Does a Florida Marriage License Need to Be Notarized?

No, a Florida marriage license does not need to be notarized separately. When both applicants appear together at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office, a deputy clerk administers the oath and notarizes the signatures as part of the standard application. That built-in step is the notarization, and it is the only one the license requires.1Florida Governor’s Office. Completing the Marriage Record

How the Notarization Happens at the Clerk’s Office

Florida law requires both applicants to sign a written affidavit under oath when they apply.2Justia Law. Florida Statutes 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License The deputy clerk who witnesses those signatures is authorized to administer oaths and notarizes the document on the spot.3Florida Department of State. Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Notaries and Marriage The Florida Governor’s Office describes the step as “the notarization of the bride and groom’s signatures done by a judge or a Deputy Clerk in the Office of the Clerk of Circuit Court.”1Florida Governor’s Office. Completing the Marriage Record

So you do not need to visit a notary before your appointment, and you do not need to find one afterward. You show up, present your documents, swear that your information is truthful, sign the application, and the deputy clerk handles the notarial piece. One visit, one signature session, done.

Why People Think a Separate Notary Is Involved

The confusion usually comes from a different part of the process. Florida notaries public are authorized to perform marriage ceremonies.4Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 741 – Marriage; Domestic Violence When a notary officiates a wedding, they are acting as a marriage officiant, not performing a notarial act on the license.3Florida Department of State. Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Notaries and Marriage And a notary cannot perform a ceremony at all unless the couple already holds a valid license.

Put plainly: the license gets notarized by the clerk at the application stage. The notary at the ceremony is there to marry you, not to stamp paperwork.

What to Bring to the Clerk’s Office

Both parties must appear in person together at any Clerk of the Circuit Court office in Florida. You are not restricted to the county where you live or where you plan to hold the ceremony.5Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller. Marriage License FAQ Bring:

  • A valid photo ID for each applicant — a driver’s license, state ID, or passport.
  • Your Social Security number if you are a U.S. citizen or resident. Non-citizens may provide an alien registration number, and the clerk can still issue the license to a non-citizen who has neither.2Justia Law. Florida Statutes 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License
  • Details on any prior marriage: the exact date it ended (by divorce, death, or annulment) and the county and state where it ended.

Both applicants must be at least 18. A 17-year-old may apply with written parental or guardian consent, but only if the other party is no more than two years older. No one younger than 17 can obtain a Florida marriage license.2Justia Law. Florida Statutes 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License

Fees vary by county. Florida statute sets several fee components, including a $25 charge to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund, and allows a $25 reduction for couples who present a valid premarital preparation course certificate.6Florida Senate. Florida Statutes 741.01 – County Court Judge or Clerk of Circuit Court to Issue Marriage License Call your chosen clerk’s office for the exact total.

Signatures After the Ceremony

The license is valid for 60 days. If you do not hold the ceremony within that window, it expires and you will need to apply and pay again.7My Florida Legal. Term of Validity for Marriage License Applications

At the ceremony, the officiant and any witnesses sign the license. The officiant then completes the marriage certificate portion and returns the license to the issuing clerk’s office within 10 days.8Florida Senate. Florida Statutes 741.08 – Marriage Not to Be Solemnized Without a License None of these post-ceremony signatures require notarization. The clerk records the returned license, which is what lets you later request certified copies for a name change, insurance, or any other legal use.