Marriage License in Franklin County

Franklin County marriage license applications are handled by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Apalachicola. The clerk acts as an agent for the State of Florida to issue these licenses under state law. The office is on Market Street and serves all couples who want to get married in or through Franklin County. The application process takes less than 30 minutes in most cases. Whether you need to apply for a marriage license or look up a record that has been filed, the Franklin County Clerk's office is the place to start. Forms are available on the clerk's website to help you prepare before your visit.

Franklin County Clerk Marriage Services

The Franklin County Clerk of the Circuit Court issues all marriage licenses in the county under Florida Statute 741.01. The office is in downtown Apalachicola on Market Street. Both people must show up in person. Bring valid photo ID and your Social Security numbers.

The clerk has several forms on their website you can download before you go. These include the marriage license application, the required premarital statement, the Affirmation of Common Children form, and the Family Law Handbook. Filling these out ahead of time speeds things up at the office. The process in Franklin County takes under 30 minutes when paperwork is ready.

Applying for a Franklin County Marriage License

Go to the clerk's office with your partner. Both of you sign the application and take an oath. The clerk checks your IDs and collects the fee. Payment is by cash, cashier's check, or credit card. No blood test is required.

Under Florida Statute 741.04, both applicants must be 18 or older. If either person was married before, the date and method of the prior marriage's end are needed. Read the Family Law Handbook before your visit. The clerk will ask if you have gone through it.

Florida residents wait three days for the license to become active. Out-of-state residents skip the wait. Taking a four-hour premarital course also waives the waiting period for Florida residents. Bring the original certificate from an approved provider. The course also drops the fee by $25, so there are two reasons to take it before your visit to the Franklin County Clerk.

Franklin County Marriage License Fees

The total cost for a marriage license in Franklin County is $86. This includes both county and state fees. Couples who have attended an approved premarital preparation class pay $61 instead. Florida Statute 741.0305 provides for this $25 reduction.

Part of every fee goes to the state. The Domestic Violence Trust Fund and the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund each get a share. Certified copies of filed marriage records cost $3 each from the Franklin County Clerk. You can also get copies from the Florida Department of Health for records from 1927 to the present.

Note: The Franklin County Clerk accepts cash, cashier's check, and credit card for marriage license payments.

Franklin County Marriage License Rules

Your license is good for 60 days. Florida Statute 741.041 says no ceremony can happen after the license expires. If 60 days pass, you start over with a new application and a new fee at the Franklin County Clerk's office. You can hold the wedding anywhere in Florida with a Franklin County license.

Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judicial officers, clerks, and notaries public can perform the ceremony. After the wedding, the officiant sends the signed license back to the Franklin County Clerk. The clerk records it and forwards a copy to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. One certified copy is usually included with the original fee.

The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers has a statewide guide to the marriage license process. The MyFloridaCounty portal lets you search official records filed in any Florida county, including Franklin.

Franklin County Clerk Marriage Page

The screenshot below shows the Franklin County Clerk's marriage records page with application details, FAQ answers, and downloadable forms.

The clerk's website has answers to common questions about the marriage license process in Franklin County. Check the site before you visit to make sure you have everything ready.

Cities in Franklin County

Apalachicola is the county seat and the main town in Franklin County. Carrabelle and Eastpoint are also in the area. All couples apply for a marriage license at the same clerk's office in Apalachicola. There are no qualifying cities in Franklin County with separate pages.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County is along the Gulf Coast in the Florida panhandle. These counties border it. Any of their clerk offices can issue a marriage license that works across the whole state.