How to Get a Long Form Marriage Certificate in Florida

To get a marriage certificate in Florida, both partners apply together, in person, for a marriage license at any Clerk of the Circuit Court office in the state. The license costs $86, or $61 if you have completed a registered premarital preparation course, and it is valid for 60 days anywhere in Florida.¹ After the ceremony, the officiant has 10 days to return the signed license to the issuing clerk, who records it as your official marriage certificate and mails you a copy.²

What to Bring to the Clerk’s Office

Both applicants must appear together and present a valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID card, passport, or military ID. Bring the originals; photocopies are not accepted.³

Florida law requires a sworn, signed affidavit that includes each applicant’s Social Security number, or an available alternative identification number for a non-citizen who has not been issued one. A non-citizen may substitute an alien registration number from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the clerk is not barred from issuing the license if no such number is available.⁴

If either of you has been married before, bring the exact date that marriage ended by divorce, annulment, or the former spouse’s death. The clerk uses this to confirm you are both free to marry.⁵

At the counter, both of you will sign two statements the clerk provides: one indicating whether you completed a premarital preparation course, and one confirming you have read or accessed the state’s handbook on the rights and responsibilities of marriage.⁴ Payment methods vary by county, so confirm what your local clerk accepts before you go.

Age Requirements

You must be 18 to apply on your own. A 17-year-old may apply only if both of these are true: they provide written parental or guardian consent acknowledged before a notary or other officer authorized to administer oaths, and the other party is no more than two years older. No one under 17 can obtain a Florida marriage license under any circumstances.⁴

Fees and the Premarital Course Discount

The standard license fee is $86. Completing a qualifying premarital preparation course drops the fee to $61 and also removes the three-day waiting period that otherwise applies to Florida residents.¹ The $25 reduction is written into the fee schedule at Section 741.01.⁶

The course must run at least four hours and be completed no more than one year before you apply.⁷ It covers conflict management, communication skills, financial responsibilities, parenting, and common problems reported by couples who seek counseling. Partners can take it together or separately, in person, by video, or in another electronic format. The provider must be registered with the clerk of the circuit court, and at the end they issue a certificate of completion. Bring that certificate to your license appointment.

The Three-Day Waiting Period

If you are a Florida resident and have not completed the premarital course, the license does not become effective for three days. The clerk prints the effective date on the license in bold, and no ceremony can take place before that date. A county court judge can waive the delay for good cause, and the clerk can grant exceptions for hardship.⁴

Three groups skip the wait: out-of-state residents, any couple that finished the premarital course, and couples granted a hardship exception. For destination weddings, the license is effective immediately on issuance.

How Long the License Is Valid

A Florida marriage license is good for 60 days from the date of issuance. The clerk prints the expiration date on the license, and no officiant may perform the ceremony after it passes.⁸ If 60 days go by without a ceremony, you have to reapply and pay the fee again. The license is valid in any Florida county, so you do not need to apply where the ceremony will be held.⁹

Who Can Perform the Ceremony

Florida Section 741.07 authorizes a wide range of people to solemnize a marriage:¹⁰

Regularly ordained ministers, elders in communion with a church, and other ordained clergy.
All current and retired judges.
Clerks of the circuit court.
Florida notaries public.
Members of the Society of Friends, whose marriages are solemnized according to Quaker rites without a separate officiant.

Florida clerks routinely process licenses signed by officiants ordained through online religious organizations, and the officiant does not need to be a Florida resident or register with any state office in advance. If you have any doubt about your officiant, confirm with the county clerk before the wedding.

What Happens After the Ceremony

This is the step that turns your license into a certificate. Within 10 days of the ceremony, the officiant must complete the certificate portion of the license and return it to the clerk’s office that issued it.² The clerk then records the document in the county’s official records and mails an official copy to the couple.¹ Confirm your officiant knows the 10-day deadline. A late or missing return delays your ability to prove the marriage for name changes, insurance enrollment, and other purposes.

Ordering Certified Copies

Once your marriage is recorded, you can order certified copies from the clerk’s office in the county that issued the license. Plan on needing several for Social Security, the DMV, your bank, and your employer. Fees vary by county. In Miami-Dade, for example, the first certified copy is $9 and each additional copy is $7.¹¹ Most clerks accept requests in person, by mail, or online.

Fixing an Error on the Certificate

If the recorded certificate contains a misspelling or other clerical error, amendments to Florida vital records are handled through the Florida Department of Health. The state charges a $20 nonrefundable amendment processing fee, which includes one certified copy of the corrected record. Contact the clerk’s office that recorded your marriage for instructions on what supporting documents to submit, since requirements depend on what needs to be corrected.

1
Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers. How Do I Apply For A Marriage License?
2
The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.08 – Marriage Certificates
3
Bay County Clerk of Court & Comptroller. Marriage Licenses
4
Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License
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Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller. Marriage License FAQ
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The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.01 – County Court Judge or Clerk of the Circuit Court to Issue Marriage License; Fee
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The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.0305 – Marriage Fee Reduction for Completion of Premarital Preparation Course
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The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.041 – Marriage License Application Valid for 60 Days
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Brevard County Clerk of Court. How to Apply for a Marriage License
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The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.07 – Persons Authorized to Solemnize Matrimony
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Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts. Marriage License Certified Copies