How to Fill out a Florida Marriage License with Examples & FAQs

Asked to officiate a Florida wedding? Getting married in Florida? Whether you're a first-time wedding officiant or soon-to-be newlyweds, here’s everything you need to know about the marriage license process, including cost, waiting period, and – most importantly – how to fill out a Florida marriage license correctly the first time!

 

Those wedding bells are ringing, so let’s dig in! 

 

 

1. How to Fill Out an Florida Marriage License (for the Officiant)

 

The wedding officiant must fill out the marriage license directly following the wedding ceremony. The license must be returned to the issuing-clerk’s office within 10 days of the ceremony (this is the office where the couple purchased their marriage license). While the officiant or the applicants can return the completed license, it’s ultimately the officiant’s responsibility to communicate who will return the license and to ensure that it happens on time.  

Related: Officiant Training: Understanding the Wedding License Process

Here are a few tips from the Crawfordville and Sarasota Clerk’s offices to get you started:

 

• Use black ink only, and print legibly – avoid cursive (except when signing your name). 

 

• Do not use Wite-Out or correction tape if you make a mistake – this is not allowed. Instead, draw a single line through your mistake, initial it, and then write the correct information. 

 

• Use the format “01/01/2011” when writing the wedding date. 

 

• If you’re ordained with AMM, write "Minister” as your title, followed by your name. Do not write “Officiant,” as this will not be accepted. 

 

Related: What is My Title Once I Get Ordained Online?

 

• In the space labeled “ADDRESS (Of person performing ceremony),” write your personal home address.

 

• The signed license must be returned within 10 days of the ceremony to the issuing-clerk’s office. This is called the "return period" and is determined by state laws. There is no record of marriage until the marriage license is returned and recorded in the Clerk’s Office.

 

• The officiant must ensure that the license is returned – either by returning it yourself, or by authorizing the newlyweds to return their own marriage license. In some counties, the officiant must return the license themselves.

 

• Witness signatures are not required on any marriage license in Florida. However, you might see witness signature lines included on the license, depending on where you apply – these signatures are optional. You do not need a witness to sign, and can safely leave these spaces blank if you wish.

 

Related: Witness Requirements on Marriage License
 

• To clarify: The couple does not sign a FL marriage license following the wedding ceremony. Instead, couples sign the license application when they first apply. 

 

|* custom-button, "https://theamm.org/weddings-by-state/florida", "AMM'S 5 STEPS TO OFFICIATING A WEDDING IN FLORIDA" *|

 

2. Florida Marriage License Example

 

We researched several examples of Florida marriage licenses and how to fill them out, including the sample Sarasota County marriage license shown below. 
 
This FL marriage license example shows where the officiant will sign and date the license after the wedding ceremony. If you apply for your license in Brevard County, Miami-Dade, or any other location, your license may look slightly different. Read it carefully and contact the Clerk with any questions.

 

 

Above: A sample marriage license provided by the Sarasota County Clerk's office. Use this example as a guideline when completing the couple's license following the wedding ceremony. Place close attention to the spaces labeled "required" in this sample, including the ceremony details and officiant's information.

 

 

3. How to Fix a Mistake on a Florida Marriage License

 

If you make a mistake while filling out a marriage license (before it’s been returned to the clerk) – such as an incorrect date or misspelled word – the Sarasota County Clerk intructs officiants to draw a line through the error and initial it. Then, write the correct information. Do not use Wite-out or corrective tape, as this can invalidate the license.  

 

Depending on the extent of the error/s, the couple may need to purchase a replacement license for you to fill out with the accurate information before it can be filed with the clerk. Since each county may have different steps to take to correct significant errors, we recommend you contact the issuing county clerk’s office directly with your questions. This will be the simplest way to handle any issues that come up.

If you need to amend a Florida marriage license after it's filed, contact the County Clerk of the Court’s office where it was issued and returned. You may need to schedule an in-person appointment, and they’ll help you complete the required affidavits to correct your marriage record (or assist with a court order if needed). You will be charged a small fee to complete the process, usually less than $10. 

 

 

4. Does Florida Recognize Online Ordained Ministers?

 

Yes, ministers who are ordained online through a reputable and recognized church, including American Marriage Ministries, can officiate weddings in Florida and sign your marriage license. Once you are ordained online, you do not need to register locally before performing the ceremony. 

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However, not all online-ordained ministers are legally qualified to perform marriages in all states. If your officiant is ordained online with a church other than American Marriage Ministries, it’s important to verify their minister credentials before they perform your wedding ceremony: 

 

• How to Tell if Your Officiant Can Perform a Legal Wedding
• Cómo Saber si su Oficiante Puede Realizar una Boda Legal

 

 

5. How Much is a Marriage License in Florida? (Cost)

 

Marriage license prices may vary slightly by county, and sometimes increase to keep up with state budget costs. In general, your license will cost around $86; with a discounted rate of around $61 for couples who complete a state-approved premarital education program. For the most-current Florida marriage license cost, click the link below, or contact your local recorder's office: 

 

• How Much Does a Marriage License Cost?

 

 

6. How Long Does it Take to Get a Marriage License in the State of Florida? (Waiting Period)

 

The amount of time you spend in the county clerk’s office will vary depending on where you apply for your license. After your application is approved, you must wait a set period of time before using your marriage license, called the “marriage license waiting period.” Couples who complete a state-approved premarital education program may be allowed to skip the waiting period. To see the current waiting period in Florida, click the link below:

 

•  What are the Waiting Period, Expiration, and Return?

 

• Learn more about what this means, and if you qualify for a waiting period waiver: State-by-state marriage waiting periods should be part of your wedding plan

 

 

7. How Long is a Marriage License Good For in Florida?

 

How long a marriage license is valid in each state is called the “expiration period.” This is the number of days or months you have to use your license after it’s issued – your ceremony must take place within this timeframe. To see the current Florida marriage license expiration period, click the link below: 

 

• Marriage License Waiting Period, Expiration, and Return

 

 

8. How to Get a Copy of Your Marriage License in Florida?

 

One certified copy of your marriage license will be sent to you after it’s been filed with the Clerk’s office. To purchase additional copies and replacements, you must contact the Clerk’s office where your original license was issued and returned. 

 

If you don’t need an official, certified copy, you can order a “marriage certificate” online through the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Statistics. This document summarizes the details of your union and can be used as proof of marriage in many cases, but won’t replace a certified copy of marriage license when one is required. 

 

If you need a replacement copy of a marriage license before it’s been filed, contact the issuing clerk’s office directly for next steps. 

 

 

9. Less Common Florida Marriage License Q&As

 

Now that we’ve covered the frequent questions about filling out a Florida marriage license, let’s take a brief look at some less common concerns.

 

• Is a marriage license public record in Florida?

 

Yes, marriage licenses are public records in the State of Florida. They are recorded and maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where they were filed. 

 

• Learn more: Are Marriage Licenses Public Records? (And Where Can You Marry in Secret?)

 

• How to look up marriage licenses in Florida?

 

You can look up a marriage record in the county where it was filed (through the Clerk of the Circuit Court), or by using the State of Florida Department of Health’s Vital Statistics database, which is hosted by VitalChek. 

 

• How to cancel a marriage license in Florida?

 

A Florida marriage license can't be "canceled," but it can expire if it's not used within 60 days of being issued. If you decided not to get married before the ceremony, contact the Clerk's office for instructions on what to do with your unused license. They might require you to return it so that it can be properly destroyed. 

 

If the ceremony has already taken place, you and your officiant are legally required to return the license to the Clerk's office. If you no longer want to be married, your options may include annulment or voiding the marriage, or divorce. Contact the Clerk’s office (and an attorney) for the best advice in your unique situation.

 

• Learn more: Wedding regrets: Should a wedding officiant return the marriage license if the couple changes their mind after the ceremony?

 

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