A Florida marriage license does not need to be notarized separately. When both applicants appear together at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office, a deputy clerk administers the oath and notarizes their signatures as part of the standard application. No outside notary visit is needed before or after.
The Clerk Handles the Notarization
Florida law requires both applicants to sign a written affidavit under oath when applying for a marriage license.1Justia Law. Florida Statutes 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License The deputy clerk who witnesses your signatures is authorized to administer that oath and notarize the document on the spot.2Florida Department of State. Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Notaries and Marriage The Florida Governor’s Office describes the step as “the notarization of the bride and groom’s signatures done by a judge or a Deputy Clerk in the Office of the Clerk of Circuit Court.”3Florida Governor’s Office. Completing the Marriage Record
Everything happens in one visit. You show up together, present your documents, swear that the information is truthful, sign the application, and the deputy clerk takes care of the notarial part. No separate appointment. No extra paperwork.
Why People Ask This Question
The confusion usually traces back to the role notaries can play at a wedding. In Florida, a notary public is one of the officials authorized to perform the marriage ceremony itself.4Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 741 – Marriage; Domestic Violence That is a completely different function from notarizing the license application. When a notary officiates a wedding, they are acting as a marriage officiant, not performing a notarial act, and they cannot do so without a license already in hand.2Florida Department of State. Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Notaries and Marriage
So the two touchpoints with notarization run like this: the deputy clerk notarizes your signatures on the application, and later a notary (or a member of the clergy, a judge, or a clerk) may perform your ceremony. Nothing in between requires an outside notary.
What to Bring to the Clerk’s Office
Both applicants must appear in person together at any Clerk of the Circuit Court office in Florida. You are not restricted to the county where you live or plan to marry.5Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller. Marriage License FAQ To make the oath and notarization go smoothly, bring:
- A valid photo ID for each applicant, such as a driver’s license, state ID, or passport.
- Social Security numbers for U.S. citizens and residents. Non-citizens may provide an alien registration number instead. If a non-citizen has neither, the clerk can still issue the license.1Justia Law. Florida Statutes 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License
- Details of any prior marriage, including the exact date it ended (by divorce, death, or annulment) and the county and state where it occurred.
On age: both applicants must be at least 18. A 17-year-old may apply with written parental or guardian consent, but only if the other party is no more than two years older. No one under 17 can obtain a Florida marriage license.1Justia Law. Florida Statutes 741.04 – Issuance of Marriage License
What Happens to the License After the Ceremony
Your license is valid for 60 days after issuance. Miss that window and you have to apply and pay again.6My Florida Legal. Term of Validity for Marriage License Applications
At the ceremony, the officiant and any witnesses sign the license. The officiant then completes the marriage certificate portion and returns it to the clerk’s office that issued it within 10 days.7Florida Senate. Florida Statutes 741.08 – Marriage Not to Be Solemnized Without a License That return step, not any outside notarization, is what puts your marriage into the county’s official records. If your officiant is slow to send it in, follow up. You will need the recorded license to order certified copies for a name change, insurance, or property matters.