Access Free Collier County Marriage Records (License Search)

Search free Collier County marriage records to find publicly available information on anybody married locally.

Marriage records can be used to perform a genealogy search or as official government documentation for business or legal matters.

Whatever your reason, marriage records are publicly available due to the Florida Public Records Law passage; anyone can access these marital records, even to satisfy a curiosity about someone you know.

To conduct an efficient search, record seekers must understand which types of marriage records are available, any restrictions, and where to find these documents. Below, you’ll find invaluable information for searching marriage records in Collier County and throughout Florida.

This resource was written by Attorney Robert Bailey Jr, who holds a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law.

How To Search Collier County Marriage Records for Free

If a citizen is trying to access marriage records in Collier County, they can do so through the Clerk’s Office online for any licenses issued from 1990 to the present.

For older marriage records, you’ll have to access the records in person or by formal request.

The quickest way to access marriage records is by using the Collier County Clerk’s Online Search Tool. To use this tool, select “marriage license” under the document types drop-down menu. You can then enter a person’s name and set a date range for when the marriage occurred.

The search results will provide you with both individuals listed on the marriage license and the recorded date. In addition, you can view the specific instrument, book and page number. You can also click the PDF icon on the right-hand side to view the original marriage record.

Another option is searching marriage records or purchasing a copy with the Recording Department.² A certified copy of a marriage record costs a $2.00 flat fee and an additional $1.00 per page. There is also a search fee of $2.00 per name and year, which is why it’s beneficial to conduct your own search online and bring the detailed information to the Recording Department when requesting a copy.

For additional information or to submit a public records request by email, you can contact the Clerk of Courts Custodian of Public Records by email at [email protected] or by phone at 239-252-7531.

For viewing and requesting copies, you can go to any of the Collier County Clerk’s satellite office locations or at their main office, which is located at the address below:³

Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court
3315 Tamiami Trail East, Ste. 102
Naples, Florida 34112

If you are looking for historical or archived marriage records, accessing them is discussed in the next section.

How Do You Access Historical Collier County Marital Records for Genealogical Purposes?

When performing a genealogy search, a person will have to know how to access older archived Collier County marital records. Archived marriage records are vital in assisting a person to understand more about their family history. Collier County does not have a specific archives office.

To access archived records, you will follow a similar process as described above in searching and requesting newer marriage documents through the Collier County Clerk of Court Recording Department.⁴

You can do so by emailing them at [email protected] or by calling them at 239-252-7531. Alternatively, you can go in person to discuss archived marriage records at the address below:

Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court
3315 Tamiami Trail East, Ste. 102
Naples, Florida 34112

Another option is to check for archived marriage records in public libraries, historical societies and churches or religious institutions where marriages were performed. A record seeker may find this information in old newspapers, indexes and other documents. For instance, churches may keep records of all people that were married there since the church began operating.

Sometimes, people look for records on related marital unions. In Florida, there is no state statute that recognizes civil unions or domestic partnerships.

In addition, common law marriage has not been recognized since 1968. Common law marriage in some states is recognized when two people present themselves as married despite never obtaining a license to marry.

You can also contact the State Archives of Florida to see if they have any marriage records or indexes.⁵ Their email is [email protected]. You can also call them at 850-245-6700 or go to the address below:

State Archives of Florida
R.A. Gray Building
500 S. Bronough St.
Tallahassee, Florida 32399

How To Look Up Florida Marriage Records

You now have the tools and resources to perform a Collier County marriage document search. However, you may not have found what you are looking for or have other reasons for expanding your search. Whatever your reason, a citizen can access marriage records throughout the state with the Bureau of Vital Statistics for the Florida Department of Health.⁶

The Bureau of Vital Statistics has marriage records available from June 6, 1927, to the present. To request a record from their office, you can complete their Application for a Florida Marriage Certificate and provide the following information:

• Requester’s contact information and relationship to people on the marriage record
• Date of marriage
• Both parties’ full names and dates of birth on the marriage record
• The county that issued the marriage license
• County and city marriage occurred

The application and fee can be brought in person to the following location:

Florida Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
1217 N. Pearl Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32202

If you would like to mail in your application, you can send it to the address below:

Florida Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Attention: Vital Records Section
PO Box-210
Jacksonville, Florida 32231

The fee for a certified marriage record is $5.00 and must be made payable to “Vital Statistics” (check or money order). This $5.00 fee is nonrefundable, even if the marriage record is not located.

If you are unsure of the marriage year, you can search through a range of years for $2.00 per year (maximum charge of $50.00). Additional fees include $4.00 per extra copy, $1.00 for shipping and handling and $10.00 for a rush fee.

If you need additional clarification on the process for requesting a marriage record, you can contact the Bureau of Vital Statistics by email ([email protected]) or phone (904-359-6900). For both walk-in service and phone calls, the Bureau of Vital Statistics is open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

If you are seeking an online option, Florida does allow the ordering of marriage records through VitalChek, the only approved third-party vendor in the state.⁸ There are additional shipping and processing fees to use this online service.

How Do You Apply for a Marriage License in Collier County Florida?

If a party is looking to get married, the first step is applying for a marriage license. If you are looking to apply for a marriage license, you can do so with the Recording Department of the Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court.⁹

To apply for a marriage license, you must do so in person at one of their satellite locations or at their primary office located at the address below:¹⁰

Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court
Recording Dept. – Marriage License
3315 Tamiami Trail E., Suite 102
Naples, Florida 34112

When going to apply for a marriage license, make sure that both parties are present and that you bring proper government-issued identification (e.g., driver’s license, passport, military ID).

In Collier County, both parties must provide proof they are at least 18 years old along with their Social Security Number. If you and your partner have children together, you should also complete the Affirmation of Common Children Form.

The last mandatory requirement is that before your marriage license is issued, you review the state’s family law handbook.¹²

If you are both non-residents of Florida, the marriage license is effective the day it is issued. If either party is a resident of Florida, the marriage license is not effective until three days after it was issued unless the parties can present a certificate of completion of an approved premarital preparation class.¹³

Regardless of when the marriage license becomes effective, you have sixty days to have your wedding ceremony before it expires. Parties can get married anywhere in Florida and are not limited to the jurisdiction of Collier County. If you are looking for a convenient option for a wedding ceremony, the Collier County Clerk’s Office can perform it for a $30.00 fee.

A marriage license in Collier County costs $61.00 if you provide the premarital course certificates and $86.00 without them. There is also an additional $7.00 charge when submitting the Affirmation of Common Children Form.

If you have any more questions about applying for a marriage license, you can contact the Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court by using their online email form or by calling them at 239-252-2646.¹⁴

This information should now give you a solid understanding of the marriage process in Collier County. Also, you now have the tools and resources you need to perform a thorough search of Collier County marriage records.