PREMARITAL PREPARATION COURSE
“Are You Ready For True Love?” ($8.99)
Premarital Course – Option #1 ($75.00)
Premarital Course – Option #2 ($250.00)
NOTE: both include a course completion certificate being sent you to provide to the state of Florida and courthouse in your county.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Most courthouses in Florida are open from 8 AM until 4 PM Monday through Friday. Once you have secured a Florida marriage license you can get married anywhere in the state within 60 days of the date of issue of the license.
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.
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.
LAW CHANGE
Beginning January 1st 1999, FLORIDA RESIDENTS ONLY are required to have a three day waiting period from the time of application for the license and the time of issue unless they have completed an approved four hour course on marriage. This is for FLORIDA RESIDENTS ONLY. Residents of other states and nations may secure the license with no delay.