View Free Alachua County Marriage Records (Recent & Archived)

Begin your free Alachua County marriage records search to find out more about wedded individuals living in your area.

Documents such as county marriage records have always been open to the public; however, with plenty of official agencies and third-party websites offering this data, it can get a bit confusing if citizens are unsure what to look out for.

This resource streamlines this process for all curious individuals. It elaborates on the type of information available along with the details needed to find people’s marital status in Alachua County, Florida.

How To Acquire Alachua County Marriage Records for Free

Before searchers can begin looking for marital records, they need to gather some information on the individuals that they are looking for. Often, the more information searchers can acquire and provide, the more accurate the final results will turn out to be. Some of the details required are as follows:

• The given names of the couple before they married
• Date of birth of the two spouses
• Exact date that the marriage took place
• Place the wedding was held — both city or county information can be added
• County where the wedding license was created

In order to look for marital records, citizens can use the Alachua County Clerk of the Court’s Public Access portal.¹

When conducting a search using the clerk’s online forms, any unrestricted search will only provide around 500 records. As of right now, the online index will only provide records dating from August 21, 1971. Citizens can also visit the clerk in person using the following info:

Clerk of the Court
Attn: Official Records
201 E. University Ave.,
Gainesville, FL 32601

Phone: (352)-374-3625
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:15 AM – 5 PM

Citizens should note that if they are using the online form to look for marriage records, there will be a ledger stating “Unofficial Document” across the document. In order to get certified copies, searchers will have to visit the County Clerk in person. Buying these official records will cost citizens $2 per certification.

With the help of this basic information, citizens will find it easier to obtain records on specific individuals. Using these details, searchers can use the Alachua County Board of County Commissioner’s services to find the information that they are looking for. The board has a free online public record request form which can be used to order marital documentation.²

If citizens have already used the Board of County Commissioners’ form before, they can track their previous searches using the Public Records Requests Track Status Page.³ Searchers can also look through the search archive to access public requests without having to make a request themselves. It is important to note that for most data searches, inquirers will have to make their own requests.

The online form comes with its own separate list of details that individuals will have to input. The details required in this form are as follows:

1. Requestor’s Name
2. Address – where the records should be sent
3. Requestor’s City of Residence
4. State of Residence & Zip Code
5. Mobile Number & Email
6. Description of the Request — Here, citizens should add all the necessary information mentioned above (Details of Spouses, etc.)

It is important to note that as per Florida’s Sunshine Law, as summarized by the Office of Attorney General, citizens are not required to provide identification while requesting public records, such as Alachua County marital records. Therefore, it is not mandatory to fill personal information in the online form, specifically 1-5.

High Springs residents looking for online marriage records can use the City Clerk’s help to do so using the Public Record Request online form.⁴

Here, they will be required to add their email, details of the records being requested and information as to how they would like to get the results. If citizens want to obtain physical records, they can submit the request and contact the city clerk via the following information:

High Springs City Clerk’s Office
23718, W US HWY 27,
High Springs, FL 32643

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 7:30 AM – 6 PM
Phone: 386-454-1416 (Option 6)
Email: [email protected]

If citizens are looking for records prior to 1971, then they will have to search through historical documentation. The following section will elaborate more on how ancient archives can be used for archived data.

How Do I Find Historical or Archived Marriage Records in Alachua County for Free?

Many of the indexes mentioned above only show wedding licenses after a specific date. Citizens who are looking for marriage records in Alachua County prior to August 21, 1971, will have to use the Alachua County Clerk of the Court’s Ancient Archives.⁵

This form will provide searchers with results from 1837 to May 1973. Here, curious parties can add the groom and bride’s given name + surname. All of the details are not necessary and single-letter searches can also be made. However, individuals should note that upon doing so, they’ll be met with a lot of results.

Citizens can also use the Alachua County Ancestry Library Edition to find old marriage records. This service is only available to use in-person at their local library. The locations as well as hours for all the county libraries are mentioned on the official library district website.⁶ The directions to the Alachua branch can be found below:

Alachua Library Branch
14913 NW 140 St.,
Alachua, FL 32615

Hours: Monday – Friday, 10 AM – 6 PM, Saturday, 10 AM – 5PM, Sunday, 12 PM – 5 PM
Phone: 386-462-2592

Citizens should note that Florida did not recognize common-law marriages post January 1, 1968. However, in 2016, this law was finally repealed; so, some marriage records searches may not be visible in any indexes mentioned.

Apart from the county library’s genealogy service, searchers will also be able to find physical copies of older marital information through the following sources:

• Old Newspapers — Available at the County Library
• Churches
• Historical Societies

How To Search for Florida Marriage Records Beyond Alachua County (Statewide Lookup)

Florida marriage records dating from June 6, 1927 are also available through the state’s Bureau of Vital Statistics.⁷ However, citizens should note that these services are paid.

The Bureau of Vital Statistics has two methods to conduct wedding license searches: through walk-in/mail-in services or via VitalChek.

In order to save time, citizens can download the DH261 Application for Marriage Certificate and fill out the necessary information.⁸

Each search costs $5 with an additional $10 rush fee if applicable.

Every additional certificate will cost an extra $4 and if citizens are not sure of the exact year of records that they need, it will cost $2 per calendar year (only valid up to $50). Citizens will also incur a $1 charge for shipping fees.

Note that records from 1970 onwards will be processed in 3-5 business days and documentation prior to 1970 will take additional time. Upon filing the application, citizens can submit it either through mail or by visiting the office in person. To do so, the following contact information can be used:

Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
1217 N Pearl Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 4:30 PM

Mail:

Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210 
Jacksonville, FL 32231 – 0042

If searchers are unable to access the applications, they can send the following information in writing:

• The full names of the husband and wife before they married
• Date of birth of the two spouses
• The exact date that the marriage took place
• The place of the wedding — both city or county information can be added
• The county where the wedding license was created
• Requestor’s full name
• Requestor’s mailing address & phone number
• Requestor’s signature and relation to the individual whose marriage record is requested

With this method, searchers are also required to send in a check or money order that is payable to Vital Statistics. The Bureau does not accept cash payments and any international payment must be made through a money order in U.S Dollars.

VitalChek is a third-party contracted vendor through which citizens can request Alameda County marriage records. The pricing criteria remains the same as the walk-in process minus the $1 charge. However, there will be a $7 charge used to verify your information and identity before the search is conducted.

How To Apply for an Alachua County Marriage License

In order to get a marriage license, both individuals need to visit the Alachua County Clerk’s office in person. However, before applying for a license, the couple must read the Family Law Handbook.

For simplicity, the County Clerk’s marriage license form was also shifted online.⁹

Upon completion, they must call the clerk’s office at 352-374-3625 to schedule an appointment. For the appointment, they must carry a valid photo ID and submit their social security numbers or bring a valid passport with them. The Clerk’s official website also has a list of frequently asked questions which curious parties can refer to before their consultation.

The individuals must also pay the license fee which adds up to $86. However, if the couple has been a part of an approved premarital arrangements session, that fee drops to $61.

A valid premarital preparation class is one that is held by an official provider who has to be on a provider list in accordance with Florida Statute 741.0305(5). Through this, they will get a Certificate of Completion which must be submitted to the clerk.

The Alachua County Clerk’s office can be visited via the following information:¹¹

Clerk of the Court
201 E. University Ave.,
Gainesville, FL 32601

Phone: (352)-374-3625
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:15 AM – 5 PM

Through the Florida Sunshine Law, citizens have full access to governmental proceedings and record requests; therefore, curious individuals looking to access Alachua County marriage records can do so using online official agencies or by visiting the relevant departments in person.