STATE OF FLORIDA MARRIAGE LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
Florida law dictates the conditions for marriage license insurance and the fees that are charged. Residency: You need not be a resident of Florida to apply for a marriage license in this state. Persons 18 years of age and older may apply without parental consent. Persons under 18 years of age may apply with consent of both parents. Consent forms are available from the clerk. Persons who were previously married and divorced need to supply the divorce date and state where the divorce occurred. A fee in the amount of $102.50 in cash, money order, Visa or Master card is required at the time the application is made. Personal checks cannot be accepted. Fees are non refundable. A driver’s license, certified copy of birth certificate, military I.D. card, state issued I.D. card or passport must be presented at the time the application is made. Also, a social security number must be provided.
Requirements for a reduced rate: Couples who complete a 4 hour marriage preparation course will receive a $32.50 reduction in the initial marriage license fee. The course must be conducted by certain licensed professionals, a person approved by a judge, an “official representative of a religious institution with relevant training” or any other provider designated by the Circuit Court, including school counselors who are qualified to teach the courses locally. The Clerk of the court, Marriage License Department, will have a registry of qualified course providers. Couples who complete the course are required to present a certificate to the Clerk at the time the application is made. For those couples who do not attend a course, the clerk must delay the effective date of the application for 3 days and no discount will be provided. Exceptions to the waiting period are non – Florida residents, a county court judge may waive the delayed effective date.
The Marriage License is valid on the effective date located in box 18a of the license to Mary Form and must be used within 60 days (expiration date is located in box 19 of the license to marry form). Before any official may solemnize a marriage, he/she must require the parties to produce a marriage license. After the ceremony, it is the official’s duty to complete the Certificate of Marriage portion on the license, and then return it to the Clerk within 10 days. Official Records will record the license and the originals are sent to the Office of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville, Florida.
Applications are accepted and processed between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. – BLOOD TESTS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED –
The Marriage Ceremony must take place within the state of Florida. Witnesses to the marriage are not required. A marriage ceremony may be performed (solemnized) by a judge or notary public of the state, by any licensed or ordained minister, by a church elder, or by a deputy clerk. No appointments are accepted.
Certified Copies: Following the ceremony, the person who officiates is required to return the license to the Clerk. The license is then sent to the Official Records to be recorded. Official Records provides one certified copy to the couple. The copying cost is included in the application fee. Additional copies are $2.50 each.
Where to apply:
Orange County –
Orange County Courthouse (Orlando) – 425 N. Orange Avenue, Room #355 (407) 836-2067
Apopka County Service Building – 1111 North Rock Springs Road (407) 889-4176
Winter Park – 450 North Lakemont Avenue (407) 671-1116
Ocoee County Services Building – 475 West Story Road (407) 656-3229
Seminole County -
376 Wilshire Blvd. Casselberry (407) 830-7337
995 N. St. Rd. 434, Altamonte Springs (407) 862-5373
Osceola County -
12 S. Vernon Ave, Kissimmee – (407) 343-3500
Lake County -
Lake County Public Records Center – East Main Street, Tavares (352) 253-2648122
Clermont Branch Office – 1206 Bowman Street, Clermont (352) 394-2018
North Lake Branch Office – 902 Avenida Central, The Villages (352) 753-2064
