Palm Beach County Marriage License

Palm Beach County marriage license applications are handled by the Clerk of the Circuit Court at multiple locations across the county. As one of the largest counties in Florida by both area and population, Palm Beach County serves a high number of couples through its marriage license services each year. The main office is on North Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach, but additional locations make it easier for residents across the county to apply. Both people must appear in person. Whether you live in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, or Delray Beach, you can get a marriage license at any Palm Beach County clerk location.

Palm Beach County Clerk Marriage License Office

The Palm Beach County Clerk of Courts provides marriage license services at multiple locations. The main office is at 205 N. Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach. Under Florida Statute 741.01, the clerk has the sole authority to issue marriage licenses in the county. Both applicants must visit together. The staff checks your documents, collects the fee, and processes the application.

Palm Beach County is a large county that stretches from the coast inland to Lake Okeechobee. Having multiple service locations helps couples who do not live near the main courthouse in West Palm Beach. Check the clerk's website to find the office closest to you before making the trip. Each location can process a full marriage license application from start to finish.

The Palm Beach County Clerk's website at mypalmbeachclerk.com has info about locations, hours, and the forms you need for a marriage license.

The main office in West Palm Beach serves as the central hub for all clerk services in the county, including marriage licenses, court records, and official recordings.

How to Apply for a Palm Beach County Marriage License

Both people must visit a Palm Beach County Clerk location in person. Bring a valid photo ID like a driver's license, state ID, or passport. You need your Social Security number, though the card is not required. 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, as long as the other person is not more than two years older.

If either person was married before, the clerk needs the date it ended. You must know if it was by divorce, death, or annulment. The state and county where the divorce took place are also required. Bring all of this info to the Palm Beach County clerk's office so your application can be processed without delays.

Read the Family Law Handbook before your visit. The Florida Bar publishes this guide, and the clerk will ask if you have reviewed it as part of the Palm Beach County marriage license application.

Note: Both applicants must be present at the same time at the Palm Beach County clerk's office.

Palm Beach County Marriage License Fees

A standard marriage license in Palm Beach County costs $86. This is the uniform fee across all of Florida. If both people complete a four-hour premarital preparation course, the fee drops to $61. Florida Statute 741.0305 allows this $25 discount. You need the original completion certificate when you apply at the Palm Beach County Clerk.

The clerk accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. A small processing fee may apply to card transactions. Part of the $86 fee goes to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund, and another part to the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund. These splits are set by state law and apply everywhere in Florida.

Certified copies of recorded Palm Beach County marriage licenses cost about $3 each. You can get copies from any clerk location in the county. The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers website has more details about the statewide fee structure.

Waiting Period for Palm Beach Marriage License

Florida residents who apply in Palm Beach County face a three-day waiting period. The license cannot be used for a ceremony until three full days pass from the issue date. This is a statewide rule under Florida law.

Take a four-hour premarital course to waive the wait. The course must come from a provider registered with the Palm Beach County Clerk. Bring the original certificate, and the license becomes valid right away. The fee drops to $61 too. Out-of-state residents have no waiting period. They can get a marriage license and have the ceremony on the same day, which makes Palm Beach County a convenient choice for couples planning destination weddings along the coast.

After Your Palm Beach County Wedding

The signed license must go back to the Palm Beach County Clerk within 10 days of the ceremony. The officiant usually takes care of returning it. The clerk records the license and sends a copy to the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. The state takes about 60 days to process and file the record.

Under Florida Statute 741.041, the license is valid for 60 days from the issue date. If the ceremony does not happen in that time, the license expires. Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judicial officers, clerks of the circuit court, and notaries public can officiate weddings in Palm Beach County. Retired judges can also perform the ceremony.

You can search for recorded Palm Beach County marriage records online through the MyFloridaCounty official records portal. The Florida Department of Health keeps marriage certificates from June 6, 1927 to the present and offers certified copies through their office in Jacksonville or through VitalChek.

Note: The ceremony can take place in any Florida county, not just Palm Beach County, even if you got your license there.

Cities in Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County has several large cities that all use the Palm Beach County Clerk for marriage license services. West Palm Beach is the county seat. You can apply at any clerk location in the county, no matter which city you live in.

Other cities in Palm Beach County include Delray Beach, Jupiter, Lake Worth Beach, and Wellington. All residents file for a marriage license through the Palm Beach County Clerk's office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Palm Beach County. A Florida marriage license is valid for ceremonies in any county statewide.