So, you are engaged and have decided to get married here in the great state of Florida with its beautiful beaches and tropical feel. Before you can get married there is one thing that will need to be completed before your wedding.
And that is your Florida Marriage License, you must have a valid wedding license, to get married here in Florida
We are here to give you information on how to do this and how it is so much easier it is to do it via mail! Also, see our other blog post on the 5 good reasons to do your license by Mail.
Within our website, you will find our FAQ which will answer questions like –
How long is the license valid for?
How long does it take to get a license?
How much does it cost?
Florida Marriage License Requirements
When applying for a marriage license, both parties, age 18 and over, must be present.
A Florida marriage license allows a couple to get married anywhere in Florida, regardless of the county the license was purchased from. Most Counties post-COVID request couples make an appointment to apply for a Florida Marriage License (verify if your county requires you to make an appointment). Most courthouses are only open Monday – Friday and also have very limited parking, so allow for this if you wish to attend a local courthouse. If it is a busy courthouse you may have to wait sometime to complete your application process.
Marriage License Identification Requirements:
For US couples a valid federal or state government photo identification card is required and must provide the correct legal name, date of birth, and signature of the applicant.
Types of photo identification cards accepted are:
- Driver License (U.S. State or Government)
- U.S. Military identification
- State Identification Card (U.S. State or Government)
- Alien Registration Card
You will need to complete a Florida Marriage Application form with personal information on it – your full name, Social Security number, where you were born, where you live, date of birth, and wedding date.
If you have been married previously you will need to provide the exact date your last marriage ended – if by divorce, death, or annulment.
You will take all this with you to the courthouse for a wedding license to be issued.
Please be advised that if you are a Floridian – once the license is issued you have to wait an additional 3 days in order to get married.
What if I am a Non-Florida Resident?
Unlike, Floridians there is no residency requirement for non-residents or couples from overseas. You can obtain your wedding and then get married immediately. The documents for out-of-state couples are the same as above. For couples from overseas, you will need to present your valid passport.
Regardless of where you are from, your Florida Marriage License is valid for 60 days. This means you must have your wedding ceremony within these 60 days. The officiant that marries you is responsible for sending the license back to the courthouse for recording.
Cost of a Marriage License? This varies from county to county, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $86.00 to $120
Timeframe for getting a wedding license in Florida?
You can go and get your wedding license from the courthouse within 60 days of your wedding.
If you want to do it before this time, we can do it up to 6 months out, giving you more time to get everything in order – come do it by mail!