To get a marriage license in Fort Lauderdale, you and your partner apply together in person at the Broward County Clerk of Courts. The fee is $86, or $61 if you present a certificate from a Florida premarital preparation course.1Broward County Clerk of Courts. Fees and Costs Florida residents wait three days before the license takes effect unless they took that course; non-residents skip the wait. Once effective, the license is good for 60 days.
Who Can Apply
Both applicants need to be at least 18. A 17-year-old can apply with notarized written consent from a parent or guardian, and only if the other partner is no more than two years older.2Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License No one under 17 can get a license in Florida.
Neither of you can still be married to someone else. If a prior marriage hasn’t been legally dissolved, the Clerk will not issue the license.
There are no residency or citizenship rules. Florida residents, out-of-state visitors, and international couples all apply the same way. The only practical difference is the three-day waiting period, which applies to Florida residents only.
One thing Florida does not do is recognize common-law marriage. Any common-law marriage entered into after January 1, 1968 is void in this state, no matter how long you’ve lived together.3Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.211 – Common-Law Marriages Void A license is the only route to a legally recognized marriage.
What to Bring
Each of you needs a valid, unexpired government photo ID showing your correct legal name, date of birth, and signature. The Clerk accepts:4Broward County Clerk of Courts. Marriage Licenses
- A U.S. driver’s license or state-issued ID card
- A U.S. or foreign passport
- A U.S. military ID
- An alien registration card
- A naturalization certificate
Expired IDs will not be accepted, and the name on the ID has to match your current legal name.5Broward County Clerk of Courts. Information Needed to Apply for a Marriage License
You also need your Social Security number. Florida law requires anyone with an SSN to provide it on the application, though you don’t need the physical card.2Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License Non-citizens without an SSN can provide an alien registration number instead, and those without either are encouraged to bring another form of identification.
If either of you has been married before, you must know the exact date the last marriage ended, whether by divorce, death, or annulment.4Broward County Clerk of Courts. Marriage Licenses The decree itself usually isn’t required, but the date has to be accurate.
Both of you will also sign an affidavit confirming you’ve read the Florida Family Law Handbook. The Clerk’s office provides the handbook, so there’s nothing to track down beforehand.
The Premarital Course and What It Saves You
Completing a Florida premarital preparation course of at least four hours earns you two benefits: a $25 cut on the license fee and a waiver of the three-day waiting period for Florida residents.6Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.01 – County Court Judge or Clerk of the Circuit Court to Issue Marriage License Fee That brings the license down from $86 to $61 and lets you use it the same day it’s issued.
The course has to come from a qualified provider: a licensed psychologist, marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, clinical social worker, or an official representative of a religious institution with relevant training.7The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.0305 – Marriage Fee Reduction for Completion of Premarital Preparation Course Providers register with the local Clerk of the Circuit Court. You and your partner can attend together or separately, in person, by video, or through another electronic format.
Bring the original completion certificate to your appointment. It must be dated within one year of your application.6Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.01 – County Court Judge or Clerk of the Circuit Court to Issue Marriage License Fee Non-residents already skip the waiting period, so for them the course just saves the $25.
Applying at the Clerk’s Office
Both of you have to appear together at one of four Broward County courthouse locations: the Central Courthouse, North Regional Courthouse, South Regional Courthouse, or West Regional Courthouse.8Broward County Clerk of Courts. Marriage License Appointments Walk-ins are fine. An appointment isn’t required, but you can book one online if you’d rather have a set time.
To save time at the counter, fill out and print the online pre-application from the Clerk’s website before you go. You’ll enter personal details, prior marriage information, and ID data in advance.
At the office, you’ll both sign the application under oath and pay the fee.
The Three-Day Waiting Period
Florida residents who haven’t completed the premarital course cannot hold the ceremony until three days after applying.2Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License Non-residents and residents with a course certificate skip the wait entirely. If your wedding date is close, the course is worth considering just for that reason.
The 60-Day Window
Once the license is effective, you have 60 days to hold the ceremony. Miss that window and the license expires. You’d then have to reapply and pay the full fee again.
Who Can Perform the Ceremony
Florida authorizes a wider group of officiants than most couples expect. Any of the following can legally solemnize your marriage:9The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.07 – Persons Authorized to Solemnize Matrimony
- Regularly ordained ministers, elders, or other ordained clergy in communion with a church
- Active or retired judges and magistrates
- Clerks of the circuit court
- Florida notaries public
Notaries are a common pick for a quick civil ceremony. A Florida notary can officiate anywhere in the state as long as the commission is current and they actually conduct a ceremony, which must include the couple’s agreement in words of present assent.10Florida Department of State. Notary Education – Marriage An out-of-state notary cannot officiate a Florida wedding.
If you’d rather not arrange an outside officiant, the Broward County Clerk’s office performs civil ceremonies for $30.1Broward County Clerk of Courts. Fees and Costs A couple who takes the premarital course can handle both the license and the ceremony at the courthouse for a combined $91. The ceremony itself is brief, but it’s legally identical to any other wedding.
After the Ceremony
Your officiant handles the paperwork that finalizes the marriage. Within 10 days of the ceremony, they must complete the marriage certificate portion of the license and return the signed document to the Broward County Clerk of Courts.11Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.08 – Marriage Not to Be Solemnized Without a License This is where things sometimes go wrong. Confirm ahead of time that your officiant knows the deadline and has a plan to return the license.
Once the Clerk records the returned license, your marriage is part of the public record and you can order certified copies. Those certified copies are what you’ll use for name changes, insurance, bank accounts, and other legal updates, so ordering a few extras is worth the small added cost.
Changing Your Name
If you plan to change your last name, start with the Social Security Administration. Most other agencies won’t update their records until your Social Security record matches your new name. You’ll submit Form SS-5 along with your certified marriage certificate and a current photo ID.12Social Security Administration. Application for a Social Security Card The SSA requires originals or copies certified by the issuing agency; photocopies and notarized copies will not be accepted. A replacement card for a name change doesn’t count against the lifetime card limit.
After Social Security, move on to your driver’s license, passport, bank accounts, and employer records. Each has its own process, and nearly all will ask for the certified marriage certificate.