How Marriage Licenses Are Issued Across Florida's 67 Counties

Florida couples get a marriage license from a county office, not from a central state counter. Under Chapter 741 of the Florida Statutes, the Clerk of the Circuit Court in each of the state's 67 counties issues licenses. A license bought in one county is valid in every other county. A couple can apply in Bradenton and marry in Pensacola without any extra paperwork.

Our directory lists 68 marriage license offices, close to one per county. Most are named for the county they serve. Examples include the Polk County Marriage License office at 240 East Main Street in Bartow and the Hernando County Marriage License office at 20 North Main Street in Brooksville. Each entry points to the clerk's counter where applications are taken.

There is also a state-level entry. The Florida Marriage License listing appears under the Division of Vital Statistics, with a P. O. Box 210 address in Jacksonville and the phone number 904-359-6955. Treat it as a records and information contact, not a place to apply in person. For a new license, you still go to a county clerk. Duval County holds this state entry, so Jacksonville has more listings than any other area.

Florida has no residency requirement, so out-of-state and international couples apply on the same terms as locals. The state has no blood test. Its approach to waiting periods is also friendlier than many states, which is one reason Florida is a favorite for destination weddings, beach ceremonies and quick courthouse marriages.

Big-City Clerks and Small-Town Courthouses in Florida

The experience of getting a license changes a lot with where you apply. Metro counties handle high volume. The Broward County Marriage License office is at 201 Southeast 6th Street in Fort Lauderdale. Pinellas County is at 315 Court Street in Clearwater, phone 727-464-7000. Lee County is in the Lee County Administration Building, 2115 Second Street, 2nd Floor, in Fort Myers, phone 239-335-2283. Our Broward listing has no phone number, so confirm hours with the clerk before you travel.

Busy offices mean busy days. Expect longer waits around Valentine's Day, long holiday weekends and the spring and fall wedding seasons. Larger clerks often offer online pre-application forms that cut counter time. Not every county does, so check before you drive. Weekday mornings are usually the quietest window.

Rural counties work differently. The Franklin County Marriage License office is at 33 Market Street in Apalachicola, phone 850-697-2112. The Liberty County Marriage License office is on Highway 20 in Bristol, phone 850-643-2215. In Blountstown, the Calhoun County office is at 425 East Central Avenue, phone 850-674-4545. In Bonifay, the Holmes County office is at 201 North Oklahoma Street, phone 850-547-1100. These offices usually have short lines, but small staffs also handle court records, deeds and other duties. Call ahead to confirm hours and payment methods.

One geographic detail catches travelers out. Counties in the western Panhandle, including Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes and Washington, run on Central time. If you drive west from Tallahassee to Crestview or DeFuniak Springs, you gain an hour. If you drive back late in the afternoon, you may lose it and arrive after closing.

What to Bring and What Florida Law Requires

The core rules are the same in every county, though small procedures differ. Both applicants must appear together at the clerk's office. One person cannot apply alone or send the other with paperwork. Before you go, gather the following:

The license fee is commonly quoted at $93.50, and a completed premarital course lowers it by $32.50. Fees and accepted payments can vary by office, so ask when you call. The course must be at least four hours long and taken with a registered provider.

Age rules are firm. Both applicants must be at least 17. A 17-year-old needs parental consent, and the partner cannot be more than two years older. Applicants who are 18 or older need no consent.

Once issued, a Florida license takes effect immediately and stays valid for 60 days. The ceremony must happen within that window. Florida residents who skip the premarital course face a three-day wait before they can marry. Completing the course removes that wait, and nonresidents are not subject to it.

Florida also allows notaries public to perform ceremonies, along with judges, clerks and ordained clergy. The officiant signs the license and returns it to the issuing clerk, who records it. That recording is what creates the official marriage record you will later request as a certified copy.

Picking the Right Florida County Office for Your Plans

Because every Florida license works statewide, pick the clerk that is most convenient. Many couples apply in the county where they live, then travel to a beach, park or venue elsewhere. Others apply near the wedding site to save a second trip. If you fly in, an office close to your hotel or airport usually makes more sense than one near your family.

Gulf Coast visitors often use the Manatee County Marriage License office at 1115 Manatee Avenue West in Bradenton, phone 941-741-4040. See the Manatee County page for details. Tampa Bay weddings often involve Pinellas, while Southwest Florida couples lean toward Lee County. Central Florida couples may use Polk County in Bartow, phone 863-534-4547, or Hernando County in Brooksville, phone 352-540-6382, which can mean smaller crowds than the largest metro offices.

For a quieter Panhandle trip, the Franklin County clerk in Apalachicola serves a small coastal community. The Liberty County office in Bristol is one of the state's smallest. Rural clerks often give very personal service, but they may not offer same-day extras such as on-site ceremonies. Ask in advance.

A simple plan works for most couples:

First, choose the county and call the clerk to confirm hours, fees and payment types. Second, decide whether you will take the premarital course. Third, collect your IDs and any divorce or death dates. Fourth, apply together, then book your officiant for a date within the 60-day window. After the ceremony, make sure the officiant returns the signed license promptly, then request certified copies.

Marriage licenses in Florida are issued by county clerks or recorders, with requirements for identification, fees, and waiting periods set by state law. Couples must obtain their license from a county within the state where the ceremony will be performed.

Marriage Licenses locations are available in 67 cities across Florida. They are spread across 65 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Jacksonville, Apalachicola, Bonifay, which serve as county seats with the busiest marriage license offices in the state.

Couples in Florida should verify current ID and documentation requirements directly with the issuing county clerk before applying, as requirements for previously divorced or widowed applicants may differ from those marrying for the first time.

Marriage Licenses by Counties

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Couples in Florida should check whether their county clerk offers online appointment scheduling for marriage license applications, which can reduce wait times significantly compared to walk-in visits, especially during the busy spring and summer wedding season.

Browse Marriage Licenses by county across Florida to find the nearest location.

Finding Marriage Records and Confirming Office Details in Florida

Two kinds of offices matter once you start planning. County clerks issue the license and later hold the recorded marriage in the county where it was issued. A state records office keeps statewide marriage data. Our database lists that state contact as the Florida Marriage License entry, under the Division of Vital Statistics, with a P. O. Box 210 address in Jacksonville and phone 904-359-6955. Because agency names and procedures change, confirm by phone which office handles your request before mailing anything.

Most day-to-day needs are local. If you need a certified copy of a marriage certificate for a name change, a passport or an insurance update, start with the clerk in the county that issued your license. Keep the county name from your paperwork, because it is the first thing any records office will ask.

Addresses and phone numbers in directories can go out of date. Courthouses move, clerks add branch locations, and some counties list one number for the clerk and another for the marriage desk. Use our listings as a starting point, then call before you drive, especially to a small rural courthouse.

Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Marriage Licenses

Yes. Florida requires both applicants to appear together before the clerk of the circuit court, show valid photo identification and sign the application under oath. One partner cannot apply alone, and a friend or family member cannot stand in. Some larger clerks let you start the paperwork online, but you must still appear together to finish and sign. If one of you lives far away, plan the trip around a single visit to a convenient county office, such as Polk County in Bartow or Lee County in Fort Myers.

A Florida license becomes effective the day it is issued and stays valid for 60 days. You must hold the ceremony within that window, or the license expires and you must apply again and pay again. Florida residents face a three-day wait before they can marry unless they complete a premarital preparation course of at least four hours. Nonresidents are exempt from that wait. Couples planning a short trip, such as a weekend in Apalachicola or Bradenton, should ask the clerk how the waiting period applies to them.

Yes. A license from any Florida county is valid anywhere in the state. You could apply at the Hernando County office in Brooksville and marry on a Pinellas beach or in a Panhandle chapel. The only practical point is the return: the officiant must send the signed license back to the clerk who issued it, so you should know which county that was. Keep a photo of your license and the issuing office's phone number in case you need to check that the record was filed.

Florida allows several kinds of officiants: ordained clergy, judges, clerks of the circuit court and notaries public. The notary option is unusual and popular, because many couples hire a notary for a simple beach or backyard ceremony. Some county clerks perform courthouse ceremonies themselves, but availability, scheduling and fees differ by office, so ask when you apply. Whoever officiates must sign the license and make sure it is returned to the issuing clerk's office for recording, so choose someone reliable and agree on a return plan.

Adults aged 18 and older can marry without anyone's permission. Florida does not allow marriage under age 17. A 17-year-old can marry only with parental consent, and the other applicant can be no more than two years older. Clerks will ask for proof of age and may ask for additional documents when a minor is involved, so call the office first. Small rural clerks, such as Liberty County in Bristol or Holmes County in Bonifay, can usually explain exactly what they need before you make the trip.

Start with the clerk of court in the county where you bought the license, because that office records the marriage after the officiant returns it. Ask about processing time, copy fees and whether it accepts mail or online requests. You will usually need both names, the marriage date and a photo ID. The state-level entry in our directory, the Florida Marriage License listing for the Division of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville at 904-359-6955, is another contact for statewide record questions. Order several copies if you plan to change your name with multiple agencies.