To get a marriage license in Florida, both partners walk into any Clerk of the Circuit Court office together, present photo ID and Social Security numbers, complete the application, and pay the fee. The license is issued the same day. Florida residents wait three days before the license takes effect unless they’ve completed a premarital preparation course; non-residents can marry immediately. Any of the state’s 67 county clerk offices will issue a license valid anywhere in Florida.
Who Qualifies to Apply
Both applicants must be at least 18. A 17-year-old can apply only with written consent from a parent or legal guardian, and the older partner cannot be more than two years older.1Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License No one under 17 can be issued a license in Florida.
There is no residency requirement. Out-of-state and foreign visitors can apply the same way Florida residents do. You cannot apply if a prior marriage has not ended by divorce, annulment, or death. Florida also prohibits marriage between close relatives, including siblings, aunts and nephews, and uncles and nieces.2Florida Statutes. Florida Code 741.21 – Incestuous Marriages Prohibited
One boundary worth naming: Florida does not recognize common-law marriages created after January 1, 1968.3Florida Statutes. Florida Code 741.211 – Common-Law Marriages Void Living together, however long, is not a substitute for a license and a ceremony.
What to Bring and How to Apply
Both people must appear in person at the same time. You cannot send one partner ahead or split the application across two visits. Come with:
- A current, unexpired photo ID: a driver’s license from any state, a U.S. passport, a state-issued ID card, a military ID, or a naturalization certificate.
- Your Social Security number, which you’ll swear to as part of the application. Non-citizens can provide an alien registration number. Applicants with neither can still be issued a license.1Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License
- The exact date any prior marriage ended and how it ended (divorce, annulment, or death). The decree or death certificate is not usually required, but the date must be precise.
- Both parents’ full legal names, including your mother’s maiden name, and each parent’s birthplace.
The application includes a signed statement about whether you’ve completed a premarital preparation course and a separate statement confirming you’ve read or accessed a handbook on the rights and responsibilities of marriage.1Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License If you and your partner have children together born in Florida, the application asks for each child’s name, date of birth, and place of birth.4Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.01 – County Court Judge or Clerk of the Circuit Court to Issue Marriage License; Fee
Fees and the Three-Day Waiting Period
The standard fee is $86. Couples who present a premarital course completion certificate pay $61.5Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers. How Do I Apply for a Marriage License? Most clerk offices take cash, check, money order, or credit card. Credit card payments usually carry a convenience fee.
Florida residents who have not completed a premarital course cannot use the license until the fourth day after applying. The effective date is printed on the license itself. Non-residents are exempt from the waiting period and can marry immediately. Florida residents facing hardship can ask a county court judge to waive the delay for good cause.1Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License
How the Premarital Course Cuts the Fee and the Wait
A qualifying premarital preparation course reduces the fee from $86 to $61 and waives the three-day waiting period for Florida residents. The course must be at least four hours and can be taken together or separately, in person, by video, or through other electronic formats. Qualified instructors include licensed psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, licensed mental health counselors, trained representatives of religious institutions, and providers designated by the local judicial circuit.6Florida Statutes. Florida Code 741.0305 – Marriage Fee Reduction for Completion of Premarital Preparation Course Your local Clerk of the Circuit Court keeps a list of registered providers.
Bring the provider’s certificate of completion to your application appointment. Without it, you pay the full fee and sit through the waiting period. The discount cannot be applied after the fact.
How Long the License Lasts and Who Can Marry You
A Florida marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance, and the expiration date is printed on the license. If the ceremony doesn’t happen inside that window, the license expires and you start over with a new application and new fees.7Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.041 – Marriage License Application Valid for 60 Days
Florida law authorizes ordained ministers, elders in communion with a church, and other ordained clergy; all judicial officers, including retired judges; clerks of the circuit court; and Florida notaries public to perform the ceremony.8Florida Statutes. Florida Code 741.07 – Persons Authorized to Solemnize Matrimony
After the Ceremony
The officiant is legally required to complete the certificate portion of the license and return it to the issuing Clerk of the Circuit Court within 10 days of the ceremony.9Florida Statutes. Florida Code 741.08 – Marriage Not to Be Solemnized Without a License That’s the officiant’s job, but confirm it was done. A late return delays the official recording of the marriage, which can hold up name changes, insurance updates, and anything else that requires proof of marriage.
Once the completed license is recorded, the marriage becomes part of the county’s official records.10Florida Statutes. Florida Code 741.09 – Record of License and Certificate You can then order certified copies of the marriage certificate from the issuing clerk. Order several. Most institutions that ask for proof of marriage want a certified copy, not a photocopy.