Frequently Asked Questions
- Who May Issue a Marriage License?
- What is needed to get a marriage license?
- How much is the fee for a marriage license?
- Do I have to pay the fee in cash?
- Is there a waiting period before our ceremony can be performed?
- Does the waiting period apply to nonresidents of Florida?
- Do both parties have to be present at the clerk's office to apply for a license?
- Are we required to have a blood test to apply for a license?
- How long does it take to get a license?
- Can an individual who is younger than 16 get a marriage license from the Clerk's Office with parental permission?
- Is the signature of just one parent sufficient to qualify as parental permission for a minor to marry?
- How long is the marriage license valid?
- How long does it usually take to get a certified copy of our marriage record?
- How much does it cost for a certified copy of a marriage certificate?
- Do one or both of the marriage license applicants have to be American citizens?
- Can the Clerk's Office perform the marriage?
- Do we have to make an advance appointment for a license?
- We would want to renew our vows. Do we need to get a license for this?
- How do we go about renewing our marriage vows?
- Do I need my divorce papers (or spouse's death certificate) in order to apply for a marriage license?
- Can I legally marry my nephew?
- Who May Perform Marriages?
- Who May Issue a Marriage License?
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Every marriage license shall be issued by a county judge or clerk of the Circuit Court under his or her hand and seal. The county judge or clerk of the circuit court shall issue such license, upon application for the license, if there appears to be no impediments to the marriage. [F.S. 741.01]Return to Top
- What is needed to get a marriage license?
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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 either their Social Security number, naturalization number, immigration number or passport number.Return to Top
- How much is the fee for a marriage license?
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The standard fee is $86.00 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 ($25.00), making their fee $61.00 with a registered course provider.Return to Top
- Do I have to pay the fee in cash?
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No. Payment may be made by Visa, MasterCard or Discover. We also accept debit/check cards with the approved Credit Card insignia.Return to Top
- Is there a waiting period before our ceremony can be performed?
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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 both 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 have taken the course separately. They are not required to have taken it together, but both must have taken it in order to qualify for the discounted fee and no-waiting period.)Return to Top
- Does the waiting period apply to nonresidents of Florida?
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No. If both parties are a nonresident of this state, no waiting period is required.Return to Top
- Do both parties have to be present at the clerk's office to apply for a license?
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Yes. (Exceptions can be made only when there is good cause in extreme circumstances.)Return to Top
- Are we required to have a blood test to apply for a license?
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No. Blood tests for marriages in Florida are no longer required.Return to Top
- How long does it take to get a license?
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When the application is filed, the license is issued immediately. The process normally takes no more than 15 minutes. However, there is a full three-day waiting period before the license becomes valid for use, if both parties are Florida residents and both parties have not completedReturn to Topa state sanctioned marriage preparation course.
- Can an individual who is younger than 16 get a marriage license from the Clerk's Office with parental permission?
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Return to Top
Only a minor 17 years of age: In addition to the standard requirements requirements, the following documents must be presented when one or both of the applicants are minors:
- Minor's birth certificate, long form, showing parent's names
- Social Security Card
- Valid Identification Card
Both parents must be present with proof of identification to sign a parent consent form for the minor. If only one parent has full custody by divorce or death, written proof must be presented at the time of signing the parent consent form.
The other party cannot be more than 2 years older than the minor and must present the following for age verification:
- Birth Certificate
- Social Security Card
- Valid Identification
- Is the signature of just one parent sufficient to qualify as parental permission for a minor to marry?
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No. Permission of one parent is only sufficient if that parent has sole legal custody of the minor or if the other parent is deceased.Return to Top
- How long is the marriage license valid?
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Florida marriage licenses 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.Return to Top
- How long does it usually take to get a certified copy of our marriage record?
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Certified copies are normally received within 10 days after the completed marriage certificate is returned to the clerk's office for recording in the county's marriage record books.Return to Top
- How much does it cost for a certified copy of a marriage certificate?
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One certified copy is provided as part of the marriage license fee. There is no additional cost. Extra certified copies may be obtained for a fee of $3.00 each.Return to Top
- Do one or both of the marriage license applicants have to be American citizens?
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No. There is no citizenship requirement.Return to Top
- Can the Clerk's Office perform the marriage?
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Yes. Deputy clerks can perform a civil marriage ceremony. There is a charge of $30 for that service. However, a clerk cannot perform the marriage at the time the license is obtained if the three-day waiting period applies. (Florida residents who do not file certification of completing a state-sanctioned marriage preparation course.)Return to Top
- Do we have to make an advance appointment for a license?
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No. Licenses are issued without appointments during normal business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.Return to Top
- We would want to renew our vows. Do we need to get a license for this?
- No Return to Top
- How do we go about renewing our marriage vows?
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Talk to your clergyman, chaplain, other religious adviser or personal counselor.Return to Top
- Do I need my divorce papers (or spouse's death certificate) in order to apply for a marriage license?
- Yes Return to Top
- Can I legally marry my nephew?
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No. Although the marriage license application does not specifically ask about the possible relationship of the parties, Florida law prohibits close blood relations from legally marrying. These include such relationships as parent-child; brother-sister, uncle-niece, aunt-nephew. The nearest degree of relations who may legally marry in the state of Florida is first cousins.Return to Top
- Who May Perform Marriages?
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(1) All regularly ordained ministers of the gospel or elders in communion with some church, or other ordained clergy, and all judicial officers, clerks of the circuit courts, and notaries public of this state may solemnize the rights of matrimonial contract, under the regulations prescribed by law.Return to Top
(2) Any marriage which may be had and solemnized among the people called "Quakers" or "Friends," in the manner and form used or practiced in their societies, according to their rites and ceremonies, shall be good and valid in law; and whenever the words "minister" and "elder" are used in this chapter, they shall be held to include all the persons connected with the Society of Friends, or Quakers, who perform or have charge of the marriage ceremony according to their rites and ceremonies. [F.S. 741.07]