How to Get a Marriage License in Orlando: Step by Step

If you want your nikah to be a legal marriage in Florida as well, you need a marriage license first. Here is how it works in Orlando, from applying to collecting the license, in plain steps.

At a glance

Where

Orange County Clerk of Courts, Marriage Division, 425 N. Orange Ave., Suite 350, Orlando, FL 32801

Booking

Walk-ins are welcome for marriage licences; appointments can also be scheduled online but same-day appointments are not accepted. Licences may be obtained at any Clerk location. Hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Fee

$86 $61 with proof of a premarital preparation course. Ceremony at the Clerk's office is a separate $30 fee.

Payment

Cash, money order or cashier's check payable to the Orange County Clerk of Courts. Mastercard, Visa, Discover and American Express accepted with a $3.50 surcharge.

Who attends

Both parties must apply together in person.

Valid for

Valid 60 days from issuance, in any Florida county. The ceremony must take place in Florida; the licence is not valid for a wedding in another state or country.

Same day?

Licence is issued the same day if all requirements are met. Florida residents have a 3-day waiting period before marrying (starting at the in-person visit) unless they present proof of a premarital preparation course; a hardship waiver petition goes to a judge at the downtown courthouse. Non-Florida residents have no waiting period and may marry the same day.

Step by step

1. Apply. Start an eMarriage application online (required before an appointment), then both parties go to the Clerk's office together with valid photo ID. Couples must read the Family Law Handbook and sign a statement acknowledging it before applying.
2. Book or plan your visit. Walk-ins are welcome for marriage licences; appointments can also be scheduled online but same-day appointments are not accepted. Licences may be obtained at any Clerk location. Hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
3. Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
4. Attend and pay. Both parties must apply together in person. Cash, money order or cashier's check payable to the Orange County Clerk of Courts. Mastercard, Visa, Discover and American Express accepted with a $3.50 surcharge.
5. Give the license to your officiant. Your imam needs it at the ceremony, and must be authorized to solemnize marriages in Florida. Valid 60 days from issuance, in any Florida county. The ceremony must take place in Florida; the licence is not valid for a wedding in another state or country.

What to bring

• Valid, non-expired government-issued photo ID for both parties: driver's license, state ID, passport or military ID
• Completed application (online eMarriage or printed form)
• Social Security number: required for U.S. residents only
• Previous marriages: provide the date the last marriage ended
• Age: 18 or older, no consent needed. Age 17: parental or guardian consent required, the older party may be no more than 2 years older, and a signed affidavit under F.S. 741.04 is required; both parents must consent unless divorced with one parent holding custody (certified divorce papers showing full custody needed); consent forms must be notarized
• Residency: a Florida licence can be obtained in any Florida county; non-U.S. residents may apply (valid passport accepted as ID)

Good to know

• Premarital course certificate waives the 3-day wait and lowers the fee; the course must be completed within one year before applying and the certificate must show provider name, participant names, completion date and format
• Non-U.S. residents are not subject to the 3-day waiting period or the premarital course requirement
• Who may solemnize (Clerk's Marriage Ceremonies page): ordained clergy, elders in communion with a church, Florida judges, Florida Clerks of Court and deputies, and Florida notaries public. The page describes no registration requirement for officiants
• The person who performs the marriage is responsible for returning the licence to the Clerk within 10 days of the wedding; the marriage is not considered valid until the Clerk receives it
• Copies: licences filed before March 1, 1998 or after June 30, 2017 come from the Clerk of Courts; those filed March 1, 1998 to June 30, 2017 come from the Orange County Comptroller. Copy fee not stated on the pages read
• Name changes: notify Florida DHSMV, the local Social Security office, the Supervisor of Elections and, if applicable, the military reserve commanding officer

Your nikah and the license

The license is what makes your marriage legal. Your nikah is the religious ceremony. If your imam is authorized to solemnize marriages in Florida, one ceremony can be both. See imams serving Orlando and our Florida nikah guide for who may officiate and how the marriage is recorded.

A few common questions

Details come from the Orange County Clerk of Courts, Marriage Division website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Orange County Clerk of Courts, Marriage Division: marriage license page. Contact: 407-836-2000. This guide is general information, not legal advice.