How to Request an Inmate Marriage Packet in Florida

To request an inmate marriage in Florida, both the incarcerated person and the intended spouse must submit a written request to the Warden of the facility, and the Warden must approve it before any marriage license or ceremony can be arranged. The process is governed by Florida Administrative Code Rule 33-503.002, and it runs on three parallel tracks: the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) approval, a county marriage license, and an officiant cleared to enter the prison. Expect the full timeline to take several months.¹

What the Written Request Must Contain

Rule 33-503.002 requires both parties to submit the request in writing to the Warden. Each written request must include a statement from the party expressing the desire to marry, and a statement from a chaplain or designated staff member confirming that both individuals have received information about what marriage looks like in an institutional setting.¹

If either the inmate or the intended spouse is a minor, written approval from a parent or legal guardian must accompany the request. Florida’s marriage license statute separately requires anyone under 18 to be at least 17 years old, have written parental consent, and marry someone no more than two years older.² Neither party can have an undissolved prior marriage. If either was previously married, a certified final divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse will be needed later at the clerk’s office.

There Is No Single “Marriage Packet”

You may see references online to “Form DC6-236” as a dedicated inmate marriage packet. DC6-236 is the FDC’s general-purpose Inmate Request form used throughout the grievance and administrative system; it is not a marriage packet. Rule 33-503.002 does not name a specific form number for marriage. The request simply needs to be in writing and contain the required elements. If the facility directs the inmate to use a particular form, follow those instructions, but do not expect a standardized statewide document.

What the Warden Reviews

After the written requests are submitted, the Warden conducts a security assessment. The question is whether the marriage would threaten the inmate’s personal safety, institutional order, or public safety. If the Warden sees no concerns, the marriage is approved and the couple can move to the county license stage.¹

If the Warden believes the marriage poses a security risk, the Warden cannot simply deny it. The recommendation to deny must be put in writing and forwarded, along with supporting documentation from the staff psychologist and the correctional officer chief, to the Regional Director. The Regional Director must issue a decision within 15 days of receiving the documentation, and that decision is final under the marriage rule.¹

If You Believe a Denial Was Improper

If the Regional Director upholds the denial, the inmate’s next option is the FDC’s general grievance system. The inmate files Form DC1-303 (Request for Administrative Remedy or Appeal), stating the complaint in Part A and attaching any relevant documentation. The grievance goes into the facility’s locked grievance box, and the institution has 20 calendar days to respond. If denied at the institutional level, the inmate can appeal to the Bureau of Policy Management and Inmate Appeals in Tallahassee within 15 days of receiving the denial.³

Getting the Marriage License

Warden approval is permission to marry inside the facility. It is not the marriage license. The couple still needs a license from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the facility is located.

The Statement of Inmate Form

Because the incarcerated partner cannot appear at the clerk’s office, the non-incarcerated spouse handles the application in person. The inmate completes a Statement of Inmate form at the facility, signed in the presence of a notary public inside the prison. The outside partner then brings that signed statement to the clerk’s office along with their own identification.⁴ Both parties must provide a social security number or other identification number, along with a sworn affidavit stating their ages.²

Fees, Waiting Period, and the 60-Day Clock

The standard marriage license fee in Florida is $86. Couples who complete a premarital preparation course pay a reduced fee of $61.⁴ The non-incarcerated partner pays this fee at the clerk’s office.

Florida imposes a three-day waiting period between the application and the date the license becomes effective. Completing a premarital preparation course waives the waiting period, and the clerk can grant hardship exceptions.² Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days. If the ceremony does not happen within that window, the license expires and the couple starts over.⁵ Because facility scheduling is tight, coordinate your license application date with available ceremony dates so the 60 days do not run out.

The Ceremony Inside the Facility

Finding an Officiant

Florida law authorizes ordained ministers, judicial officers (including retired judges), clerks of the circuit court, and notary publics to perform marriages.⁶ A notary public is often the practical choice for a prison wedding, since the facility may have one available or a mobile notary can be hired. The couple is responsible for arranging and paying the officiant, including any travel fees. Mobile notary fees for facility visits typically run between $40 and $170 depending on distance.

Any outside officiant entering the facility must clear security screening. At minimum, expect to provide government-issued photo identification, date of birth, and credentials showing authority to perform marriages. Contact the specific facility well in advance to confirm what documentation and clearance steps are required, because procedures differ between institutions.

What to Expect on the Day

Ceremonies are held in a designated area within the facility, typically the visitation room or chapel. They are brief and functional. Outside guests are generally not permitted. Photography follows the facility’s visitation rules, which usually means very limited or no personal cameras.

Dress code for the non-incarcerated spouse is enforced strictly and follows the same rules as regular visitation: nothing revealing, nothing too tight, and nothing resembling inmate attire. Check the facility’s visitation dress code before the ceremony date to avoid being turned away at the gate. Ring policies vary. Some facilities allow a simple band to be exchanged and worn by the inmate afterward; others restrict jewelry. Confirm with the institution before buying anything.

After the Ceremony

The officiant signs the completed marriage license and returns it to the Clerk of the Circuit Court that issued it. The clerk records the marriage and makes it official. Request certified copies of the marriage certificate, since you will need them for name changes, insurance, and benefits.

Name Changes Work Differently for the Inmate

The non-incarcerated spouse can update their name through the Social Security Administration and the DMV using the marriage certificate. For the incarcerated spouse, a legal name change is a separate court proceeding. Florida Statute 68.07 requires a verified petition in the circuit court of the county of residence, including a five-year employment and residential history, full criminal history disclosure, and the results of a state and FBI fingerprint-based background check. The petitioner pays for the fingerprinting and background check. Where the petitioner has a criminal record, the judge has full discretion to approve or deny after reviewing the results.⁷

What Marriage Does Not Change Inside

Being married does not automatically put the new spouse on the inmate’s visitor list. The spouse still has to go through the standard application and background check to be approved for visitation. Florida does not allow conjugal visits for any inmate, regardless of marital status. Marriage also does not change the type of physical contact permitted during visits, which stays governed by the facility’s standard visitation rules. The legal rights that come with marriage (eligibility for certain government benefits, authority to make medical decisions if designated, inheritance rights) exist outside the walls; inside, daily life is still shaped by the terms of incarceration.

1
Legal Information Institute. Florida Code 33-503.002 – Marriage of an Inmate While Incarcerated
2
Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 741 Section 04
3
Justia Regulations. Florida Administrative Code, Chapter 33-103, Section 33-103.006
4
Hardee County, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. Marriage License While Incarcerated
5
The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes Title XLIII Chapter 741
6
The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 741.07 – Persons Authorized to Solemnize Matrimony
7
The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 68.07 – Change of Name