Request a Copy of Your Alachua County Marriage Certificate in Minutes

Marriage has lots of benefits, but in many cases, you have to document the marriage to apply for and receive those benefits. If you're changing your name, for example, you'll need to prove you're married for a new Social Security card, a passport, or even a bank account. You’ll also need a marriage certificate if you want to apply for spousal benefits, like health insurance.

DoNotPay has all the information you'll need to get a copy of a , and we can also do the legwork for you. Keep reading to discover how.

What Is a Marriage Certificate?

When you get married, you apply to the Alachua County Clerk of Circuit Court for a license to get married. After that, the marriage is recorded with the Court, and you'll get a Certificate of Marriage a few weeks later. This certificate is the proof of a marriage, detailing the parties involved, the officiant, witnesses, location, time, and date of the ceremony. It doesn't matter if you got married in your backyard or on the fifty yard line of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium–all marriages are certified the same.

1. How Long Does This Take?

The Clerk of Circuit Court files and records the license, and forwards it to the Bureau of Vital Statistics for permanent filing. It takes a couple of months for that paperwork to go through. If you need a copy sooner than that, contact the Alachua County Clerk of Circuit Court for evidence of the marriage. Let's face it, many couples don't live where they get married, so it can be a hassle to go back to where you were married for the copy of your marriage certificate.

2. Do I Need More Than One Copy?

If you're recently married and working through all the paperwork that verifies your new status, you may need several copies of the certificate. Some entities will simply make a copy, some will just review it, and others will want to keep a copy. You should also keep one or two copies for your records. Basically, you'll need to plan on one copy for every change you're making, plus a couple for your files.

3. Isn't a Certificate the Same as a Marriage License?

Both the license and certificate are considered vital records in Florida, but the certificate verifies that the license was validated through an official ceremony.

4. Who Can Get a Marriage Certificate Copy in Alachua County?

Only the spouses or a verified third party, such as an attorney, can order copies of marriage certificates.

How to Get a Copy of Your Marriage Certificate on Your Own

If you need a copy of your , there are a couple of ways to get one. If you're local, you can go to the Clerk of Court's office in Gainesville. Here's the contact information:

Address

Clerk of the Court

201 East University Ave

Gainesville, Fla

32601

Phone

352-374-3623

osr@alachuaclerk.org

The Official Records counter at the clerk's office has reopened to the public with no appointment necessary.

Can I Get a Copy Online?

Alachua County has contracted with a third party so you can order the certificate online. You can visit Vitalchek.com or call 1-877-550-7330.

What Do I Need to Request for an Alachua County Marriage Certificate?

Since only spouses or representatives can apply for a certificate, you'll have to prove your identity. You need to provide the following along with valid documents such as a photo ID:

Full and name of each spouse at the time of the marriage
Exact date of the marriage
Location in Alachua County
Relationship to parties
Reason for ordering copy
Phone number

How Much Does a Marriage Certificate in Alachua County Cost?

Most entities who need copies want the original certified copy with a seal, not a photocopy. Here are the fees:

Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics	$15
Search Fee	$5
Rush Fee	$10
VitalChek Fee	$7
Additional copies	$4 each

If you are doing a genealogical search and don't know the year of the marriage, there's an additional $2 per calendar year fee, with a $50 maximum fee.

You can order the certificates to be delivered via UPS for a fee, but if regular mail is okay with you, then it’s free of charge.

How Long Will I Need to Wait?

Typically, you'll get your copies by mail in a few days. If you go in person, you get them right away.

Is There an Easier Way?

DoNotPay makes it easy for you to order a marriage certificate with just a few mouse clicks. Here's all you do.

Go to the Certificates of Marriage product on DoNotPay.
Select whether the certificate belongs to you or a relative/loved one. If it belongs to someone else, enter the details of both people on the certificate, and select/upload evidence that proves your relationship with them. If the certificate is yours, enter the details of your spouse.
Enter the city, state, and county where the marriage certificate was issued as well as the date it was issued.
Indicate what you will be using this certificate for, and choose whether you need an authorized or certified copy.
Enter your contact information and shipping address. Upload copies of your government-issued identification, such as a driver's license.
Choose whether you would like to electronically sign this form or not. Once we generate the form, verify that all of the information is correct.
If you need the document to be notarized, schedule a notarization appointment using our Notary product. Otherwise, proceed to our Mail Checks product and let DoNotPay mail-in your request form with a check on your behalf.