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 Florida Marriage Requirements
In order to get married, you need to apply and receive a marriage
license. This is the document in your state that allows you to
officially tie the knot under the law. The rules for acquiring your
marriage license varies from state to state, so you should check
with your city's marriage bureau at your clerk of court's office to
find out what your local rules are.
You'll typically need to apply for your marriage license at least
one month before your wedding ceremony. You'll traditionally need to
send in your birth certificates, tax information, and other official
documents. You don't, however, want to apply for your marriage
license too early. In some states, the licenses do expire, if you
don't get married within a few months.
When you apply for your license, you'll not only need a proof of
identification and age, will need to provide any information about
previous marriages, and will need to pay a nominal fee. You will
also need to have a witness when you sign the application, so plan
on bringing your maid of honor or best man with you. The bride will
need to know what her married name will be before she signs the
marriage certificate. You'll have to write that name on the
application.
And, believe it or not, just because you have your marriage license
sent to you in the mail does not mean you are officially married.
You need to have a justice of the peace or a religious clergyman
sign the document. On your wedding day, you'll give your chaplain
your marriage license, then after the ceremony, he'll sign it and
send it to the proper government agency for validation.
ID Requirement: Picture ID such as a driver's license and your
Social Security card or a valid passport number or I-94 card.
Residency Requirement: Do not have to be a resident of Florida. The
waiting period does not apply to non-Florida residents.
Application Requirement: Both the bride and groom must appear in
person at the time of applying.
Waiting Period: No waiting period for Florida residents who have
both completed a state sanctioned marriage preparation course within
the last 12 months. There is a three-day waiting period for Florida
residents who have not taken the course.
If Divorced: If previously married, the date of divorce or date of
spouse's death must be supplied. If the divorce or spouse's death
occurred within the past 30 days, a certified copy of the divorce
decree or death certificate is required.
Fees: $93.50 - cash only. Couples who have completed a
state-sanctioned marriage preparation course within the past 12
months are entitled to a discount of $32.50.
The Florida Premarital Preparation is a course provided by a
qualified instructor registered with the Clerk of the Circuit Court
consisting of not less than 4 hours. The course may include
instruction regarding conflict management, communication skills,
financial responsibilities, children and parenting responsibilities
on actual case data compiled from information reported by married
couples who seek counseling. The course may be provided by personal
instruction, videotape instruction, instructions via other
electronic medium or a combination of these methods. A roster is
available in any Clerk's Office issuing marriage licenses.
Other Tests:
No blood test requirement.
Under 18: If an individual is under 18 years of age, but older than
16 years of age, a marriage license can be obtained with parental
consent. If a parent has sole custody or the other parent is dead,
the permission of one parent is sufficient. If a person is under the
age of 16, the marriage license has to be issued by a county judge,
with or without parental permission. If a minor's parents are both
deceased and there is not an appointed guardian, he/she may apply
for a marriage license. A minor who has been previously married may
also apply for a license. A minor who swears that they have a child
or are expecting a baby, can apply for a license if a written
statement from a licensed physician has verified the pregnancy. A
county court judge may at his/her discretion issue or not issue a
license for them to marry.
Proxy Marriages: Not allowed in Florida.
Officiates: Notaries and All regularly ordained ministers of the
gospel in communion with some church may perform marriages. Notaries
and Ministers must complete a certificate of marriage on the
marriage license and return it to the office from which it was
issued.
Valid: License is valid for 60 days.
The license can only be used within the State of Florida.
Madison County Clerk
Madison, FL
850.973.1500
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