Marriage Licenses - General Information

In order to obtain a marriage license in Brevard County, the applicants must apply together, in person, at the Brevard County Clerk of Courts office. The marriage license is only valid within the State of Florida. Both parties must present their state-issued picture ID, military ID, or passport, and know their social security number.

If either applicant has been married previously, they will need to know the exact date of divorce, death, or annulment.

To obtain a license without parental consent, both of the applicants must be at least 18 years of age.  An applicant that is at least 17 years of age may marry with written consent of his/her parents or legal guardian consent, but only if the other party is not more than two years older than the younger party.

The fee for a marriage license is $86.00.  If the applicants have taken a premarital class with a registered premarital course provider, the fee is reduced to $61.00.  Premarital course certificates must be presented when applying for a marriage license.  Please refer to Florida State Statutes 741.0305 for all of the requirements of an acceptable certificate.

Effective January 1, 1999, there is a three (3) day waiting period for a marriage license. The waiting period is waived if the applicants have taken a premarital class from a registered premarital course provider, if a hardship is declared by the applicants, or if both applicants are non-Florida residents.

Issuance of a Marriage License

The County Judge or Clerk of the Circuit Court shall issue every marriage license upon application of the license if there appears to be no impediments to the marriage.

Written Application Required

No County Judge or Clerk of the Circuit Court in this state shall issue a marriage license for the marriage of any person present unless shall be first presented and filed with him an affidavit in writing, signed by both parties to the marriage, made and subscribed before an officer authorized by law to administer an oath, reciting the true and correct ages of such parties; unless both such parties shall be over the age of 18, except as provided in F.S.

Persons Authorized to Solemnize Matrimony

All regularly ordained ministers of the gospel or elders in communion with some church or other ordained clergy, all judicial officers, Clerk of the Circuit Court, and notaries public of this state may solemnize the rights of matrimonial contract, under the regulations prescribed by law.

Any marriage which may be performed among the people called "Quakers or Friends", in the manner and form used or practiced in their societies, according to their rites and ceremonies, shall be good and valid in law; and wherever the words "minister" and "elder" are used, they shall be held to include all of the persons connected with the Society of Friends, or Quaker, who perform or have charge of the marriage ceremony according to their rites and ceremonies.

Marriage Not to be Solemnized Without a License

Before any of the persons that shall solemnize any marriage, he or she shall require of the parties a marriage license issued by the Clerk of Circuit Court, and making sure the ceremony is performed between the "effective" and "expiration" date.

Marriage License Must be Certified and Filed Within Ten (10) Days

Within ten (10) days after solemnizing the marriage he or she shall make a certificate thereof on the marriage license, and shall transmit the same to the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court from which it was issued.

Time Limit

The marriage license must be used within sixty (60) days from the "effective date".