Pinellas County Marriage and Divorce Records

Getting a Pinellas County Marriage License

The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller issues all Pinellas County marriage licenses. Two service locations handle license applications: the Clearwater Courthouse at 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756, and the St. Petersburg Branch at 545 1st Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Both applicants must appear together in person. The Clerk does not issue marriage licenses by mail or online.

Florida residents who complete an approved premarital preparation course pay a reduced license fee of $61.00 and are not subject to the standard three-day waiting period. Non-Florida residents, or Florida residents who have not completed the course, pay $86.00, and the three-day waiting period applies. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old, unmarried, and not related by blood or adoption under Florida law. The license is valid throughout the state of Florida once issued. It must be used within 60 days from the date of issuance, or a new application is required. After the ceremony, the signed license is returned to the Clerk for recording in Official Records, which is the step that creates the permanent public record of the marriage.

If you want the Clerk to solemnize the marriage, that service costs $30.00. A photo fee of $10.00 is charged separately if you want photos taken at the courthouse. These are optional add-on services, not required steps for getting the license itself.

Note: Confirm current counter hours with the Clerk before visiting, as service hours can change.

Pinellas County Premarital Course and the Waiting Period

Florida allows counties to offer a fee reduction for couples who complete an approved four-hour premarital preparation course. In Pinellas County, the practical benefits are real: completing the course before you apply saves $25 on the license fee and removes the three-day waiting period for Florida residents. The three-day period runs from the date of application and does not count Sundays. So a couple who applies on a Friday and skips the course cannot marry until the following Wednesday at the earliest, not accounting for any further scheduling.

The course must be provided by an approved Florida provider and must cover conflict resolution, communication, and financial responsibilities. The Clerk does not administer or approve course providers. Once you complete the course, you receive a completion certificate. Bring that certificate when you apply. The Clerk reviews it at the counter and applies the discount and waiver at that time. There is no way to apply the discount retroactively after you have already paid the higher fee. Plan ahead if you want to take advantage of the savings.

Non-Florida residents do not qualify for the fee reduction or waiting-period waiver, even with a course certificate. Residency is determined by Florida domicile, not by current physical location. A Florida resident who happens to be out of state at the time of application is still a Florida resident for this purpose; the reverse is also true.

How to Apply for a Pinellas County Marriage License

The application process is straightforward but requires advance preparation. Both applicants must be present at the same time. Review the Clerk marriage license page and the Clerk fee schedule before you go so you know exactly what to bring and how much to pay.

1. Review the Clerk marriage license page. Check the current fee schedule, confirm service locations, and review any updated requirements before your visit. The Clerk's site is the authoritative source for current process details.
2. Complete a premarital preparation course if you want the fee reduction. Florida residents who complete an approved four-hour course pay $61.00 instead of $86.00 and avoid the three-day waiting period. Obtain a completion certificate from the provider.
3. Gather required identification. Both applicants need government-issued photo ID. Verify the specific ID types accepted by the Clerk, as requirements can include driver licenses, passports, or state ID cards. If either applicant was previously married, bring documentation of how the prior marriage ended, such as a divorce decree or death certificate, if the Clerk requests it.
4. Both applicants appear together in person at a Clerk location. Go to either the Clearwater Courthouse or the St. Petersburg Branch. You cannot apply separately or by mail.
5. Complete the application and pay the fee. The Clerk collects your information and processes the license at the counter. Pay $61.00 if you have a premarital course certificate or $86.00 if you do not. Bring a premarital course completion certificate if applicable.
6. Observe the waiting period if it applies. Florida residents without a course certificate must wait three days, not counting Sundays, before the ceremony can take place. Residents with the certificate and nonresidents with the higher fee do not wait.
7. Have your ceremony performed by an authorized officiant. Florida law specifies who may legally solemnize a marriage, including clergy, notaries public authorized under Florida law, and certain civil officials. Confirm your officiant's authority before the ceremony date.
8. Return the completed, signed license to the Clerk for recording. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and it is returned to the Clerk. Recording in Official Records is the step that creates the permanent legal record. Certified copies can be ordered from Official Records after recording is complete.

Marriage License Application Fields in Pinellas County

The Clerk collects the information listed below from both applicants at the time of application. The exact online form was not publicly accessible for full inspection, but the field inventory below reflects the standard Florida marriage license application process and the information categories confirmed from the Clerk's marriage license page. Bring this information for both applicants to avoid delays at the counter.

The Clerk processes both applicants at the same counter visit. Neither applicant can complete the application alone. If one applicant is unable to appear due to a documented medical hardship, contact the Clerk at (727) 464-7000 to ask whether any accommodation is possible under Florida law.

Pinellas County Marriage and Divorce Record Fees

Fees are set by Florida statute and the Clerk fee schedule. The table below covers the main charges for marriage and dissolution matters. Additional fees may apply for copies, certifications, and other filings. The full schedule is available at mypinellasclerk.gov/Home/Fee-Schedule.

The Clerk does not waive filing fees except through the civil indigent process. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the Clerk about the application for civil indigent status, which a judge must approve before fees are waived or deferred.

How to Look Up Pinellas County Marriage Records

Once a marriage license is returned and recorded, it becomes part of the Clerk's Official Records. The Pinellas Official Records portal is the primary tool for searching recorded marriage licenses. You can search by party name, instrument number, document type, or record date. Marriage licenses appear as recorded instruments, so use the document type filter and search for the surname of either party. The portal warns users to try spelling variations, including names with spaces or alternate formatting, because results depend on how the name was entered at recording.

If you are searching for a recent license and it has not yet been returned and recorded, it will not appear in Official Records. Recording occurs after the ceremony and the officiant's return of the signed license to the Clerk. For very recent marriages, call the Clerk at (727) 464-7000 to confirm recording status before searching online. If you need a certified copy for a legal proceeding, immigration matter, or name change, the copy must be ordered from the Clerk rather than printed from the online portal. Certified copies require the $1.00 per page copy fee plus the $2.00 certification fee. You can also request copies through the Pinellas public records request center if the record is not readily available through the portal.

The Clerk's marriage license page at mypinellasclerk.gov/Home/Recording-Services/marriage-licenses provides current guidance on the application process and links to the fee schedule and Official Records portal. Use that page as your starting point for both applications and record searches.

The Clerk's Official Records portal screenshot below shows the marriage license search interface used to look up recorded Pinellas County marriage records by name, instrument number, or document type.

The Pinellas County Clerk marriage licenses page provides current guidance on the license application and recording process.

The Clerk's marriage license page shows the application process, premarital course information, and fee details for couples seeking a Pinellas County marriage license at Clearwater or St. Petersburg locations.

How to Find Pinellas County Divorce Records

Divorce records in Pinellas County are family division Circuit Court files. Dissolution of marriage is governed by Chapter 61, Florida Statutes, and cases are filed with the Clerk in the Circuit Court's Family Division. A dissolution case produces a court file that includes the petition, financial affidavits, any parenting plan or time-sharing documents, settlement agreements or contested motions, and the final judgment of dissolution. The final judgment is also separately recorded in Official Records for a $10.50 fee, which creates a public recorded instrument.

Anonymous public users can find that a dissolution case exists by searching the Clerk's court records portal at courtrecords.mypinellasclerk.gov. However, the Clerk's FAQ states that family and probate type cases require registered user access for online document viewing. That means the case docket entry may be visible without a login, but most document images inside the family case file are not available for anonymous online viewing. You must create a registered user account with the Clerk or request copies through the public records request center. Attorneys of record on the case have greater online access under the attorney login tier.

Some family case materials are restricted by statute regardless of access tier. Financial affidavits, social security numbers, bank account numbers, and certain identifying data are subject to redaction under Florida Rule 2.425. Adoption records are confidential. If the case involves a domestic violence injunction or protected-victim status, additional restrictions may apply to specific documents. What you can typically find includes the case number, the names of the parties (petitioner and respondent), the filing date, docket entries showing motions and orders, and the date of the final judgment. The text of the final judgment is often available through copy request even when it is not directly viewable online without registration.

Filing for Dissolution in Pinellas County: Step by Step

Filing for dissolution of marriage in Pinellas County is done through the Circuit Court Family Division. The Clerk processes filings and collects fees, but the case is decided by a circuit judge. Self-represented parties can find forms and guidance through the Clerk's Self Help Center and the Sixth Judicial Circuit's Representing Yourself in Court page. Florida Supreme Court family law forms are standardized statewide and available through official court websites.

1. Determine which type of dissolution applies. Simplified dissolution is available when both parties agree on all terms, there are no minor or dependent children, neither party is pregnant, neither party seeks alimony, and both parties appear together to sign. If any of those conditions do not apply, a regular dissolution petition is required.
2. Obtain and complete the correct Florida family law forms. Use Florida Supreme Court-approved forms. The Clerk Self Help Center can assist with forms for a minimum consultation fee of $15. The Sixth Circuit's self-represented page links administrative orders, case checklists, and locally approved forms.
3. File the petition with the Clerk at the appropriate Clerk location. The main filing location for family division matters is the Clearwater Courthouse. You can also file through the Florida e-filing portal if you are set up for electronic filing. Pay the $397.50 filing fee or submit a civil indigent application if you cannot pay.
4. Serve the other party. In a regular dissolution, the petitioner must legally serve the respondent with the petition and summons. The Clerk issues the summons, and service must be completed by a process server or sheriff. In a simplified dissolution, both parties appear together and service is not required in the same way.
5. Complete the required parenting course if minor children are involved. Florida law requires both parties in a dissolution involving minor children to complete a court-approved parenting education course before the final hearing. Bring your completion certificate to the hearing.
6. File financial affidavits and required supporting documents. Florida family law rules require financial affidavits from both parties in most dissolution cases. File the completed affidavit, parenting plan or time-sharing paperwork if applicable, child support guidelines worksheets, and any settlement agreement or proposed orders.
7. Attend the final hearing. A judge or general magistrate will review the case at a final hearing. In uncontested cases, the hearing is usually brief. In contested cases, additional hearings may be needed. Come prepared with all required documents.
8. The final judgment is entered and recorded. After the judge enters the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage, the Clerk records it in Official Records for an additional $10.50. That recorded judgment is a permanent public record. Certified copies of the final judgment can be ordered from the Clerk for use in name-change proceedings, insurance updates, property title work, and other legal purposes.

Getting Certified Copies of Marriage and Divorce Records

Certified copies are legally authenticated copies that carry the Clerk's certification stamp. They are required for many official purposes: changing your name on a Social Security card or passport, updating insurance beneficiaries, handling estate matters, or proving marital status in court or administrative proceedings. A printed page from the online portal is not a certified copy and is not accepted by most agencies as a substitute.

To get a certified copy of a Pinellas County marriage record, start with the Official Records portal. If the document is available online, the portal may allow you to purchase an electronic or paper certified copy through the Clerk's copy service. If not, use the public records request center or contact the Clerk directly at (727) 464-7000. The fee is $1.00 per page plus $2.00 for the certification. An exemplified certificate or authenticated certificate, which is sometimes needed for international use, costs $7.00.

For certified copies of a final judgment of dissolution, the process is similar. The final judgment is recorded in Official Records after entry by the judge. Search Official Records by party name or by the case number shown on the court docket. Because family case documents require registered access for most online viewing, you may need to submit a copy request. The Clerk will quote the cost by email after reviewing the request. Processing times vary; contact the Clerk for current turnaround estimates. In-person requests at the Clearwater Courthouse or St. Petersburg Branch can often be handled more quickly for documents that are immediately available.

Note: Family and probate court case documents often have more restricted online access than criminal or civil records. Plan for the possibility that you will need to request copies by mail or in person rather than download them directly from the portal.

Online Access Limits for Pinellas Family Court Records

The Clerk's FAQ is clear on this point: family and probate type cases require registered user access for online document viewing. This is not a bug or a broken link. It reflects the Florida access framework that applies to sensitive family matters. Criminal, civil, and traffic case records are broadly available through the anonymous public view portal. Family division records, including dissolution cases, are searchable for basic case information but most document images are restricted to registered users or attorneys of record.

Creating a registered user account with the Clerk requires providing contact information and going through the Clerk's account verification process. Once registered, you can access family and probate case documents that are not marked as confidential by statute or court order. Some documents in family cases are restricted regardless of access level: adoption records, guardian ad litem reports in some contexts, victim safety information, financial account numbers after redaction, and any record made confidential by a specific court order.

If you need a family case document and cannot access it online after registering, use the public records request center or visit a Clerk public view terminal. Public terminals are available at the Clearwater Courthouse, Pinellas County Justice Center, North County Branch, and St. Petersburg Judicial Building. Terminal access allows you to view records on-site that may not be available remotely, subject to the same confidentiality rules. For paper or microfilm records, call the Clerk's civil records line at (727) 464-3904 or use the main Clerk number at (727) 464-7000 so staff can confirm availability before you make the trip.

Florida Vital Records Office

The Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains statewide birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for the state of Florida. For Pinellas County marriages and dissolutions, the county Clerk is the primary custodian of the actual license and case documents, but the state vital records office maintains statistical and statewide indexes. Florida vital statistics records for marriages and divorces are available through the state for a different fee and may serve different purposes than the county Clerk's certified copies.

State marriage and divorce records from vital statistics are typically used for genealogical research, out-of-state verification, or when the county record is older than what the Clerk has available online. For most current Pinellas County purposes, the Clerk's Official Records portal and copy request process are the faster and more direct route to a certified copy.

Self-Help and Legal Aid for Pinellas Marriage and Divorce Cases

Court staff and Clerk staff cannot give legal advice. They can provide procedural information, help you find the right form, and explain fee schedules, but they cannot tell you how to handle your specific case. If you are going through a dissolution and cannot afford a private attorney, several resources are available in Pinellas County.

The Clerk's Legal Self Help Centers offer attorney consultations in family law matters for a minimum fee of $15. Appointments are available at three locations: Clearwater Courthouse Room 114, St. Petersburg Judicial Building Room 103, and the North County Customer Information and Service Center. Telephonic appointments are also available on request. These consultations are not free legal representation but can help you understand the process and forms before you file.

The Sixth Judicial Circuit's "Representing Yourself in Court" page at jud6.org provides case progression checklists, administrative orders, locally approved forms, family law materials, and virtual hearing preparation guidance. The circuit states that self-represented parties must follow the same procedural rules and file the same forms as attorneys, so using these resources before filing can prevent procedural mistakes that slow down the case.

Free civil legal aid organizations that assist Pinellas residents with family law and related matters include:

• Community Law Program, 501 First Ave N, Room 519, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, (727) 582-7480. Provides free civil legal services to financially eligible Pinellas residents, including family law, housing, probate, and criminal records expunction clinics.
• Gulfcoast Legal Services. Assists with housing stability, family law, domestic violence cases, public benefits, elder law, and the Pinellas birth certificate and ID project.
• Bay Area Legal Services. Provides free civil legal help to eligible residents in Pinellas and surrounding counties, plus statewide services for seniors and veterans.

For domestic violence matters connected to a dissolution, the Family Division also handles injunction proceedings. Legal aid organizations that focus on domestic violence can provide representation and safety planning assistance for victims seeking both protective orders and dissolution at the same time.

Related Pinellas County Records

Marriage and divorce records connect to several other record types maintained by the Clerk and the courts. For estate matters after a spouse's death, see Pinellas County probate records, which covers the Probate and Guardianship Division of the Circuit Court at Clearwater Courthouse Room 106. The Official Records portal that holds marriage licenses also holds recorded court judgments, deeds, and liens that may be relevant to property division after a dissolution.

For broader public records requests or information about the state open-records framework that governs Clerk records, see the public records page. For full details about the Clerk's services, fees, and all record categories managed by Ken Burke's office, see the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller page. For court division information and the Circuit Court's family division jurisdiction, see the Circuit Court page.