Florida Marriage License Requirements 2026: $86 Fee, 3-Day Wait

In Florida, a county court judge or the clerk of the circuit court issues the marriage license, and a license from any county can be used anywhere in Florida for 60 days. Florida residents wait 3 days from application unless they complete a premarital preparation course, which also takes $25 off the license fee. The four county clerks we checked all charge $86, or $61 with a course certificate. The rules are in Chapter 741 of the Florida Statutes, mainly sections 741.01 through 741.08. For other states, see our guide to marriage license requirements by state.

Information last verified on October 7, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers how to get a marriage license and marry under Florida law, chiefly Chapter 741 of the Florida Statutes, plus the published procedures of four county clerks (Miami-Dade, Broward, Hillsborough and Orange). It does not cover divorce, ordering old marriage records, common-law marriage claims, or the rules of other states.

Where to apply for a Florida marriage license

Under Fla. Stat. 741.01(1), "Every marriage license shall be issued by a county court judge or clerk of the circuit court under his or her hand and seal." In practice, you go to the marriage license office of a county clerk of courts.

You do not have to apply in the county where you will marry. The Miami-Dade clerk puts it plainly: "A Florida marriage license allows a couple to marry anywhere in Florida, regardless of the county that issued the license." The Orange County clerk says the same.

Florida has no residency or citizenship requirement to apply, according to the Miami-Dade clerk. That makes Florida straightforward for destination weddings, with one timing point covered in the waiting period section below.

Online pre-application and in-person visit

Several large counties let you start online but still require an in-person visit with both of you present:

• Miami-Dade: an online pre-application is required before your visit. The office lists hours of Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Miami-Dade will not perform a ceremony on an electronically issued license.
• Broward: offers an online pre-application before you come in.
• Orange: you complete the eMarriage application online or a printed application, then finish in person at one of four clerk locations.
• Hillsborough: online applications require a credit card.

Hours, locations and appointment rules vary by county and change over time. Check your county clerk's marriage page before you go.

What to bring

Both applicants must appear. Each of you needs one original, valid photo ID showing your legal name, date of birth and signature. The Miami-Dade clerk accepts a US driver license, a federal or state ID card, a passport, a US military ID, an alien registration card, or a naturalization certificate.

Florida law asks for more than ID. Under Fla. Stat. 741.04, the clerk needs:

• Your Social Security number or other identification number, given on a signed affidavit. The statute calls for "The social security number or any other available identification number for each person." A non-citizen may give a Social Security number or an alien registration number, and the license can still issue to a person unable to provide any identification number.
• A signed statement about the family law handbook. Both of you must read the family law handbook described in Fla. Stat. 741.0306 and sign a statement that you did. The clerk makes the handbook available.
• A signed statement about the premarital course, saying whether you completed one.
• Information about a child born in Florida. The application lets the parties state under oath whether they have a child born in Florida.

If either of you was married before, Miami-Dade requires the exact date your most recent marriage ended by divorce, death or annulment. Have that date ready wherever you apply.

How much a Florida marriage license costs

Each county clerk collects the fee, and the four clerk pages we verified list the same price: $86, or $61 when you present a valid premarital course certificate. Fees can change, so treat your county clerk's page as the final word.

We could not open the Palm Beach County clerk's page when we checked, so we have not listed its fee. Call or visit that clerk directly.

Payment methods differ. Miami-Dade takes cash, cashier's checks, money orders, Visa, Discover, MasterCard and American Express. Broward asks that checks be payable to the Broward County Clerk of Courts and does not accept business or personal checks. Orange takes cash, money orders, cashier's checks and the four major cards.

What the fee is made of

Chapter 741 builds the license fee from several pieces. Section 741.01(1) sets a $2 application fee. Section 741.01(2) adds $25 for the Domestic Violence Trust Fund, and 741.01(3) adds $25 for the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund. Section 741.02 adds a $4 fee distributed under s. 382.022.

Fla. Stat. 28.24(24) adds a $30 clerk service charge for administering the oath, issuing, sealing and recording the license, and providing a certified copy. Together these pieces come to $86, but rely on your county clerk's total rather than adding them up yourself.

Paying in installments

If you cannot pay the fee in one lump sum, Fla. Stat. 741.011 lets you pay in up to three installments over 90 days, on an affidavit. The clerk keeps a $1 processing fee, and the application counts as filed only when the final payment is made. That matters because the 3-day delay and the 60-day validity both run from dates tied to the application and issuance.

The premarital preparation course: $25 off and no waiting period

Florida rewards couples who take a premarital preparation course in two ways. Fla. Stat. 741.01(4) provides that "the fee charged for each marriage license issued in the state shall be reduced by a sum of $25" for couples who present valid certificates. And under 741.04(5), a valid course certificate removes the 3-day delay.

The course rules in Fla. Stat. 741.0305:

• Length: at least 4 hours.
• Timing: taken no more than 1 year before the date you apply (Fla. Stat. 741.01(4)).
• Provider: must be registered with the clerk. Eligible providers include licensed psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors licensed under chapters 490 and 491, an official representative of a recognized religious institution with relevant training, and other providers designated by the judicial circuit.
• Cost: you pay for the course yourself.
• Certificate: it must state your name, the completion date and how the course was delivered.

Watch out: Section 741.0305(1) still contains older wording that states a different reduction amount. Section 741.01(4) and every county clerk we checked use $25 ($86 down to $61). Miami-Dade, Broward and Hillsborough each accept courses only from providers registered with that county's clerk, and Broward requires the original certificate. Check that your provider is on your county clerk's roster before you take the course.

Waiting period and how long the license lasts

The 3-day delay

If you do not present a valid premarital course certificate, Fla. Stat. 741.04(5) requires the clerk to "delay the effective date of the marriage license by 3 days from the date of application." The clerk prints the effective date on the license, so you cannot marry before it.

The statute builds in exceptions. "The clerk shall grant exceptions to the delayed effective date requirement to non-Florida residents and to couples asserting hardship." A county court judge may also waive the delay for Florida residents for good cause.

Counties apply the non-resident exception differently when only one of you lives in Florida:

• Miami-Dade says non-Florida residents have no waiting period.
• Broward says the residency exception applies when both applicants live out of state and show photo ID with an out-of-state address (or other proof the office accepts) when they apply.
• Hillsborough says there is no wait only if both of you are non-residents. If one of you is a Florida resident, the wait applies.
• Orange says the 3-day clock starts when the couple buys the license in person, and that a couple claiming hardship must petition a judge at the downtown courthouse.

If one of you lives in Florida and the other does not, ask your county clerk how it applies the exception, or take the course and avoid the question.

The 60-day limit

Under Fla. Stat. 741.041, "Marriage licenses shall be valid only for a period of 60 days after issuance, and no person shall perform any ceremony of marriage after the expiration date of such license." The clerk writes the last valid date on the license.

If the 60 days run out before your ceremony, the license cannot be used. Plan the application date around the wedding date, counting any 3-day delay at the front.

Age requirements and marriage of a minor

Florida's minimum marriage age is 18, with one narrow exception. Under Fla. Stat. 741.04(1), the clerk "may not issue a license to marry to any person younger than 18 years of age, unless" both of these are true:

• (a) the person is at least 17 and provides the written consent of his or her parents or legal guardian, acknowledged before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments, and
• (b) "The older party to the marriage is not more than 2 years older than the younger party."

No one under 17 can get a Florida marriage license. The Miami-Dade clerk's page states the same floor. The statute's history line lists chapter 2018-81 as the most recent amendment to this section.

The Orange County clerk's page describes the consent as coming from both parents unless they are divorced and one has custody, which is worded differently from the statute's "parents or legal guardian." If a minor is involved, confirm the exact consent paperwork with the clerk before you go.

Who cannot marry in Florida

Close relatives. Fla. Stat. 741.21 provides: "A man may not marry any woman to whom he is related by lineal consanguinity, nor his sister, nor his aunt, nor his niece." The same section bars a woman from marrying her lineal relatives, brother, uncle or nephew.

Common-law marriage. Under Fla. Stat. 741.211, "No common-law marriage entered into after January 1, 1968, shall be valid." You need a license and a ceremony. Our page on Florida common-law marriage explains how Florida treats couples who claim one.

Same-sex couples. Fla. Stat. 741.212 still contains text defining marriage as between one man and one woman. That text cannot be enforced: in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015), the US Supreme Court held that "same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry."

A prior marriage. You must give the date your most recent marriage ended. The Hillsborough clerk states that no marriage license can be issued when either party is still married, so wait until a prior divorce is final before you apply.

Blood tests and the family law handbook

Florida does not require a blood test. The Hillsborough clerk answers the question directly: "Blood tests are not required in Florida when applying for a marriage license."

What Florida does require is the family law handbook under Fla. Stat. 741.0306. Both applicants must read it and sign a statement saying so before the license issues.

Who can perform a Florida marriage ceremony

Fla. Stat. 741.07(1) authorizes ordained ministers, elders and other ordained clergy, and provides that "all judicial officers, including retired judicial officers, clerks of the circuit courts, and notaries public of this state may solemnize the rights of matrimonial contract." Marriages under the rites of the Quakers are also valid under 741.07.

We did not find an officiant registration requirement in Chapter 741. The statute speaks of "ordained" clergy, and we have not verified how Florida treats online ordination, so ask a Florida lawyer or your clerk if that matters to you.

Notaries public

In Florida, a notary public can marry you. Under Fla. Stat. 117.045, a notary's fee for solemnizing a marriage may not exceed what the clerks may charge for the same service.

Courthouse weddings

Clerk deputies perform civil ceremonies in many counties. Miami-Dade, Broward and Hillsborough each list a $30 ceremony fee. Remember that Miami-Dade will not perform a ceremony on an electronically issued license.

Witnesses

We did not find a witness requirement in the Chapter 741 sections we reviewed, and we have not confirmed the rule. The Hillsborough clerk describes solemnizing a marriage as performing the ceremony before a witness, and Miami-Dade lists an Affidavit of Witness form and asks couples to call its marriage bureau first. Ask your clerk whether your ceremony needs witnesses.

After the ceremony: returning the license and getting copies

The officiant handles the return. Under Fla. Stat. 741.08, "within 10 days after solemnizing the marriage he or she shall make a certificate thereof on the license, and shall transmit the same to the office of the county court judge or clerk of the circuit court from which it issued." The clerk then records it.

In Miami-Dade, the officiant returns the license to the Central Marriage License Bureau within 10 days unless a deputy clerk performed the ceremony. The recorded certificate is then mailed to you or handed over.

You will want certified copies for name changes, insurance and benefits. Broward's fee table lists a certified copy of a recorded license at $3.00, while its records-request section lists $5.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy, so confirm with the office. Miami-Dade lists an additional certified copy at $9, though its page also shows $7 in one place, so confirm with the office. For ordering copies later, see Florida marriage and divorce records and our guide on how to get a copy of your marriage certificate.

If you plan to take a spouse's surname, start with Florida name change laws and the national guide to changing your name after marriage.

Common Florida marriage license myths

• "You have to marry in the county that issued the license." No. A Florida license works in any Florida county for 60 days.
• "Everyone waits 3 days." No. A valid premarital course certificate removes the delay, and the clerk must grant exceptions to non-Florida residents and couples asserting hardship. Counties differ on mixed resident and non-resident couples.
• "Orange County charges more than $86." Orange County's official page lists $86, or $61 with a course. Older figures circulating online do not match the clerk's page.
• "The course discount is more than $25." One section of the statute still carries older wording, but the operative reduction in 741.01(4) and at every clerk we checked is $25.

Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information about Florida marriage license law under Chapter 741 of the Florida Statutes, verified on October 7, 2026. It is not legal advice. Fees, hours and procedures are set or applied by each county clerk and can change. For your specific situation, contact your county clerk of courts or a lawyer licensed in Florida.

Related

• Marriage license requirements by state
• Georgia marriage license requirements
• Alabama marriage license requirements
• Florida marriage and divorce records
• Florida common-law marriage
• Florida name change laws
• Common-law marriage by state

Last updated: October 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a marriage license in Florida?

Miami-Dade, Broward, Hillsborough and Orange counties all list $86, or $61 if you present a valid premarital preparation course certificate. Fla. Stat. 741.01(4) sets the $25 course reduction; check your county clerk for the current fee.

Is there a waiting period to get married in Florida?

Yes, for most Florida residents. Under Fla. Stat. 741.04(5) the license takes effect 3 days after application unless you present a valid premarital course certificate, and the clerk must grant exceptions to non-Florida residents and couples asserting hardship.

Do non-residents have to wait 3 days to marry in Florida?

No, the clerk must grant non-Florida residents an exception under Fla. Stat. 741.04(5). Hillsborough and Broward apply this only when both applicants are non-residents (Broward asks for photo ID showing an out-of-state address), so a couple with one Florida resident should ask the county clerk.

How long is a Florida marriage license good for?

60 days after issuance. Fla. Stat. 741.041 bars anyone from performing a ceremony after the license expires.

Can we get our license in one Florida county and marry in another?

Yes. A Florida marriage license can be used in any Florida county, as the Miami-Dade and Orange County clerks both state.

What is the minimum age to marry in Florida?

18. Under Fla. Stat. 741.04(1), a 17-year-old may get a license only with written, acknowledged consent from parents or a legal guardian, and only if the other party is no more than 2 years older.

Can a notary marry us in Florida?

Yes. Fla. Stat. 741.07 lets Florida notaries public solemnize marriages, and Fla. Stat. 117.045 caps a notary's fee at what clerks may charge for the same service.

Does Florida require a blood test to get married?

No. The Hillsborough County clerk states that blood tests are not required in Florida when applying for a marriage license.

Who returns the marriage license after the wedding?

The officiant. Fla. Stat. 741.08 requires the officiant to complete the certificate on the license and send it to the issuing office within 10 days after the ceremony.