Florida Marriage License: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

You have the date, and maybe you already have the yacht. Before anyone says "I do" on deck, you need a Florida marriage license. Getting one in Miami usually takes less than an hour at the counter once you bring the right documents.

Here is the short version. Both of you apply together in person at a Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts marriage license office, bring photo ID and your Social Security numbers, and pay $86, or $61 if you completed a state-registered premarital course. Florida residents who skip the course wait three days before the license takes effect, and every license expires 60 days after it is issued.

This guide is a practical checklist, not legal advice. Fees and office rules can change, so please confirm the current details with the Clerk before you go. In this article, we walk through the documents, the fee, the waiting period, the steps in order, what happens after the ceremony, and the mistakes that trip couples up.

What Do You Need Before You Apply?

You need a valid government photo ID for each of you, your Social Security numbers, and the date your last marriage ended if either of you was married before. The Miami-Dade marriage license requirements are short, but every item has to be ready on the day, because both of you must be present when you apply.

Here is what to gather before your appointment:

• Each of you brings a government photo ID showing your legal name, date of birth and signature, such as a driver license, passport or U.S. military ID.

• U.S. citizens and residents provide a Social Security number, though you do not need the physical card.

• Non-U.S. citizens without a Social Security number can use an alien registration card, a U.S. state driver license or a passport number instead.

• Anyone previously married provides the exact date the last divorce, annulment or death occurred.

• Couples who took a premarital course bring the original certificate of completion.

Florida does not require a blood test, and you do not need witnesses at the Clerk's office. The Clerk also asks you to read the Family Law Handbook before the license is issued, which you can view online or at the office.

With the paperwork gathered, the next step is knowing where to take it.

Where Do You Apply in Miami-Dade County?

You apply with the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts, either at the Central Marriage License Bureau or at one of its six District Court locations. The Clerk suggests completing its online pre-application and booking an appointment first, which usually shortens your time at the counter.

You can check current hours, locations and the pre-application form on the Clerk's marriage license page. Walk-ins are accepted, although wait times can run longer without an appointment.

One detail makes planning on the water much easier. A license from any Florida county lets you marry anywhere in Florida, so a Miami-Dade license covers a ceremony on Biscayne Bay, off Key Biscayne or farther along the coast.

Once you know where you are going, the fee is the next thing to budget for.

How Much Does a Florida Marriage License Cost in 2026?

The Miami-Dade Clerk lists the standard license fee at $86, and $61 for couples who bring a certificate from a registered premarital course. Because of this, the total fee remains relatively low for modern couples, providing a direct $25 discount whenever you complete the course.

The Clerk accepts cash, cashier's checks, money orders and major credit cards. You may see a small provider fee on card payments, so it helps to confirm the total when you book your appointment.

What the Premarital Course Involves

Florida's premarital course discount requires a four-hour course from a provider registered with the county Clerk. Many providers run the course online, and you finish with a certificate you bring to your appointment.

The $25 savings on its own is small. The bigger benefit for Florida residents is that the course also removes the three-day wait, which gives you more flexibility if your charter date is close.

Once your date and license are lined up, our wedding charter team can help you match a yacht to your guest list.

How Long Is the Waiting Period, and Who Skips It?

The Florida marriage license waiting period is three days, and it applies only to Florida residents who have not completed the premarital course. Non-Florida residents are exempt, and so are couples who bring a valid course certificate when they apply.

Under Florida Statute 741.04, the three days run from the date you apply. In practice, a Florida couple who applies on a Monday without the course would have a license that takes effect on Thursday.

The license also expires 60 days after it is issued. That means applying too early carries its own risk, since a license picked up in January will not cover an April ceremony.

For a wedding charter, we suggest applying one to three weeks ahead of your date. That window clears the waiting period with room to spare and keeps you well inside the 60 days.

With the timing settled, the whole process fits into a handful of steps.

How to Get Married in Florida, Step by Step

Here is how to get married in Florida from start to finish, in the order you will do it:

1. Choose your ceremony date and book your officiant.

2. Take the four-hour premarital course if you want the discount or need to skip the wait.

3. Complete the Clerk's online pre-application and schedule an appointment.

4. Visit the Clerk's office together with your IDs, Social Security numbers and any course certificate.

5. Pay the fee and receive your license, noting its effective date and its 60-day expiration.

6. Hold the ceremony on or after the effective date, with an authorized officiant.

7. Make sure the signed license goes back to the Clerk within 10 days.

The last step is the one couples forget about most, so it is worth a closer look.

Who Files the License After the Ceremony?

Your officiant is responsible for returning the signed license to the Miami-Dade County Marriage License Bureau within 10 days of the ceremony. You do not file it yourselves, but you should confirm it was returned rather than assume it happened.

A quick text to your officiant three or four days after the wedding is usually enough. If the license is never returned, your marriage is not recorded, and that can hold up everything from a name change to insurance paperwork.

Ordering a Certified Copy

Once the license is recorded, it becomes your marriage certificate, and you will likely need certified copies for a name change at the Social Security office, the DMV and your bank. The Miami-Dade Clerk currently lists a certified copy at $7.

You can also order through the Florida Department of Health, which currently lists 3 to 5 business days of processing plus shipping. Fees and timing can change, so treat these as a starting point.

Even with the process laid out, small slips cause most of the stress couples run into.

What Mistakes Do Couples Make With Their License?

The common mistakes are all easy to avoid once you know about them. Each one below has a quick fix.

• Applying too early lets the license expire before the wedding, so count 60 days from issue and plan inside that window.

• Forgetting a Social Security number can end the appointment, so write both numbers down before you leave home.

• Arriving with only one partner does not work, because both of you have to be present.

• Assuming a blood test is required wastes time, since Florida does not require one.

• Leaving the course certificate at home costs you the discount and the waiver, so pack the original.

• Skipping a follow-up with the officiant can leave your marriage unrecorded.

Say you pick up your license in January during early planning for an April wedding. By the time the date arrives, that license has expired, and you would need to apply and pay again. Keeping the 60-day window on your calendar avoids that repeat trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Florida marriage license cost in 2026?

In Miami-Dade County, the Clerk lists the standard fee at $86 and the fee with a registered premarital course certificate at $61. Fees can differ by county and may change, so it helps to confirm the amount with the Clerk before your appointment.

Is there a waiting period for a Florida marriage license?

Yes, for some couples. Florida residents who have not completed the premarital course wait three days after applying. Non-residents and couples with a valid course certificate can generally marry the same day the license is issued.

Do we have to get married in the same county where we got the license?

No. A Florida marriage license is valid anywhere in the state, so a license issued in Miami-Dade covers a ceremony in any Florida county or on Florida waters.

How long is a Florida marriage license valid?

A Florida license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. The ceremony has to take place on or after the effective date and before that 60-day window closes.

Can an officiant perform a legal wedding ceremony on a yacht in Florida?

Yes, as long as you hold a valid license and your officiant is authorized under Florida law, such as ordained clergy, a Florida judge or a Florida notary public. The Clerk's page lists who can officiate, and your charter team can confirm ceremony arrangements for the vessel.

Ready to Plan Your Wedding Charter With Book My Boat?

Once your license is sorted, the next decisions are the boat, the guest count and the ceremony time. Book My Boat can help you compare yachts by seated ceremony capacity and pick a start time that lands your vows in golden-hour light.

Browse our wedding charters, or contact our team to start planning the ceremony itself.