How Far in Advance Do You Have to Get a Marriage License in Florida?

Planning your wedding in the Sunshine State? Congratulations! Whether you’re dreaming of a beachside ceremony or a courthouse wedding, one essential step is securing your marriage license. But a common question many couples have is: “How far in advance do you have to get a marriage license in Florida?” In this post, we’ll walk you through the timing, legal requirements, and how the Florida Premarital Course can help you save money and skip the 3-day waiting period.

Florida Marriage License Timing: What You Need to Know

In Florida, once you apply and receive your marriage license in Florida, it’s valid for 60 days. That means your wedding must take place within that 60-day window, or you’ll need to reapply. So how early should you get it?

If you’re a Florida resident and you don’t take an approved premarital course, there’s a mandatory 3-day waiting period before you can legally get married. If you’re coming from out of state, the wait doesn’t apply—but that doesn’t mean you should wait until the last minute.

For Florida residents, the ideal time to get your marriage license is at least a week before your wedding to account for any unexpected delays, paperwork issues, or court closures. If you want to skip the 3-day wait and avoid the risk of cutting it too close, there’s an easy solution—take an approved Florida Premarital Course.

How the Florida Premarital Course Helps You Save Time

The state of Florida incentivizes couples to complete a registered premarital education course by offering two major perks:

• Waives the 3-day waiting period for Florida residents.
• Saves you $25 on your marriage license application fee.

So instead of applying for your license and waiting around for days, you can take the course beforehand, get your license, and tie the knot the same day. This is especially useful for couples planning a last-minute ceremony or destination wedding.

Where to Take the Florida Premarital Course

At FloridaPremaritalCourse.org, we offer a convenient, fully online course that’s approved across all counties in Florida. Designed by Board-Certified National Certified Counselor Kristen Franzen (NCC 1727660), here’s what makes our course ideal for busy couples:

• Only $14.49—affordable and saves you $25 off your license fee
• 100% online and self-paced—complete it on your schedule
• Instant certificate download upon completion
• Accepted statewide—just present your certificate at the Clerk of Court

Start the course at your own pace and complete it from your phone, tablet, or computer—no appointments, no travel, no stress.

Marriage License Requirements in Florida

To apply for a marriage license in Florida, both parties must:

• Be at least 18 years old (or meet specific criteria if underage)
• Provide a valid photo ID (driver’s license, passport, or state ID)
• Know their Social Security numbers (cards are not required)
• Pay the marriage license fee ($86 without the course, $61 with the course)

Once you apply in person at any Florida county clerk’s office, your license becomes valid immediately if you’ve taken the premarital course—or after 3 days if you haven’t. Remember, you must have the Florida marriage license before your wedding ceremony, and it must be filed back with the county clerk within 10 days of the ceremony.

Real-Life Example: Saving Time and Money

Let’s say you’re a Florida couple planning to elope this weekend. Without the premarital course, you’d have to wait three days after getting your license—cutting it close or delaying your plans.

But with the Florida Premarital Course, you can take the class tonight, get your certificate instantly, and apply for your marriage license tomorrow—then get married the same day. Plus, you’ll pay $61 instead of $86. That’s real savings in time and money.

County-by-County Acceptance

No matter where you’re getting married in Florida—whether it’s Miami-Dade, Orange County, or the Florida Keys—our course is accepted statewide. Once you’ve finished, simply bring your certificate to the county clerk’s office when applying for your marriage license in Florida.

How to Get Started

Taking the course is easy. Just visit FloridaPremaritalCourse.org and sign up. Once you finish the modules, you’ll be able to download your certificate immediately and use it to save time and money on your marriage license.

We also recommend you check with your local county clerk’s office to confirm hours and documentation requirements. You can find your local clerk here.

Final Thoughts: Plan Ahead, Save Big on Your Marriage License in Florida

In summary, you should plan to get your Florida marriage license at least a few days before your wedding—but if you want to skip the 3-day wait and save $25, your best option is to complete a Florida premarital course.

It’s fast, affordable, and stress-free—and gives you one less thing to worry about during your wedding planning. Get started today at FloridaPremaritalCourse.org.