How to Get a Marriage License in St. Johns County

To get a marriage license in St. Johns County, both you and your partner must appear together at one of the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s three office locations, present valid photo ID, sign the application under oath, and pay the fee: $86 for most couples, or $61 if both of you have completed a registered premarital preparation course.¹ Florida residents then wait three days before the license takes effect; non-residents and anyone with a premarital course certificate can use it the same day.

Who Can Apply

Both applicants must be at least 18 to apply without extra steps. A 17-year-old can apply only with notarized written consent from a parent or guardian, and the other party cannot be more than two years older.² No one under 17 can obtain a Florida marriage license under any circumstances.

Florida does not require a blood test or medical exam. The state does prohibit marriages between close blood relatives: parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, siblings and half-siblings, and aunts or uncles with nieces or nephews. First cousins and more distant relatives may legally marry.

What to Bring

Each applicant needs a valid government-issued photo ID — a driver’s license, state ID card, passport, or military ID will all work.³ Anyone who has been issued a Social Security number must provide it; the statute ties this requirement to federal child support enforcement.² A non-citizen without an SSN may give an alien registration number instead, and the clerk can still issue a license if a non-citizen has neither.

If either of you was married before, bring the exact date the prior marriage ended, whether by divorce, annulment, or death, along with documentation of when and where it was dissolved.³

At the counter, both of you will sign a written statement about whether you completed a premarital course and a separate statement confirming you’ve read Florida’s handbook on the rights and responsibilities of marriage.² If you have children together who were born in Florida, you’ll also complete an Affirmation of Common Children form.¹ The clerk’s office offers an online marriage kiosk and downloadable forms you can complete beforehand to shorten the visit, but both parties still have to appear in person to sign under oath.

Where to Apply

St. Johns County issues marriage licenses at three locations, each with different hours and walk-in policies:¹

Main Office at the St. Johns County Courthouse, 4010 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine. Open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Walk-ins accepted; appointments optional.
Julington Creek Annex, 725 Flora Branch Boulevard, St. Johns. Open 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Appointment required.
Ponte Vedra Annex, 151 Sawgrass Corners Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach. Open 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday and Wednesday only. Appointment required.

The St. Augustine courthouse is the most flexible option because it takes walk-ins five days a week. Appointments at any location can be booked, rescheduled, or canceled through the clerk’s online scheduling system.

Fees and Payment

The license fee depends on residency and whether you’ve completed a premarital course:¹

Florida residents without a premarital course: $86.00
Florida residents with a premarital course certificate (both parties): $61.00
Non-residents (one or both parties): $86.00

Cash, personal checks, and credit cards are accepted. Credit card payments may carry a small processing surcharge. If you want the clerk to officiate a ceremony during the same visit, that’s an additional $30, and professional photo service at the courthouse location is $15.

The Three-Day Waiting Period

Florida imposes a three-day waiting period on resident couples who haven’t completed a premarital preparation course. The license is handed to you the day you apply, but no ceremony can legally take place until three days later.³ This catches people off guard when they’re planning to marry the same weekend they apply.

Two groups skip the wait: Florida residents who present a valid premarital course certificate, and non-residents.¹ If even one party lives outside Florida, the couple is treated as non-resident and the license takes effect immediately.

The Premarital Preparation Course

A premarital course gives Florida residents two things: a $25 cut in the fee and the three-day wait waived.¹ The course must run at least four hours and can cover communication skills, conflict management, financial responsibilities, and parenting.⁴

The provider must be registered with the St. Johns County Clerk of Court specifically. A certificate from a provider registered only in another Florida county will not get you the discount here.⁵ Eligible instructors include licensed psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, and representatives of recognized religious institutions with relevant training.⁴ The certificate must show completion within the past year and indicate whether instruction was in person, by video, or through another electronic format.

How Long the License Lasts and Where It’s Valid

The license is good for 60 days from the date of issuance. No ceremony can legally be performed after that expiration date.⁶ If you miss the window, you reapply and pay the fee again.

You can use the license for a ceremony anywhere in Florida, not only in St. Johns County. It is not valid outside the state, so a destination wedding in another state or country requires a license from that jurisdiction.

Who Can Perform the Ceremony

Florida law authorizes several categories of officiants:⁷

Regularly ordained ministers, elders in communion with a church, and other ordained clergy
Any judge or justice, including those who are retired
Clerks of the circuit court; the St. Johns County Clerk’s office will perform the ceremony for $30
Any Florida notary public

The notary option surprises people, but it’s a legal and practical route for a simple, non-religious ceremony. Florida does not require witnesses — the officiant’s certification on the license is enough to make the marriage legal.

After the Ceremony

The officiant, not the couple, certifies the marriage on the license and returns it to the issuing clerk’s office within 10 days of the ceremony.⁸ If the clerk performs the ceremony, that step is handled for you. For an outside officiant, a polite reminder is worth it, since a delayed return can hold up anything that needs proof of marriage.

Once the license is recorded, the clerk’s office generates the official marriage certificate. You can request certified copies from the St. Johns County Clerk, and you’ll probably need several — one for the Social Security Administration if you’re changing your name, one for the DMV, and others for your employer, bank, and insurance providers.

1
St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller. Marriage Licenses and Ceremonies
2
Florida Senate. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License
3
Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers. How Do I Apply For A Marriage License
4
Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.0305 – Marriage Fee Reduction for Completion of Premarital Preparation Course
5
St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller. Marriage Frequently Asked Questions
6
Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.041 – Marriage License Application Valid for 60 Days
7
Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.07 – Persons Authorized to Solemnize Matrimony
8
Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.08 – Marriage Not to Be Solemnized Without a License