Marriage License

Florida marriage license requirements

What couples actually ask: Is there a waiting period? Do we need witnesses? Can tourists marry the same day? Katherine Imundi — a licensed Florida notary and wedding officiant — answers those questions below and can help you apply by mail through Lake County for a ceremony anywhere in Florida.

Marriage application form

Apply by mail with Katherine (Lake County)

You can apply in person at any Florida county clerk, or Katherine can walk you through a Lake County by-mail application for a ceremony held anywhere in the state. By-mail fees below are for her assisted application and are based on how far in advance you apply. Payment is required when you submit (no refunds once submitted).

  • 60 days prior to your marriage date$195
  • 30 days prior$200
  • 20 days prior$225
  • 15 days prior$250

How to apply

  1. Complete the E-marriage application. You will receive a five-digit code when finished.
  2. Email your code and both names to info.imarrycouples@gmail.com.
  3. Pay the application fee through the link provided during the application process.
  4. When your paper license arrives by mail, both of you must visit a notary in your area to confirm your signatures. Bring ID that shows your address and signature, such as a driver license.
  5. Return the original signed and notarized marriage license with the required premarital statement as instructed.
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Questions and answers

Before you apply

Previously married? If either applicant has been married before, you must provide the exact date of divorce, death, or annulment, plus the state and county where the divorce took place.

Age requirement: Applicants must be 18 years old to apply for a marriage license.

After your ceremony

Your marriage license is valid for up to 60 days. Your ceremony must take place within that window. After the ceremony, the signed license must be mailed or returned to the courthouse where it was issued within 10 days. It will be recorded in the Official Records, and a certified copy will be provided in person or mailed to the address on file.

Is my Florida marriage legal in the UK?

When you marry in Florida, your marriage is legal in the UK. You do not need to marry again with a registrar once you return home.

Who may apply for a marriage license?

Any two people who are 18 years of age or older.

Is there a waiting period to marry?

Florida residents who have not taken the pre-marriage course have a three-day waiting period between issuance and when the license becomes valid. Completing an approved premarital course can waive the wait and often reduces the clerk's fee. Non-Florida residents have no waiting period and can often marry the same day they receive the license.

Do you need witnesses to get married in Florida?

No. Florida does not require wedding witnesses. You need both partners, a valid Florida marriage license, and an authorized officiant (a notary, ordained minister, judge, or clerk). Katherine can legally marry just the two of you.

Can out-of-state or international couples get a Florida license?

Yes. There is no residency or U.S. citizenship requirement. You may apply at any Florida county clerk or use Katherine's Lake County by-mail process. The license works in every Florida county. The ceremony must take place in Florida.

Who can officiate after we have the license?

Florida notaries public, regularly ordained ministers (including many online ordinations), judges, and clerks of court. Katherine is a licensed Florida notary and will return the signed license to the clerk within 10 days. See who can officiate a wedding in Florida.

Are blood tests required?

No. The blood test requirement was abolished October 1, 1986.

Do applicants have to be American citizens?

No. There is no citizenship requirement.

How long is a marriage license valid?

The license is valid for 60 days once issued. The effective and expiration dates are noted on the license. The ceremony may be performed anywhere in Florida. The license must be returned to the Clerk’s Office for recording within 10 days after the wedding.

Do we need a license to renew our vows?

No.

Where can I get a certified copy of my marriage license?

One certified copy is included in the marriage license fee. Extra certified copies are $3.00 each. Write to:

Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
Attention: Recording Division
P.O. Box 7800
Tavares, FL 32778