Jackson County Marriage License

Jackson County marriage license records are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Marianna. The clerk's office on Lafayette Street handles all new applications and keeps the recorded copies on file after each ceremony. If you need to apply for a marriage license in Jackson County or want to look up an existing record, start at the courthouse in Marianna. Both people must show up together. Couples from Marianna, Graceville, Sneads, and all other Jackson County communities use this one office for marriage license services.

Jackson County Clerk of Court Office

The Jackson County Clerk of the Circuit Court is the sole office that issues marriage licenses in the county. You visit the clerk at 4445 Lafayette Street in Marianna to apply. No appointment is needed. Walk in during normal business hours and the staff will help you with the full process. The clerk acts as an agent for the State of Florida under Florida Statute 741.01, which gives clerks across all 67 counties the power to issue marriage licenses.

The Jackson County Clerk homepage provides general information about courthouse services and contact details for the Marianna office.

Stop by during the week to get your application started. Staff at the Jackson County clerk's office will walk you through each form and make sure your paperwork is in order before the license is issued.

How to Apply for a Jackson County Marriage License

Both people must go to the Jackson County clerk's office together. Bring a valid photo ID like a driver's license, state ID, or passport. You also need to provide your Social Security number, though you do not need the actual card. If you were married before, know the exact date your last marriage ended and whether it was by divorce, death, or annulment. The clerk needs this info to process your application under Florida Statute 741.04.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old. A 17-year-old can apply with written consent from both parents, but the other party cannot be more than two years older. Same-gender couples apply on the same terms as any other couple in Jackson County.

You should also read the Family Law Handbook before you go. The Florida Bar publishes this guide, and the clerk will ask if you have read it as part of the application.

Note: No blood test is needed to get a marriage license in Jackson County.

Marriage License Fees in Jackson County

A standard marriage license in Jackson County costs $86. This is the fee set by state law. If both people take a four-hour premarital preparation course before they apply, the fee drops to $61. That is a $25 savings under Florida Statute 741.0305. Bring the original certificate of completion when you visit the clerk's office in Marianna.

Part of the license fee goes to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund. Another part goes to the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund. These splits are set by the Florida legislature and apply in all 67 counties. Jackson County accepts common payment methods, so check with the clerk about what they take when you arrive.

Jackson County Marriage License Waiting Period

Florida residents face a three-day waiting period after getting a marriage license in Jackson County. The license is not valid until three full days pass from the date of issue. You cannot hold the ceremony during this time. Out-of-state residents do not have to wait at all.

You can skip the wait entirely. Take a four-hour premarital course from a provider registered with the Jackson County Clerk. Both people must complete the course. If only one person takes it, the wait still applies. Bring the original certificate to the clerk's office when you apply, and the license becomes valid the same day.

The license stays valid for 60 days from the issue date. Under Florida Statute 741.041, the ceremony must happen within that window or the license expires.

After the Wedding in Jackson County

Once the ceremony takes place, the signed marriage license must be returned to the Jackson County Clerk within 10 days. The person who performs the ceremony is usually the one who handles this step. The clerk records the license and sends a copy to the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. That state-level filing takes about 60 days.

Under Florida Statute 741.07, several types of people can officiate your wedding in Jackson County. Ordained ministers, judicial officers, clerks of the circuit court, and notaries public all have the legal authority to perform a marriage ceremony in Florida.

Copies of Jackson County Marriage Records

You can get copies of recorded marriage licenses from the Jackson County Clerk's office. The MyFloridaCounty official records portal lets you search for documents filed in Jackson County and other Florida counties. For certified copies, contact the clerk's office in Marianna directly.

The Florida Department of Health keeps marriage certificates from June 6, 1927 to the present. You can order copies from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville or through VitalChek, the state's only contracted online vendor for vital records. The search fee is $5 for one year and one certified copy.

Note: Marriages before June 1927 are only available from the county clerk where the license was issued.

Cities in Jackson County

All cities and towns in Jackson County use the same clerk's office in Marianna for marriage license services. Communities in Jackson County include Marianna, Graceville, Sneads, Cottondale, Grand Ridge, Malone, Campbellton, and Jacob City. None of these cities have separate clerk offices for marriage licenses.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Jackson County. A marriage license from any Florida county is valid statewide, so you can apply at whichever location works best for you.