Florida Beach Wedding Guide

How to get a Florida Marriage License, Where to Get a Florida Marriage Lincense, How much does a Florida marriage License cost? 

Florida Marriage Licenses can be obtained from any county courthouse in the State of Florida.

Once issued, they are valid for 60 days and can be used anywhere in the State. The fee for a Florida Marriage License is $93.50 as of this writing. Most counties in Florida maintain a website with marriage license information and frequently asked questions, and some details vary from county to county. Here is a good example of Marriage License FAQ’s maintained by the Pinellas County Clerk of Court.

A few other important notes:

• If either party is a Florida resident, there is a three-day waiting period before the Florida Marriage License becomes valid, unless you have completed a State-approved marriage preparation course. Completion of this course also gets you a discount on the Florida Marriage License in most cases. There are lots of vendors out there offering this service – if you use one, make sure they are approved by the State and/or the County in which you intend to apply.

• If neither party is a Florida resident, you can get your Florida Marriage License the same day as your wedding. But it's always a good idea to leave your self some extra time and get it a few days earlier if possible.

• If either party has been divorced or widowed, or changed their name, it is a good idea to bring legal proof of this (i.e., a divorce decree, court order, or death certificate) with you when you apply for your Florida Marriage License, at a minimum, you will need the exact date your previous marriage ended. I recommend you call the Courthouse ahead of time to confirm their requirements, especially for unusual cases (be sure to keep a record of who you spoke to and when).

• Generally, both parties must be physically present and present valid identification at the time of application, and this is by far the easiest way to obtain your Florida Marriage License, Your best bet is to plan your trip so that you have time to stop by a County Courthouse a few days before your wedding ceremony. Here is a list of places you can get a Florida Marriage License in the State of Florida.
  

• However, this is not always possible (for example if you are arriving in a Friday evening and want to get married over the weekend).  Services like Florida Marriage License Express can process a Florida Marriage License in advance of your arrival for non-Florida residents. 

Note: You must present a valid Florida Marriage License to your wedding officiant. They will sign and notarize the license after your ceremony, may have witnesses sign it (it’s a good idea if they are available) and must keep the original and file it with the county court in which it was issued.

You will receive a certified copy from the court after it has been filed, and can request additional copies as needed at any time in the future.

Continue to the next section: The best time of year for a Florida Beach Wedding.

Not getting married? Be sure to check out our Florida Beach Vacation Guide or Florida Beach Portrait Guide!

The Florida Beach Wedding Guide is provided free of charge courtesy of Simple Treasures Photography St Petersburg FL and Simple Weddings Florida

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