Cape Coral Marriage License

Cape Coral marriage license applications are handled by the Lee County Clerk of Courts. Cape Coral is the largest city in Lee County with about 233,000 people, though the county seat is Fort Myers. Couples in Cape Coral must visit the Lee County Clerk's office in Fort Myers to apply for a marriage license. The process is the same one used across all of Florida, and the clerk's staff will walk you through each step. This page explains what Cape Coral residents need to know about getting a marriage license, from the documents you need to the fees and wait times involved.

Lee County Issues Cape Coral Marriage Licenses

Cape Coral is in Lee County. The Lee County Clerk of Courts issues all marriage licenses for the county. Under Florida Statute 741.01, the clerk of the circuit court is the only office that can issue a marriage license in Florida. Cape Coral does not have its own clerk's office for this purpose. Residents must go to the Lee County office in Fort Myers.

The drive from Cape Coral to the Fort Myers courthouse is usually 15 to 25 minutes over the bridges. A marriage license from Lee County is valid anywhere in the state. You can apply in Fort Myers and hold the ceremony in Cape Coral, on Sanibel Island, or in any other Florida city. The Lee County Clerk also offers virtual ceremonies, which is not something every county does.

For the full county guide, visit the Lee County marriage license page. The Lee County Clerk can be reached by email at marriage@leeclerk.org if you have questions before your visit from Cape Coral.

Use the Find a Clerk tool from the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers to locate the Lee County office and get directions from Cape Coral.

Marriage License Office for Cape Coral Residents

The Lee County Clerk's office in Fort Myers handles all marriage license applications for Cape Coral and the rest of Lee County. Both people must appear together in person. The office is at the Lee County Justice Center on Second Street in downtown Fort Myers.

The Lee County Clerk offers both in-person visits and virtual ceremonies. Virtual ceremonies let Cape Coral couples complete the wedding ceremony over video call. This is a unique option not found in most Florida counties. Contact the clerk's office to ask about scheduling a virtual ceremony if that interests you.

Note: Call (239) 533-5007 or email the Lee County Clerk to confirm hours before making the drive from Cape Coral.

How to Get a Marriage License in Cape Coral

Both people must go to the Lee County Clerk in Fort Myers at the same time. Bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, or passport will work. Know your Social Security number. You do not need the card. Under Florida Statute 741.04, both people must be 18 or older. A 17-year-old may apply with parental consent if the other person is within two years of age.

Previously married applicants must bring the exact date their last marriage ended. The clerk will ask whether it ended by divorce, death, or annulment. You also need to know the state and county of the prior divorce. Read the Family Law Handbook from the Florida Bar before your visit. The clerk in Lee County will ask if you have reviewed it.

The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers site has a full list of requirements for a marriage license at any Florida clerk's office. Cape Coral couples should review this before heading to Fort Myers.

Cape Coral Marriage License Fees

A standard marriage license at the Lee County Clerk costs $86. If both people take a four-hour premarital course, the fee is $61. Florida Statute 741.0305 allows this reduction statewide. Bring the original course certificate when you apply. The Lee County Clerk also charges $30 for a civil ceremony if you want a courthouse wedding in Fort Myers.

Part of the $86 fee goes to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund, and part goes to the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund. These are state mandated splits. Certified copies of a filed marriage license cost about $3 each from the Lee County Clerk.

Wait Time and Ceremony Options in Cape Coral

Florida residents face a three-day waiting period after getting a marriage license. The license is not valid during those three days. This comes from Florida Statute 741.04.

Skip the wait by completing a four-hour premarital course. Both people must finish it. Bring original certificates from a registered provider. The license becomes valid the same day, and the fee goes down to $61. Out-of-state visitors do not have to wait at all. Cape Coral gets seasonal visitors who come to get married, and those who are not Florida residents can skip the waiting period entirely.

After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed license to the Lee County Clerk within 10 days. The clerk records it and sends a copy to the Florida Department of Health. Under Florida Statute 741.041, the license expires after 60 days. Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judges, clerks, and notaries can all perform a wedding in Cape Coral.

Note: The Lee County Clerk offers virtual ceremonies, a convenient option for Cape Coral couples who prefer not to travel for the ceremony itself.

Nearby Florida Cities

These cities near Cape Coral also have marriage license information. A Florida marriage license is valid in any county statewide.

Lee County Marriage License Records

Cape Coral is in Lee County. All marriage license applications go through the Lee County Clerk of Courts in Fort Myers. For more county-level details and resources, visit the county page.

View Lee County Marriage License Records