You can apply for a Florida marriage license online in many counties, and a growing number let you complete the entire process remotely by video call. Florida has no single statewide portal. Each county’s Clerk of the Circuit Court runs its own system, so what you can do from home depends on where you apply. The license costs $86, or $61 if both applicants are Florida residents who finish a premarital preparation course.
What Your County Actually Offers
Every marriage license in Florida is issued by a County Clerk, and each clerk decides how much of the process can happen digitally. Some counties only publish a pre-application form: you fill in your information online, then finish in person. Others have built full “e-marriage” systems where you apply, verify your identity over a live video call with a deputy clerk, pay electronically, and receive the license without ever visiting the office.
Lee County is one example of the fully remote model. You complete the online application, email your unsigned document packet as a PDF, and schedule a Zoom call where both applicants appear on camera. A clerk verifies your information, witnesses your electronic signatures, and issues the license electronically.1Lee County Clerk of Court. Marriage Licenses and Ceremonies Not every county goes that far. To find out what yours offers, go directly to the Clerk of Court website for the county where you plan to apply and look under Marriage or Official Records.
Who Can Apply
Both parties must be at least 18. A 17-year-old may apply with written consent from both parents or a legal guardian, and only if the other party is no more than two years older. No one under 17 can marry in Florida under any circumstances.2Justia Law. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License
Florida also prohibits marriage between close relatives, including a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew.3The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.21 – Incestuous Marriages Prohibited If either applicant was previously married, that prior marriage must be legally ended by divorce, annulment, or death of the former spouse before a new license can issue.
What You Need to Have Ready
The application asks for each party’s Social Security number. Non-citizens may provide either a Social Security number or an alien registration number from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The statute lets non-citizens who lack both numbers provide another form of identification, and a clerk cannot refuse to issue a license solely because an applicant doesn’t have any of these numbers.2Justia Law. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License
The statute itself doesn’t specifically require photo identification. In practice, every clerk’s office will ask for a valid government-issued photo ID to verify your identity and age before administering the oath. A current driver’s license, state ID card, or passport works. If either party was previously married, you’ll need the date the prior marriage ended. Counties with virtual processes usually let you upload scans of your documents directly, so have digital copies ready.
Both parties must also sign a statement confirming whether they’ve completed a premarital preparation course, and a separate statement confirming they’ve read the state’s marriage handbook covering the legal rights and responsibilities of marriage.2Justia Law. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License Double-check every field before you submit. Whatever you enter will appear on the final legal document.
The Fee, and How to Cut It
The standard fee is $86. It drops to $61 when both applicants are Florida residents and present a valid completion certificate from a premarital preparation course of at least four hours, taken from a provider registered with the Clerk of Court.4Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers. How Do I Apply For A Marriage License?5The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 741.0305 – Marriage Fee Reduction for Completion of Premarital Preparation Course The course must be completed within one year before you apply.
The course does two things:
- Lowers the fee from $86 to $61 for two Florida residents.
- Eliminates the three-day waiting period Florida otherwise imposes on residents.2Justia Law. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License
On the online form there’s a field to indicate you’ve finished the course. If you’re using a virtual process, upload the certificate along with your other documents. Payment methods vary by county but usually include credit cards and electronic checks; counties with fully virtual processes handle payment through a secure portal during or after the video appointment.
When the License Takes Effect and How Long It Lasts
If at least one applicant is a Florida resident and neither has completed a premarital course, the clerk delays the license’s effective date by three days. The effective date is printed on the license in bold, and the ceremony cannot happen before that date. A clerk can grant hardship exceptions case by case, and a county court judge may waive the delay for Florida residents who show good cause.2Justia Law. Florida Code 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License
If both parties live outside Florida, the three-day delay doesn’t apply and the license takes effect immediately.6Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller. Marriage License FAQ Once issued, every Florida marriage license expires 60 days later. The ceremony must happen within that window, or the license becomes void and you’ll have to apply again.4Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers. How Do I Apply For A Marriage License?
One Thing You Can’t Do Online
The license can be issued remotely in many counties, but the wedding itself cannot. Florida requires the couple and the officiant to be physically together, in the same location within Florida, during the ceremony. A ceremony conducted over video, with the officiant in one place and the couple in another, is not legally valid. Livestreaming to guests is fine; the officiant simply has to be in the room.