Apply for a Marriage License

A couple wishing to be married in Florida must be prepared to provide their Social Security numbers or any other available identifications numbers, such as driver license numbers or other photo IDs (passport, military ID), to the Clerk’s office to apply for a marriage license. 

What if I have been married before?
If either applicant has been previously married, the exact date of divorce, death or annulment must be presented as well as the state and county where the divorce took place.  

What are the procedures for underage marriages?
Applicants must be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license.  Applicants who are 17 must have parental consent from both parents, unless the court has given one parent sole custody.  An authentication of consent would need to be presented at the time of application to the Clerk or Judge. 

Premarital Preparation Course
Any couple, if one or both parties are a Florida resident, must take a four-hour premarital preparation course, or wait three days before the marriage license goes into effect. To receive a waiver of the new three-day waiting period, a premarital preparation course must be completed within one year prior to obtaining a marriage license and a valid certificate of completion must be presented to the Clerk's office. Taking the premarital preparation course also lowers the application fee.

If the requirements are met on the day of application, the marriage license will be issued and will also be effective the same day. If the requirements are not met on the date of application, the marriage license will be issued but will not be effective until three days from the issue date. The expiration date of the license will be 60 days from the date of issuance and will appear on the license.

Recording of License
After the Clerk issues the marriage license, the license is valid for 60 days. The marriage ceremony must be held within that 60-day timeframe to be valid. After the ceremony is performed, the marriage license must be sent or brought to the Clerk, usually that is done by the person who performed the ceremony.  It will then be recorded in the county Official Records and an official copy sent to the new couple.

License Fee
The fee for a marriage license is $86.00.  There is an exception if both parties are Florida residents and have provided proof of attendance at a premarital class given by a certified provider. The fee is reduced to $61.