Have you been thinking about getting married?
Solemnizing marriage is one of the honors of a notary public in Florida. The solemnization of a marriage is the formal ceremony which unites a couple in legal marriage. The ceremony isn't just for show - without a ceremony, there has been no marriage.
Florida notaries can only solemnize a marriage (perform a wedding ceremony) within the legal boundaries of the State of Florida (which generally includes three miles off the coast).
Marriage Ceremony Requirements
Before a Florida notary public may solemnize any marriage, he or she must require the parties to produce a marriage license issued in accordance with Florida law. Two persons who wish to enter a marriage in Florida are required to obtain a Florida marriage license, issued by a county court judge or clerk of circuit court, under his or her hand and seal. The parties must first submit to the clerk of circuit court (or county court judge) an application, including an affidavit setting forth their ages and Social Security numbers.
Non-citizens may provide an alien registration number or other form of identification. The parties must also file a written statement stating whether they completed a premarital preparation course and verifying that they have read or otherwise accessed the family law handbook published by the Florida Bar. If there appears to be no impediment to the marriage, the clerk (or judge) will issue a marriage license.
NOTE: No marriage ceremony may be performed in Florida without a valid marriage license.
Marriage License Effective and Expiration dates
A Florida marriage license does not become effective until three days after its issuance (although this three-day waiting period is waived for out-of-state residents and for couples who submit valid certificates of completion of a premarital preparation course). The marriage license is only valid for a period of sixty days. The effective date and expiration date are clearly stated on the license. In order for the marriage to be valid, the ceremony must be performed on or after the effective date and on or before the expiration date. Once the license expires, no ceremony of marriage can be performed.
NOTE: Florida marriage licenses are valid statewide. For example, even if the parties obtain their license in Seminole County, the marriage can still be solemnized in Orange County. However, after the ceremony, the license must be returned to the county where it was issued – regardless of where in Florida the ceremony took place. Your notary is required by Florida Law to send the final signed document to the County Clerk for recording.
Your Notary will return the Signed Marriage Certificate to the Office that Issued It
Once the ceremony is completed, a Florida notary must complete the marriage certificate portion of the marriage license and return it to the official who issued it within ten days of the solemnization.
Until the completed marriage record is filed with the issuing office, there is no official record of the marriage. It is important to note that state law provides that the notary is responsible for mailing or delivering the license; the original license will not be given to the parties to return themselves.
TheConcierge.net Notaries take the effort, stress, and guesswork out of who will perform your wedding ceremony.
Central Florida Based Mobile Notary
Wedding Ceremony Cost: $30 plus travel fees to ceremony. Additional postage fee or travel fee to Clerk required to submit license.
Contact us with any questions
Email: notary@theconcierge.net
Phone: (844) 974-2463
Fax: (407) 379-9500
Orange County Marriage License FAQs
Please click on the (+) below to get additional information provided by the Orange County Clerks Office. The information can be found at this link : https://www.myorangeclerk.com/Divisions/Marriages/Marriage-Licenses
TheConcierge.Net is not responsible for infomation below. Subject to change.
How To Apply
The first step in applying for a marriage license is to complete a Marriage License Application. You can do this in one of two ways:
- Save time and apply online using Orange County’s our eMarriage Application. Once you complete the online application, you will receive a confirmation notice containing information about completing the application process.
- Print the Marriage License Application and bring it to any of our 6 locations to complete the process.
Please note that for both methods indicated above, the 3-day waiting period does not begin until after the couple comes together to the Clerk’s office and purchases the marriage license in person. Before coming to the Clerk’s Office in person, please review all marriage license requirements and our Orange County’s FAQs.
Who Can Apply
Who Can Apply?
- Any male or female age 18 or older
- Any male or female age 17 with parental or guardian consent. The older party to the marriage cannot be more than 2 years older than the youngest party to the marriage, and a written and signed affidavit must be filed in compliance with F.S. 741.04.
If applicant is a minor, both parents must give consent unless the parents are divorced and the custody and control of the child is placed with one parent. All written consent forms must be notarized. If divorced, the parent must present a certified copy of the divorce papers reflecting that they have full legal custody.
Required Documentation
- Completed online Orange County eMarriage Application or printed Orange County application
- A valid driver’s license, state identification card, passport or military identification
- Social Security number (applies to U.S. residents only)
Additional Requirements
- Both parties must apply together in person.
- If either party has been married previously, he/she must provide the date the last marriage ended.
- If the couple have children together born in Florida, they must fill out the Affirmation of Children Born in Florida
Couples are required by law to read the Family Law Handbook and sign a statement acknowledging that they have done so before applying for the license. The handbook is available in English and Spanish.
Marriage License Fee
The fee to obtain a marriage license is $86.00.
The fee can be reduced to $61.00 if they provide proof of completing a premarital preparation course – see Waiting Period to Be Married.
Forms of Payment
- Cash, money order, cashier’s check (payable to the Orange County Clerk of Courts)
- MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express
Please note, there is a $3.50 surcharge added to all credit card transactions
Waiting Period
Marriage licenses are issued the same day as requested as long as all requirements are met. However, there is a 3-day waiting period to be married for couples who live in Florida, but do not provide proof that they have completed a premarital preparation course. Please note that the 3-day waiting period does not begin until after the couple comes together to the Clerk’s office and purchases the marriage license in person.
Florida couples wishing to avoid the 3-day waiting period must produce a certificate or printed letter from a premarital course provider indicating they have completed the course. A couple claiming hardship can appear at the downtown courthouse location only and petition a judge to waive the 3-day waiting period when applying for the marriage license in person.
To locate an approved course provider, search the internet for Florida Premarital Course Providers.
A premarital course must be taken within one year prior to applying for a marriage license.
There is no waiting period for non-Florida residents.
Non-US Residents and Residents of Other States
If you would like to get married in Orange County and both parties are not Florida residents, you can come to our office to purchase your marriage license and get married the same day.
If you’d prefer, you can buy the marriage license only and get married within the next 60 days anywhere in Florida.
Please remember to return your license within 10 days following the ceremony to the Clerk Office where it was issued.
County Clerk of Court Locations
Orange County Clerk of Court 425 N. Orange Avenue Orlando, FL 32801 407-836-2000 Brevard County Clerk of Court P.O Box 219 Titusville, Florida 32781-0219 321-637-5413 Lake County Clerk of Court P.O. Box 7800 Tavares, FL 32778 352-742-4100 Osceola County Clerk of Court 2 Courthouse Square, Suite 2000 Kissimmee, FL 34741 407-742-3500 Seminole County Clerk of Court 301 N. Park Avenue P.O. Box 8099 Sanford, FL 32772 407-665-4450 Additional Florida Counties - Click Here