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Florida marriage license guide (2026)

Checked against Florida Statutes and 10 county clerk sites, November 2026.

The short answer

  • Fee: $86 at every county clerk we checked. $61 if you both bring premarital course certificates.
  • Wait: 3 days for Florida residents, waived with the course. No wait for non-residents.
  • Valid: 60 days, anywhere in Florida.
  • Who applies: both of you, together, in person, with photo ID and Social Security numbers. You must be 18 or older.
  • Where: any Florida county clerk. You do not have to live in that county or in Florida.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Decide on the premarital course

    A course of at least 4 hours from a registered provider cuts the fee from $86 to $61 and, for Florida residents, removes the 3-day wait. Clerks in Miami-Dade and Duval say it must be finished no more than one year before you apply.

  2. 2

    Pre-apply online if your county offers it

    Miami-Dade requires an online pre-application before you visit. Broward and Orange offer one to speed things up. Palm Beach requires an appointment for in-person service.

  3. 3

    Go to the clerk together with ID

    Bring a valid driver license, state ID, passport or military ID and your Social Security number. Both of you sign a sworn application, plus a statement that you read the Family Law Handbook the clerk provides.

  4. 4

    Pay the fee

    $86, or $61 with course certificates. Payment methods differ by county, and Orange adds a $3.50 card surcharge.

  5. 5

    Wait if you have to

    Florida residents without a course wait 3 days from the application date. Non-residents and couples with course certificates can marry right away.

  6. 6

    Hold the ceremony within 60 days

    Any authorized officiant can marry you anywhere in Florida. Many clerk offices also perform courthouse ceremonies for $30.

  7. 7

    Return the signed license

    After the wedding the license goes back to the clerk of the county that issued it to be recorded, per the Hillsborough clerk.

What Florida law actually says

Age. Section 741.04(1) bars a license for anyone under 18, with one exception: a 17-year-old may marry with written, acknowledged consent from a parent or guardian if the other person is no more than 2 years older.

The 3-day delay. Under section 741.04(5), a license without valid premarital course certificates takes effect 3 days after the application date, and that effective date is printed in bold on the license. The clerk must grant exceptions for non-Florida residents and for couples asserting hardship, and a county judge may waive the delay for residents who show good cause. In Orange County, hardship waivers are handled only at the downtown courthouse.

60-day limit. Section 741.041 makes the license valid for 60 days after issuance, and the clerk prints the last valid date on it. If you miss it, you apply and pay again.

The course. Section 741.0305 describes a course of at least 4 hours that can cover conflict management, communication, finances, and children and parenting. You pick a provider registered with the clerk and pay them directly. Clerk sites such as Miami-Dade and Sarasota publish a directory of registered providers.

The handbook. Section 741.0306 requires clerks to give applicants a family law handbook on spouses' rights and responsibilities, written by the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar. You sign a statement that you read it.

Installments. Section 741.011 lets applicants who cannot pay in one lump sum pay in up to three installments over 90 days, with an affidavit.

County clerk links for our biggest Florida cities

Fees below are what each clerk posted when we checked in November 2026. Tap a county for its official page, or a city to browse local wedding vendors.

Book your officiant early

Anyone on the 741.07 list can sign your license: ordained clergy, judges and retired judges, circuit court clerks and notaries public. Ask your officiant who returns the license to the clerk after the ceremony, and confirm they know your 60-day deadline. Browse officiants in Jacksonville, Sarasota, Naples, Orlando and Tampa, or start with the Top Rated 2026 Florida wedding vendors.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a marriage license in Florida in 2026?
Every county clerk we checked (Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Orange, Duval, Pinellas, Sarasota, Collier, Lee, Broward and Palm Beach) charges $86. Couples who show a certificate from a registered premarital course pay $61 instead, a $25 discount.
Is there a waiting period to get married in Florida?
Yes, for Florida residents. Under section 741.04(5) of the Florida Statutes, the license takes effect 3 days after you apply unless you file valid premarital course certificates. The clerk must grant an exception to non-Florida residents, and a county judge can waive the delay for residents who show good cause.
How long is a Florida marriage license good for?
60 days. Section 741.041 says the license is valid for 60 days after issuance and no ceremony may be performed after it expires. A license from any Florida county can be used anywhere in Florida.
Do both of us have to be there to apply?
Yes at the clerks we checked. Hillsborough, Orange, Broward and Collier all say both applicants must appear in person together to sign the application.
Can non-residents get married in Florida?
Yes. You do not need to live in Florida or in the county. Non-Florida residents have no 3-day waiting period, and the Palm Beach clerk notes both people must show valid out-of-state ID for that.
What does the premarital course have to cover?
Section 741.0305 sets a course of at least 4 hours, taken alone or together, from a registered provider such as a licensed psychologist, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, or a trained religious representative. You pay the provider for the course.
Who can officiate a Florida wedding?
Section 741.07 allows ordained ministers and other ordained clergy, judicial officers including retired judges, clerks of the circuit courts, and notaries public. Quaker marriages performed under their own rites are also valid.
Do we need a blood test?
No. The Hillsborough County Clerk's FAQ says blood tests are not required to apply for a Florida marriage license.

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More Florida planning: Florida wedding weather and hurricane season · Florida beach wedding permits

Sources

Every fact above comes from one of these official pages, last checked November 2, 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the office before you pay or book.

  1. Florida Statutes, Chapter 741 (Marriage; Domestic Violence). Sections 741.01, 741.04, 741.041, 741.0305, 741.0306, 741.07
  2. Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court: Marriage Licenses
  3. Hillsborough County Clerk: Marriage License FAQ
  4. Orange County Clerk of Courts: Marriage Licenses
  5. Duval County Clerk: Marriage License
  6. Pinellas County Clerk: Marriage Licenses
  7. Sarasota County Clerk: Marriage License FAQs
  8. Collier County Clerk: Marriage Fees
  9. Lee County Clerk: Marriage Licenses and Ceremonies
  10. Broward County Clerk of Courts: Marriage Licenses
  11. Palm Beach County Clerk: Marriage License and Ceremony Fees

Vendor Aisle is a wedding vendor directory, not a law firm or a government office. This guide is general information, not legal advice.