Getting
Married in Florida
WE CAN ASSIST YOU IN
OBTAINING YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE THROUGH THE MAIL.
WE DO NOT CHARGE YOU FOR THIS SERVICE.
The cost of the license is the same as if
you are buying it in person - $93.50, and you will pay that directly to
the Clerk of Court. DUE TO OVERWHELMING RESPONSE, WE OFFER THIS SERVICE ONLY FOR COUPLES
WHO HAVE RESERVED THEIR WEDDING DATE WITH CENTRAL FLORIDA WEDDING CHAPEL.
If you are an Orange County resident
and would like to reduce the price of your marriage
license from $93.50 to $61.00, as well as eliminate the necessary 3-day waiting period,
call us! We are registered with Orange County as premarital preparation course
providers. Upon completion of our course, you will be given a certificate to take to
the courthouse when you apply for your license.
"Are
we required to take the premarital course?" No, no,
no.
Further, if you are not an Orlando resident, you are not eligible
for the discount associated with the course. On the flip side,
if
you are not a Florida resident,
you have the advantage of no 3
day waiting period!
"We
have a marriage license from another state. Can we use it in
Florida?" No. You must have a valid Florida
marriage license.
"What
is the residency requirement?" There is absolutely no
residency requirement. If either the Bride or Groom is a Florida
resident, you will have a 3-day waiting period, unless you take the
premarital course. If neither is a Florida resident, you can get
your license the very day you arrive (Monday-Friday) and be married that
same day!
"I'm
coming to Orlando on a holiday. Can I still get a marriage
license?" Please refer to the calendars below.
And, remember, you don't have to buy your license in Orlando or
Kissimmee. It can come from any Florida county. Holiday
schedules vary from county to county.
COURT HOLIDAYS, ACCORDING TO THE ORANGE
COUNTY (ORLANDO'S) WEBSITE:
| Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day |
|
Monday, January
17, 2005 |
| Spring Holiday
(Good Friday) |
|
Friday, March
25, 2005 |
| Memorial Day
|
|
Monday May 30,
2005 |
| Independence Day
Holiday |
|
Monday, July 4,
2005 |
| Labor Day
|
|
Monday September
5, 2005 |
| Rosh Hashanah |
|
Tuesday, October
4, 2005 |
| Yom Kippur |
|
Thursday,
October 13, 2005 |
| Veterans Day |
|
Friday, November
11, 2005 |
| Thanksgiving Day |
|
Thursday,
November 24, 2005 |
| Day after
Thanksgiving Holiday |
|
Friday, November
25, 2005 |
| Christmas Eve
Holiday |
|
Friday, December
23, 2005 |
| Day After
Christmas Holiday |
|
Monday, December
26, 2005 |
|
COURT HOLIDAYS,
ACCORDING TO THE OSCEOLA COUNTY (KISSIMMEE'S) WEBSITE:
| Monday |
|
January 17 |
Martin Luther
King Day |
|
Monday |
|
May 30 |
Memorial Day |
| Monday |
|
July 4 |
Independence Day |
|
Monday |
|
September 5 |
Labor Day |
| Friday |
|
November 11 |
Veterans Day |
|
Thursday |
|
November 24 |
Thanksgiving Day |
| Friday |
|
November 25 |
Thanksgiving |
|
Friday |
|
December 23 |
Christmas |
| Monday |
|
December 26 |
Christmas |
|
COURT HOLIDAYS, ACCORDING TO THE LAKE COUNTY (CLERMONT'S) WEBSITE:
| Friday, 31st
December |
New Year's
Holiday* (2004 calendar year) |
|
Monday, 17th January |
Martin Luther King's Day |
| Monday, 21st
February |
President's
Day |
|
Monday, 30th May |
Memorial Day |
| Monday, 4th
July |
Independence
Day |
|
Monday, 5th September |
Labor Day |
| Friday, 11th
November |
Veterans Day |
|
Thursday, 24th November |
Thanksgiving Day |
| Friday, 25th
November |
Thanksgiving
Holiday |
|
Monday, 26th December |
Christmas Holiday |
|
The following information was obtained
at the Orange County, Florida, official website.
http://orangeclerk.onetgov.net/faq/faq-marriagelicense.htm
You may obtain a marriage license at
any of these four locations:
425 North Orange Avenue, Room 355,
Orlando
450 North Lakemont Avenue, Winter Park
1111 North Rock Springs Road, Apopka
475 West Story Road, Ocoee
Who may apply
for a marriage license?
Is consent of
both parents required?
What do I need
to apply for a marriage license?
Is there a
waiting period for issuance of the license?
When do I take
the premarital preparation course?
How do I find a
course provider?
Who is
qualified to be a provider?
Are blood tests
and physical exams required?
Must I apply
for a marriage license in the county where I live?
Where can I
apply for a marriage license in Orange County?
How long is a
marriage license valid once it is issued?
Who may
perform marriage ceremonies?
Who is a
"regularly ordained minister"?
May a marriage
be solemnized without a license?
When and who
should return the license to the Clerk?
Can I be
married in the Clerk's office?
What is the
fee for a marriage license?
How can I pay
for my marriage license?
Where can I
get a copy of my marriage license?
Name Changes
on Other Documents
Who may apply
for a marriage license?
Any male or female age 18 or over.
A minor whose parents are deceased and
no guardian is appointed.
Minors, who under oath, swear that they
are parents or expectant parents of a child. In addition, a written
statement of a licensed physician must verify the pregnancy. When the
fact of pregnancy is verified by the written statement of a licensed
physician, the county court judge may, in his/her discretion, issue a
license to marry.
A previously married minor.
A person age 16 or 17 with parental or
guardian consent.
Is consent of both
parents required?
Yes, unless the parents are divorced
and the custody and control of the child is placed in one parent. Then
only the parent having such custody and control will be required to give
the written consent. All written consents must be acknowledged
(notarized). If the consent form is completed in front of a Deputy
Clerk, proper identification is required. If divorced, the parent must
present a certified copy of the divorce papers.
What do I need
to apply for a marriage license?
To expedite the licensing process,
please download the Marriage License
Information Sheet (PDF) , complete it, and bring it with you to the
Marriage License Department.
Both parties must come to the Clerk's
office to apply together.
Each party must show a valid driver's
license, a valid Florida State identification, a valid passport or valid
Military identification.
Both parties must provide their Social
Security numbers.
If either party has been previously
married, the party must provide the date his or her last marriage ended.
Couples who reside in the State need to
provide a certificate of completion of a premarital preparation course.
If couples do not provide the certificate, the effective date of their
license will be delayed three days.
Couples are required by law to read a
handbook supplied by the Clerk and sign a statement acknowledging that
they have read the handbook before applying for the license. This can be
done the same day as applying for the license.
Is there a waiting
period for issuance of the license?
Not for couples who reside in the State
of Florida and attend a premarital preparation course. These couples
must provide a certificate to the Clerk upon making application. If the
couple are state residents and do not attend a premarital preparation
course, the effective date of the license is delayed 3 three days.
Exceptions to the delayed effective date (3-day delay) are non-Florida
residents. For individuals asserting hardship of the wait, a county
court judge may waive the delayed effective date for good cause.
When do I take the
premarital preparation course?
The premarital preparation course
cannot be taken more than 1 year prior to the date of the application
for a marriage license.
How do I find a course
provider?
The Clerk of Court has a
registry of providers (HTML)).
Who is qualified
to be a provider?
A psychologist licensed under chapter
490.
A clinical social worker licensed under
chapter 491.
A marriage and family therapist
licensed under chapter 491.
A mental health counselor licensed
under chapter 491.
An official representative of a
religious institution, which is recognized under s496.404(20), if the
representative has relevant training.
Any other provider designated by a
judicial circuit, but not limited to, school counselors who are
certified to offer such courses.
Are blood tests and
physical exams required?
No. The law requiring these tests was
abolished October 1, 1986.
Must I apply for
a marriage license in the county where I live
or in the county where the ceremony is going to be held?
No. A marriage license may be applied
for and solemnized in any Florida county.
Where can I apply for
a marriage license in Orange County?
A marriage license may be obtained
Monday through Friday, except holidays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the
following offices of the Clerk of the Court:
425 North Orange Avenue, Room 355,
Orlando;
450 North Lakemont Avenue, Winter Park;
1111 North Rock Springs Road, Apopka;
and
475 West Story Road, Ocoee.
How long is a
marriage license valid once it is issued?
The marriage must be solemnized within
sixty (60) days of issuance of the marriage license.
Who may perform
marriage ceremonies?
The following officials are authorized
by Florida law to perform marriage ceremonies:
A regularly ordained minister or other
ordained clergy;
Elders in communion with some church;
All judicial officers (judges) of the
State of Florida;
Clerks of the Circuit Courts and their
deputized employees; and
Notaries Public of the State of
Florida.
In addition, the law provides that
marriages may be performed among "Quakers" or "Friends," in the manner
and form used or practiced in their societies.
Who is a "regularly
ordained minister"?
A "regularly ordained minister" is a
minister who has been recognized in the manner required by the
regulations of his or her respective religious denomination to perform
marriage ceremonies.
May a marriage be
solemnized without a license?
No. Section 741.08, Florida Statutes,
states that the party solemnizing the marriage shall require a properly
issued license before performing the ceremony.
When and who should
return the license to the Clerk?
A marriage cannot be officially
recorded until the license is returned to the Clerk. It should be
returned within 10 days after the wedding. The party who performed the
marriage is responsible for returning the completed license.
Can I be married in
the Clerk's office?
Yes. Deputy clerks are authorized to
perform marriage ceremonies. Ceremonies are held between the hours of
8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The fee for
this service is set by Florida Statute and is $30.00. Ceremonies are
performed on a first come, first served basis at the following
locations:
425 North Orange Avenue, Room 355,
Orlando;
450 North Lakemont Avenue, Winter Park;
1111 North Rock Springs Road, Apopka;
and
475 West Story Road, Ocoee.
What is the fee for a
marriage license?
The fee for a marriage license is
$93.50. The following statutes require all clerks in the State of
Florida to charge this fee for the issuance of a marriage license:
F. S. 28.24 ($30.00)
F. S. 741.01(1) ($2.00)
F. S. 741.01(2) ($25.00)
F. S. 741.01(3) ($7.50)
F. S. 741.01(4) ($25.00)
F. S. 741.02 ($4.00)
F. S. 741.01(05) The fee for each
marriage license issued in the state shall be reduced by the sum of
$32.50 for all couples who present valid certificates of completion of a
premarital preparation course from a qualified course provider
registered under s. 741.0305(5) for a course taken no more than 1 year
prior to the date of application for a marriage license.
If you are married in the
Clerk's office by a deputy clerk, an additional $30.00 fee is required.
How can I pay for my
marriage license?
You may pay for your license with cash,
money order, cashiers check, Visa, or MasterCard. Checks are not
accepted.
Where can I get a
copy or certified copy of my marriage license?
For Orange County licenses received on
or after March 1, 1998, you may obtain a copy for $1.00 or certified
copy for $2.50 from:
Orange County Comptroller's Office
Attn: Official Records Department
P.O. Box 38
Orlando, FL 32802 Physical Address:
401 S. Rosalind Ave.
Orlando, FL 32802
(407) 836-5115
For Orange County licenses
received before March 1, 1998, you may obtain a copy for $1.00 or
certified copy for $2.50 from any of the Clerk of Court locations in
Orange County: 425 North Orange Avenue, Room 150, Orlando, FL
32801. If you do not know the year of the marriage there is an
additional charge of $1.50 per year searched. This fee is payable to the
Clerk of the Court. Please include the names of the bride and groom in
addition to the years requested to be researched.
If you are unable to determine where
the license was obtained, you can contact The Department of Health,
Division of Vital Statistics. This agency receives licenses for all of
the State of Florida. You can write to them at: Department of Health
Division of Vital Statistics
Post Office Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042
(904) 359-6955
Name Changes on Other
Documents
If your marriage means a change in name
or address, remember to notify the following agencies:
Florida Department of Highway Safety
and Motor Vehicles, Division of Driver Licenses
Local Social Security Office
Supervisor of Elections (voter
registration)
Military Reserve Commanding Officer
You should also keep in mind that you
have probably named family members as beneficiaries or joint owners of
bank accounts, insurance policies, or employment benefits. You may wish
to make your spouse the new beneficiary or joint owner.
