Getting a Marriage License in Polk County
Florida law makes the Clerk of the Circuit Court the official source for marriage licenses. In Polk County that office is the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. The Clerk describes marriage as a three-part process: apply for a license with the Clerk, perform the ceremony in Florida, and return the recorded license to the Clerk. Six steps cover the full process, from the online application to the final recorded document. There is no official record of a marriage until the license is returned and recorded.
Under Florida Statutes § 741.01, a county court judge or clerk may issue a marriage license. The couple must meet age and eligibility requirements. Government-issued photo identification is required for both applicants. If either person was previously married, the date the prior marriage ended (by divorce or death) must be provided. The license is valid only for a ceremony performed in Florida.
Florida residents face a three-day waiting period after completing the application process, including the office visit and signing. The wait starts after both parties sign, not after the online application is submitted. Non-Florida residents are exempt from the three-day wait. Residents can waive the waiting period if they complete an approved premarital course and provide the completion certificate at the time of application.
The Polk Clerk Marriage Services page lays out the three-part process, the waiting period rules, and links to apply online or request a certified copy.
Once the ceremony is performed, the officiant returns the signed license to the Clerk. The Clerk then records it in the official records. At that point, it becomes a public record and can be viewed online or requested as a certified copy.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
The process requires both applicants to take part. Much of the paperwork can be started online, but both parties must appear in person to sign. Have your documents ready before you go. The Clerk's office is in Bartow, and the process typically moves quickly if all materials are in order.
- Complete the online application. Start at the Clerk's marriage page. Both parties fill out the required information online before the office visit.
- Gather your documents. Bring valid government-issued photo ID. If previously married, bring documentation showing when and how the prior marriage ended.
- Appear together at the Clerk's office. Both applicants must come in person to sign the application. One person cannot sign for the other.
- Present the premarital course certificate, if applicable. Florida residents who want to waive the three-day wait must show proof of completing an approved premarital course at this step.
- Pay the fee and receive the license. The license is issued on the spot. Florida residents without the course certificate begin the three-day wait at this point. Non-residents may proceed immediately.
- Perform the ceremony and return the license. The ceremony must take place in Florida. The officiant signs and returns the license to the Clerk, who records it in official records.
Note: Florida Statutes § 741.04 governs license issuance; the Clerk applies these rules during every application and will tell you if additional steps are needed.
Marriage License Application Fields
The online application collects the information Florida law requires to issue a license. Knowing what you need ahead of time saves time at the office. The table below shows each major field, whether it is required, and any key notes from the Clerk's process description and Florida license requirements.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant 1 legal name | Text | Yes | Full legal name as shown on government ID. |
| Applicant 2 legal name | Text | Yes | Full legal name as shown on government ID. |
| Date of birth / age | Date / number | Yes | Used to verify age eligibility under Florida law. |
| Identification | Selection / text | Yes | Government-issued photo ID required for both parties at office visit. |
| Residence / Florida resident status | Selection / address | Yes | Determines whether the three-day waiting period applies. |
| Prior marriage information | Text / date | If applicable | Date and manner of end (divorce or death) if either applicant was previously married. |
| Premarital course certificate | Checkbox / certificate | Optional | Waives three-day wait for Florida residents when an approved course is completed. |
| Contact information | Phone / email / address | Yes | Used for appointment scheduling and processing communications. |
| Ceremony performed in Florida | Acknowledgment | Yes | License is valid only for ceremonies conducted in Florida. |
How to Look Up Polk County Marriage Records
Marriage licenses become public records once recorded. The Clerk lets anyone view them online for free through the official records browser. You can download or save a copy for your own records without cost. The official records browser includes marriage licenses along with deeds, mortgages, liens, and final court judgments. Search by party name or document type to find a specific license.
If you need a certified official copy, the Clerk offers that through its records request portal at polkcountyclerk.net. You create an account and submit a request. The Clerk's team then contacts you to complete the process, confirm the fee, and arrange payment. Certified copies carry the Clerk's seal and are accepted for legal proceedings. Uncertified online copies are not official records and are not accepted in court.
Note: Online data is a public service and does not constitute the official record; always request a certified copy when the record will be used for a legal or official purpose.
Polk County Marriage and Divorce Fees
The Clerk publishes its full fee schedule at polkcountyclerk.net/267/Fees. Fees below reflect amounts shown in the research for this county. Certification fees apply to every certified copy request, regardless of record type. The Clerk accepts cash, credit card, money order, or check for most services; a service charge applies to credit card payments. For dissolution of marriage filings, the Clerk accepts only cash or credit card.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage certificate suitable for framing (optional) | $7.00 |
| Certifying copies in the public record | $2.00 |
| Photographic public-record copies (14 in. x 8.5 in. or smaller) | $1.00 per page |
| Dissolution of marriage / divorce (including simplified) | $408.00 |
| Searching records | $2.00 per year searched |
| Exemplified / authenticated certificates | $7.00 |
The $408 dissolution filing fee covers standard and simplified divorce petitions. If you qualify for indigent status, the Clerk has a separate process and forms for that determination, which may waive or defer certain fees.
Polk County Divorce Records and the Family Division
Dissolution of marriage cases in Polk County are filed in the Circuit Court family division. The Clerk's divorce page and the Clerk's fee schedule together describe the process. Under Florida Statutes § 61.021, at least one party must have resided in Florida for six months before filing. That residency requirement must be met before the Clerk will accept the petition.
The Florida Statutes § 61.021 page sets the six-month Florida residency requirement that applies to every dissolution of marriage case filed in Polk County.
The Clerk's helpful links section includes TurboCourt self-help packets for two common paths: dissolution without children and dissolution with children. These packets guide self-represented filers through the required forms. A dissolution file typically includes the petition, summons, financial affidavit, UCCJEA affidavit when children are involved, parenting plan, child support worksheet, notices, any mediation orders, the final judgment, and income deduction orders if applicable. Florida Rule 2.425 requires that sensitive personal data be minimized in court filings.
Divorce records are civil court records. Search them in Polk Records Online by party name or case number. Final judgments may also appear in the official records browser as recorded instruments. The case docket, with filed documents and hearing dates, lives in the civil portal.
Steps to File for Dissolution in Polk County
Filing for dissolution follows a set order. The Clerk's divorce page and the TurboCourt packets on the Clerk's forms page walk through each step. The path varies depending on whether the couple has minor children and whether both parties agree.
- Confirm Florida residency. At least one party must have lived in Florida for six months. Have proof ready, such as a Florida driver's license or voter registration.
- Choose the right packet. The Clerk's helpful links point to TurboCourt packets for dissolution without children, dissolution with children, simplified dissolution, modification, and paternity/custody matters.
- File with the Polk Clerk. Submit by e-filing or in person at the Clerk's office. The $408 filing fee is due at this step unless you file for indigent status.
- Pay the fee or apply for indigent status. The Clerk's fee page and indigent status forms cover this process. Cash or credit card only for domestic relations filings.
- Serve the other party. The petitioner must serve the respondent with the petition and summons unless both parties sign a waiver of service.
- Complete required financial and parenting documents. Both parties typically must file financial affidavits. Cases involving children also require a parenting plan and child support worksheet.
- Attend mediation or hearings. The family division may require mediation. Contested issues go to a judge. The progress docket in Polk Records Online shows all scheduled events.
- Obtain the final judgment and certified copies. The judge signs the final judgment. Request certified copies from the Clerk if you need them for name changes, real estate closings, or other legal purposes.
Requesting Certified Copies of Marriage or Divorce Records
Certified copies are the only form of a marriage license or divorce judgment accepted for legal use. Banks, immigration offices, Social Security Administration, and courts all require the Clerk's certification seal. Plain copies viewed or downloaded online are not sufficient for those purposes.
To request a certified copy, use the Clerk's records request portal at polkcountyclerk.net/330/Request-Record-Copies. Create an account, select the record type (marriage license, divorce record, or court record), and submit the request. The Clerk's team will contact you to confirm the case or document reference, the fee, and the payment method. The base certification fee is $2.00 per item. Additional per-page copy fees apply depending on size. Exemplified or authenticated certificates cost $7.00 each.
The Florida Statutes § 741.01 page authorizes county court judges and clerks to issue marriage licenses, forming the legal basis for the Clerk's role in Polk County marriage records.
If you prefer to request a copy in person, bring the case number or names of both parties and a valid ID. The Clerk's office is at 255 North Broadway Avenue, Bartow. Payment at the counter follows the same fee schedule.