For single adults to obtain a marriage license they must both be 18 years or older and come into the Clerk's office together (exceptions can be made only when there is good cause in extreme circumstances.) Bring your driver's license and Social Security Number (Card not needed, just the number)..Non-U.S. Citizens may submit a naturalization number, immigration number or passport number. The process for obtaining a marriage license normally takes no more than 30 minutes. When the application is filed, the license is issued immediately.
If either party has been widowed or divorced, they must know the month/day/year that the marriage ended.
For Florida residents who file certification that they both have completed a state-sanctioned marriage preparation course within the past 12 months, there is no waiting period. For Florida residents who have not taken the course, there is a full three-day waiting period between issuance of the license and the time it becomes valid for use. (Note: The parties may take the course separately, they are not required to take it together, but both must take it in order to qualify for the discount and both must read a 16 page Family Law Handbook (copy provided by the Clerk's Office).
The waiting period does not apply to nonresidents of Florida. If one party is a resident of Florida and the other party is a nonresident the three-day waiting period is waived only if the Florida resident takes the state-sanctioned marriage preparation course, but no discount is given.
A Florida marriage license is valid for 60 days from date of validity. The marriage license must be returned to the clerk's office for recording within 10 days after the marriage is performed.
Deputy clerk's can perform civil ceremonies in the clerk's office. There is a charge of $30.00 for that service. However, a clerk cannot perform the marriage ceremony at the time the license is obtained if the three-day waiting period applies. The clerk's office asks for a 24-hour appointment in advance. Weddings are performed between the hours of 9:00 am to 11:00 am and from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday (except for holidays)
For further information regarding marriage licenses, please refer to F.S. 741
For fees associated with marriage licenses please refer to services charges and fees
Other Important Links:
How to Obtain Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Records
Information from Florida Department of Health
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