How to Get a Marriage License in Jacksonville, FL

To get a marriage license in Jacksonville, FL, both partners must appear together in person at one of two Duval County Clerk of Courts locations, present valid photo ID, and pay $86 (or $61 with a premarital course certificate). Florida residents wait three days before the license takes effect, and once effective it is valid for 60 days.

Who Can Apply

Both applicants must be at least 18 to apply on their own. A 17-year-old can apply with written consent from both parents or a legal guardian, and only if the older partner is no more than two years older.¹ No one under 17 can be issued a marriage license in Florida.

If either of you was previously married, you need to know the exact date that marriage ended, whether by divorce, death, or annulment. You do not need to bring the decree or death certificate, just the date.² You cannot apply if you are still legally married to someone else.

Florida also prohibits marriages between close blood relatives, including parents and children, siblings, aunts and nephews, and uncles and nieces.³ One other thing to know: Florida has not recognized common-law marriage since 1968, so living together does not create a legal marriage in this state, no matter how long.

Where to Apply in Duval County

You have two options:

Duval County Courthouse, 501 West Adams Street, Room 2403, Jacksonville. Open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Beaches Branch, 1543 Atlantic Blvd, Neptune Beach. Open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Both partners must appear at the same time to sign the application under oath before a deputy clerk.² You cannot send one person ahead to start the paperwork. The Clerk’s office asks that you arrive no later than 4:30 p.m. at either location and allow about 30 minutes for processing.

You can save time by completing the eMarriage Pre-Application online through the Duval County Clerk’s website before your visit.⁴ The form asks for your birthplace, your parents’ full names, and any prior marriages. Filling it out ahead means less paperwork at the counter. If you complete the pre-application, the Beaches Branch also lets you schedule an appointment instead of walking in.

What to Bring

Both applicants need a valid government-issued photo ID showing legal name, date of birth, and signature. Accepted forms include a U.S. driver’s license, passport, military ID, state-issued ID card, or alien registration card.²

You also provide your Social Security number as part of the sworn application. Non-citizens without a Social Security number can provide an alien registration number instead, and the clerk can still issue a license if neither number is available.¹

If either applicant’s ID is in a foreign language, federal standards require a full English translation certified by the translator as complete and accurate, signed with the translator’s typed name, address, and date.⁵ Have this ready before your visit.

If you completed a premarital preparation course, bring the original certificate of completion. Both partners must have attended the course for the certificate to count.² The certificate does two things: it waives the three-day waiting period for Florida residents and cuts $25 off the fee.

Fees and Payment

The standard marriage license fee in Duval County is $86. Couples who present proof of completing a premarital preparation course from a registered provider pay $61.²

The Clerk’s office accepts cash, money orders, and major credit cards. Credit card payments usually carry a small processing surcharge from the third-party payment provider, so cash or a money order avoids that extra charge.

The Three-Day Wait and the 60-Day Window

Florida imposes a three-day waiting period after a license is issued before it becomes effective. During those three days the license exists but cannot legally be used for a ceremony. Two situations eliminate the delay:

Both partners completed a state-approved premarital preparation course and present the certificate at application.²
Neither partner is a Florida resident.⁶

Once the license becomes effective, you have exactly 60 days to hold your ceremony.⁷ If those 60 days pass without a wedding, the license expires and you start over with a new application and fee. If your wedding is more than two months out, wait to apply until you are inside that window.

Who Can Perform the Ceremony

Florida law allows a wide range of officiants. Ordained ministers, clergy members, judicial officers (including retired judges), circuit court clerks, and Florida notaries public can all legally solemnize a marriage.⁸ Quaker and Friends ceremonies conducted according to their own traditions are also legally valid.

The notary option is the one most couples overlook. Any Florida notary can perform a short civil ceremony, which is useful if you want something simple without a judge or religious officiant.

After the Ceremony

Your officiant is responsible for completing the certificate portion of the marriage license and returning it to the Duval County Clerk’s office within 10 days of the ceremony.⁹ That filing puts your marriage on the public record. If the officiant forgets or delays, your marriage is still legally valid, but the missing paperwork creates problems when you later need certified proof. A polite reminder a few days after the wedding is worth the effort.

Once the certificate is recorded, you can request certified copies from the Duval County Clerk’s Official Records and Research Department in Room 1253 of the courthouse, or by calling (904) 255-2025. Order several at once, since you will need them for name changes, insurance updates, and other administrative tasks.

1
Justia Law. Florida Statutes 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License
2
Duval County Clerk of Court. Marriage License
3
Florida Senate. Florida Statutes 741.21 – Incestuous Marriages Prohibited
4
Duval County Clerk of Courts. Marriage License Application
5
U.S. Department of State. Information about Translating Foreign Documents
6
Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License
7
Florida House of Representatives. Florida Statutes Chapter 741 – Marriage; Domestic Violence
8
Florida Senate. Florida Statutes 741.07 – Persons Authorized to Solemnize Matrimony
9
The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 741.08