Marriage

The Clerk of Circuit Court is the issuing agent of marriage licenses for the State of Florida.

All that is required for single adults to obtain a marriage license is for them to come in person to the Clerk's Office, bring their driver's license or other acceptable identification card and be prepared to pay the fee. A recent change in the law also requires both applicants to provide their social security number.

The standard fee is $93.50 paid by cash, however, applicants who file a certification that both parties have completed a state-sanctioned marriage preparation course within the past 12 months, are entitled to a discount ($32.50), making their fee $61.00.

Florida Marriage license are valid for 60 days from date of issue. The marriage license form must be returned to the Clerk's Office for recording within 10 days after the marriage is performed. One certified copy is provided as part of the marriage license fee. Extra copies may be obtained for a fee of $2.00.

For Florida residents who file certification that they both have completed a state sanctioned marriage preparation course within the last 12 months, there is no waiting period. For Florida residents who have not taken the course, there is a three-day waiting period between issuance of the license and the time it becomes valid.

The waiting period does not apply to non-Florida residents. Blood test for marriages in Florida are no longer required.

When marriage license may be issued to persons under 18 years-

1.                   If either of the parties shall be under the age of 18 years but at least 16 years of age, the county court judge or clerk of the circuit court shall issue a license for the marriage of such party only if there is first presented and filed with him or her the written consent of the parents or guardian of such minor to such marriage, acknowledged before some officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments and administer oaths. However, the license shall be issued without parental consent when both parents of such minor are deceased at the time of making application or when such minor has been married previously.

2.                   The county court judge of any county in the state may, in the exercise of his or her discretion issue a license to marry to any male or female under the age of 18 years, upon application of both parties sworn under oath that they are the parents of a child.

3.                    When the fact of pregnancy is verified by the written statement of a licensed physician, the county court judge of any county in the state may, in his or her discretion, issue a license to marry:

a.                   To any male or female under the age of 18 years upon application of both parties sworn under oath that they are the expectant parents of a child; or

b.                   To any male or female under the age of 18 years upon the female’s application sworn under oath that she is an expectant parent.

4.                   No license to marry shall be granted to any person under the age of 16 years, with or without consent of the parents, except as provided in subsections (2) and (3).

The permission of one parent is sufficient, only if that parent has sole custody or the other parent is deceased.

No appointment is necessary to apply for a marriage license.