To apply for a marriage license in Florida, both partners go together in person to any county Clerk of the Circuit Court, bring photo ID and Social Security numbers, and pay $86, or $61 if you present a certificate from a four-hour premarital preparation course. Florida residents who skip the course wait three days before the license becomes active; everyone else can use it the same day.
Who Can Apply
Both applicants must be at least 18. Florida allows 17-year-olds to marry only with written parental or guardian consent and only if the partner is no more than two years older, and no one under 17 can marry in the state under any circumstances.1The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License
Marriages between close relatives are prohibited, including siblings, parents and children, aunts or uncles and nieces or nephews, and anyone related by direct lineage. Same-sex couples apply on the same terms as any other couple. Florida has not recognized common-law marriages since January 1, 1968, so living together does not create a legal marriage no matter how long the relationship has lasted.
What to Bring to the Clerk’s Office
Each applicant needs:
- A valid photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID card, or passport.
- A Social Security number. Non-citizens may provide an alien registration number instead, and if they have neither, the clerk is still permitted to issue the license.1The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License
- The exact date your last marriage ended, if either of you was previously married, whether by divorce, annulment, or a spouse’s death. You usually don’t need the physical decree, but you do need the precise date. A wrong date can delay the license.
- Your premarital course completion certificate, if you took one and want the discount and waiver.
Before issuing the license, the clerk also requires both parties to sign a statement confirming they have read or accessed a state-published handbook on the rights and responsibilities of marriage.1The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License Clerk offices typically make the handbook available on-site or link to it on their websites, so it isn’t something you need to track down ahead of time.
The Four-Hour Course That Cuts the Fee and the Wait
Florida gives couples two concrete reasons to complete a premarital preparation course before applying: the license fee drops by $25, and the three-day waiting period that otherwise applies to Florida residents is waived.2Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers. How Do I Apply For A Marriage License? The course must run at least four hours and can be completed together or individually.3The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.0305 – Marriage Fee Reduction for Completion of Premarital Preparation Course
Qualified providers include licensed psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, and representatives of recognized religious institutions with relevant training. Each judicial circuit can designate additional providers. Every provider must register with the local Clerk of the Circuit Court by affidavit.3The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.0305 – Marriage Fee Reduction for Completion of Premarital Preparation Course
Your certificate has to list each participant’s name, the completion date, and whether the course was delivered in person, by video, electronically, or in some combination. It also must have been completed within one year before you apply.2Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers. How Do I Apply For A Marriage License? Show up without it and the clerk will still issue the license, but you pay the full $86 and the waiting period applies.
The Three-Day Waiting Period
If one or both of you are Florida residents and neither completed the course, the license does not become active for three days after it is issued.2Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers. How Do I Apply For A Marriage License? The clock starts the date the clerk issues the license, not when you submitted anything online, and the effective date is printed on the document.
Two groups skip the wait entirely: couples with a valid course completion certificate, and couples where neither partner is a Florida resident.4Duval County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Marriage License If you are planning a destination wedding in Florida from out of state, you can marry the same day.
At the Clerk’s Office
Both partners must appear together. You will sign a sworn affidavit covering your ages, identification numbers, and whether you completed the premarital course.5Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License The clerk reviews your documents, takes payment, and hands you the physical license. Check every printed detail before you walk out. Fixing a misspelled name or wrong date later is a hassle.
Payment methods vary by county but typically include cash, credit cards, and money orders. Some offices don’t accept every form, so check ahead. Many clerks let you fill out the application online before your visit, which cuts your counter time. A few counties, including Hillsborough, offer the full application by video conference: a clerk validates your ID and takes payment over Zoom, you download the license, and you mail back the signed document after the ceremony.
How Long the License Lasts
A Florida marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance, and the expiration date is printed on it.6Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.041 – Marriage License Application Valid for 60 Days If the ceremony doesn’t happen inside that window, the license expires, you reapply, and you pay again. No extensions.
Who Can Perform the Ceremony
Florida authorizes a broader group of officiants than many states. Any of the following can legally marry you:7Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.07 – Persons Authorized to Solemnize Matrimony
- Ordained ministers, elders, or other ordained members of any church or religious organization.
- Active or retired judges at any level.
- Clerks of the circuit court, sometimes for a small additional fee.
- Any Florida notary public, which is often the simplest route for a low-key ceremony.
Quaker and Friends ceremonies are also valid under their own traditional rites without a designated officiant. The ceremony itself can take place anywhere in Florida, regardless of which county issued the license.
After the Ceremony
Your officiant signs the license and has 10 days to return it to the Clerk of the Circuit Court that issued it.8The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.08 – Marriage Not to Be Solemnized Without a License It is the officiant’s legal duty, not yours, but it is your marriage record, so follow up to confirm it was filed. The signed license goes back to the issuing county even if the ceremony happened somewhere else. Once the clerk records the marriage, you can request a certified marriage certificate, which is the document you’ll use for name changes, insurance, and any other legal matter going forward.