerk office. Both people must show up in person during business hours. The office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office closes on state and federal holidays. Call (850) 838-3506 before you go to confirm hours and payment options.
What if my marriage license expired before I used it?
A Florida marriage license stays valid for 60 days from the issue date. If the license expires before the wedding, you must apply again and pay a new fee. The clerk office will give you a new license with a new 60-day window. You must both show up in person again with valid photo ID and any required divorce or death documents.
Can I use my Florida marriage certificate in another country?
A Florida marriage certificate works in many countries, but some require an apostille. An apostille is a state seal that proves the document is real. The Florida Department of State in Tallahassee handles apostilles. You send the certified copy, a request form, and a fee to the department. The department sends back the document with the apostille attached for use abroad.
Are Taylor County marriage records public?
Yes, Taylor County marriage records are public under Florida Statute Chapter 119. Any adult can ask for a copy. You do not need to be a family member. The clerk protects personal data like Social Security numbers under Section 119.071. The rest of the record, including names, dates, and filing county, stays open to the public.