Marriage License

  • Fill out a marriage license application online. You will need to bring the transaction number provided upon completion to the Courthouse to have your license issued.
  • All applicants are required to read a Family Law Handbook prepared by the Florida Bar that details the rights and responsibilities of marriage. All applicants must sign a sworn statement affirming that they have read this handbook. 
  • A marriage license is valid for only 60 days and only within the State of Florida. Thus, you may not apply for a marriage license if you are planning to be married more than two months from your application date.
  • The marriage license may be used in any county in the State of Florida.
  • The executed license must be returned within ten days to the county in which it was issued.
  • Where to Apply for a Marriage License:
    • Walton County Courthouse
      571 Highway 90 East - 2nd Floor
      DeFuniak Springs, Fl 32433
      (850) 892-8115
    • Walton County Courthouse Annex
      31 Coastal Centre Boulevard
      Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459
      (850) 267-3066
  • If you are planning to be married in another state or country, you must contact that jurisdiction to inquire about its marriage laws and rules.
 

 Requirements

  • Both applicants must appear.

  • Both applicants must present valid, government-issued photo identification.

  • Both applicants must know their social security number

  • If either applicant has been previously married:

    • The previous marriage must have ended.
    • You must know the date the last marriage ended:
      • Date of Dissolution, or
      • Date of death of previous spouse, or
      • Date of Annulment.
    • Papers are not required. However, you must take an oath that the information you have given is true and correct.
  • If an applicant is 17 years old, he/she must present the following in addition to the requirements above:A blood test is not required.

    • A certified copy of his/her birth certificate, and
    • Notarized parental consent from both parents.
    • Exceptions will be if the parents are divorced and one parent has sole legal custody of the minor child. In this case, a court certified copy of the custody document must be presented and only the consent of the custodial parent will be required. If both parents are deceased, and a guardian has not been appointed by the court, the minor must present certified copies of both death certificates.
    • The older party to the marriage is not more than 2 years older than the younger party to the marriage.
  • The marriage license fee is $86.00, payable by cash, check, or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express cards only) at the time of application. There will be a charge of 3.5% if using a credit card.

  • Marriage license replacement fee is $32.00.

  • Marriage license amended - When a recorded marriage license has been found to contain errors (misspelled name, incorrect social security number, ect.) the fee is $42.00.

  • Course Requirements or Three Day Wait for FL Residents Only: All Florida residents who apply for a marriage license may complete a four-hour marriage preparation course, present a Certificate of Completion for the course, and sign a statement that they have taken the course to have the three day wait period waived. For a list of eligible course providers, please see below. For those Florida residents who do not complete this course, the applicants must wait three days before they are married. This three-day waiting period applies to Florida residents only.

    • If both applicants complete the marriage preparation course, the marriage license fee is reduced to $61.00.

 Who May Perform Your Marriage Ceremony in Florida (F.S. 741.07)

  • All regularly ordained ministers of the gospel or elders in communion with some church, or other ordained clergy from any state or foreign country.
  • All Florida notaries public -  Please Note: Notaries public from outside the State of Florida are not authorized under Florida law to perform your ceremony.
  • Florida judicial officers, including retired Florida judicial officers. Florida judicial officers who may perform a marriage ceremony include Florida state court judges, retired Florida state court judges, Federal court judges whose jurisdiction includes Florida, and retired Federal court judges whose jurisdiction included Florida.
    Please Note: State court judges, local court judges, and probate court judges from outside the State of Florida are not authorized under Florida law to perform your ceremony.
  • Boat Captains are not authorized to perform marriage ceremonies in the State of Florida unless they are otherwise qualified as provided above. Marriage ceremonies must take place within Florida's state boundaries.
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