Fort Lauderdale Marriage License

Fort Lauderdale marriage license records are handled by the Broward County Clerk of Courts. Fort Lauderdale is the county seat of Broward County with close to 191,000 residents. The clerk's main office is at the Central Courthouse on SE 3rd Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Several branch locations also serve the county. Both people must go to the clerk's office in person to apply for a marriage license. This page covers the full process for Fort Lauderdale couples, including where to go, what to bring, and what it costs to get a marriage license.

Broward County Issues Fort Lauderdale Marriage Licenses

Fort Lauderdale is in Broward County. The Broward County Clerk of Courts handles all marriage license applications for the county. Under Florida Statute 741.01, the clerk of the circuit court is the only office that can issue marriage licenses in Florida. Fort Lauderdale couples must apply at one of the Broward Clerk's locations.

Broward County is the second most populous county in Florida. The clerk's office serves a large area with multiple branch locations. Fort Lauderdale residents can use the main courthouse downtown or check for a branch that is more convenient. A marriage license from Broward County is valid anywhere in the state, so you can hold the ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, on the beach, or in any other Florida city.

The Broward Clerk's marriage page shows the full process, fees, and requirements for getting a marriage license in Fort Lauderdale and the rest of Broward County.

For the full county guide, visit the Broward County marriage license page.

Fort Lauderdale Marriage License Clerk Office

The main Broward Clerk office is at the Central Courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Both people must appear in person at the same time. The office accepts walk-ins during regular hours. The marriage license division closes at 3:30 p.m., so plan to arrive well before that time. Getting there in the morning is the best way to avoid long waits.

The Broward Clerk also has a marriage license search tool on their website. Fort Lauderdale residents can use it to look up existing marriage license records that have already been filed in Broward County.

The search tool is free to use. Enter a name and the system will show matching records from Broward County.

How to Get a Marriage License in Fort Lauderdale

Both people must visit the Broward Clerk's office together. Bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, or passport all work. You need your Social Security number, but not the physical card. Under Florida Statute 741.04, both applicants must be at least 18 years old. A 17-year-old may apply with consent from both parents if the other person is within two years of age.

If either person was married before, bring the exact date the prior marriage ended. Know whether it was a divorce, death, or annulment. The state and county of the divorce are also part of the application. Read the Family Law Handbook from the Florida Bar before you go. The Broward Clerk will ask if you have reviewed it.

The Broward Clerk also has a premarital provider search tool on their website. Fort Lauderdale residents can use this to find registered course providers in Broward County before they apply for a marriage license.

Fort Lauderdale Marriage License Fees

A standard marriage license in Fort Lauderdale costs $86. Take a four-hour premarital course and the fee goes down to $61. Florida Statute 741.0305 allows this $25 reduction statewide. Bring the original course certificate to the Broward Clerk when you apply.

Other fees at the Broward Clerk include $30 for a civil marriage ceremony and $3 for certified copies of a filed marriage license. The fee structure is set by state law. Part of the $86 goes to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund and part to the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund. These allocations are the same across all 67 Florida counties.

Note: The Broward Clerk's office closes for marriage license applications at 3:30 p.m., even though the courthouse stays open later.

Marriage License Wait in Fort Lauderdale

Florida residents who apply for a marriage license in Fort Lauderdale face a three-day waiting period. The license is not valid during those three days. Florida Statute 741.04 creates this rule for every county.

Both people can skip the wait by completing a four-hour premarital course. Bring the original certificates from a registered provider when you apply. The license becomes valid right away, and the fee drops to $61. Fort Lauderdale is a popular destination for weddings, and out-of-state couples do not have to wait at all. This applies regardless of whether they take a premarital course.

After the ceremony, the signed license must go back to the Broward Clerk within 10 days. The officiant usually handles this. 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 if no ceremony takes place. Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judicial officers, circuit court clerks, and notaries public can all perform weddings in Fort Lauderdale.

Nearby Florida Cities

These cities near Fort Lauderdale also have marriage license pages. All are in Broward County or nearby counties. A Florida marriage license works in any county statewide.

Broward County Marriage License Records

Fort Lauderdale is the county seat of Broward County. All marriage license filings go through the Broward County Clerk of Courts. For the full county page with more details and resources, visit below.

View Broward County Marriage License Records