Getting a marriage license in Florida is straightforward once you know the actual requirements – but the details trip people up: who needs to wait three days, who doesn’t, what happens if you’ve been married before, and how long the license stays valid. This guide covers the process in full, without the fluff.
Who Can Apply
Both partners must be 18 or older and appear in person together at a Florida county clerk’s office – you cannot apply online or send one partner alone. If either partner is 16 or 17, parental consent is required; under 16 requires court approval. You do not need to be a Florida resident to get married in Florida.
What Documents You Need
Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID – driver’s license, state ID, or passport – for each partner. You’ll also need to provide your Social Security number (memorized or written down is fine; you don’t need the physical card). If either of you was previously married, you’ll need to state the date the previous marriage ended, though most counties no longer require the actual divorce decree.
Cost and Waiting Period
The license fee ranges from $86 to $93.50 depending on the county. You can reduce it to roughly $61 by completing a state-approved four-hour premarital preparation course before applying.
Florida residents face a mandatory 3-day waiting period between application and the license becoming valid – unless they’ve completed the premarital course, which waives the wait .
Out-of-state couples face no waiting period at all – you can apply and marry the same day. This is a major reason Florida, and especially Miami and the Keys, are popular with couples traveling in specifically to elope.
How Long the License Lasts
Once issued, your license is valid for 60 days. If your ceremony doesn’t happen within that window, the license expires and you’ll need to reapply and pay the fee again . Plan your application timing around your actual ceremony date – applying too early is the most common avoidable mistake.
Where to Apply
You can apply at any county clerk’s office in Florida, regardless of where your ceremony will take place. If you’re eloping in the Keys but flying into Miami, applying at the Miami-Dade Clerk’s office before heading down is often more convenient than trying to find an open office in Key West or Key Largo.
After the Ceremony
Your officiant is legally responsible for signing the license and returning it to the clerk’s office where it was issued, typically within 10 days. Confirm with your officiant that this step happens – an unfiled license can cause real problems later if you need proof of marriage for a name change, insurance, or immigration paperwork.
Common Questions
Do we need witnesses? No – Florida doesn’t require witnesses for the ceremony itself, only a legally authorized officiant.
Can we use the license anywhere in Florida? Yes. Once issued, it’s valid statewide regardless of which county issued it.
What if we’re eloping last-minute? As long as at least one of you isn’t a Florida resident, you can apply and marry the same day with no waiting period – this is why many elopement couples travel in from out of state.
Where This Fits Into Your Bigger Plan
The license itself is the easy part. The harder part – picking the right location, timing it around weather, coordinating an officiant who can travel to your spot – is where planning actually matters. See our complete guide to eloping in Florida for the full process, or explore elopement locations in the Florida Keys if you’re deciding where to go.
If you’d rather have someone handle the coordination while you focus on the moment itself, that’s exactly what our elopement planning services cover.