A valid Florida marriage license is required to be legally married in Florida. The marriage license can be issued at any County Clerk’s office in Florida; it doesn’t have to be the county where you are getting married. A Florida marriage license can be issued as early as 60 days before the wedding. For Florida residents there is a three-day waiting period after getting the license before you can be married. If a premarital on-line counseling course is completed, you can get married on the same day you get your license. Out-of-state residents can be married the same day that they get the Florida marriage license. When applying for your marriage license both parties must be present.
We do offer a convenient Florida mail away license service where you can “Show up and Get Married.” No going to the Courthouse!!! This is extremely popular for families and couples that travel to Clearwater or St George Island Florida to get marriage and don’t want to spend their time going to a courthouse.
Witnesses are not required. There is an optional spot for 2 witnesses to sign the marriage license but this is not required. If you truly want to elope with just you and your fiancé- you can 🙂
The Florida marriage license must be presented on the day of the wedding for notary or minister to complete. Whoever performs your ceremony would send the license back to the county where the license was issued. The county will then record your marriage and send you a certified copy of your marriage license. The certified copy of the marriage license is what you would need to change your name.