Wakulla County Marriage License

Wakulla County marriage license applications go through the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Crawfordville. The clerk's office on Crawfordville Highway handles every step of the process, from accepting new applications to recording completed licenses after the ceremony. Couples who live in Wakulla County or want to get married in this part of the Florida panhandle start at this office. All communities in the county, including Sopchoppy, St. Marks, and Panacea, use the Crawfordville courthouse for marriage license needs. You can also search for past marriage license records through the clerk's office.

Wakulla County Clerk Marriage License Services

The Wakulla County Clerk of the Circuit Court is the only office in the county that can issue a marriage license. The office sits on Crawfordville Highway and serves all of Wakulla County. Staff there can guide you through filling out the application form and paying the fee. Both applicants must be present at the same time.

Wakulla County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit. The clerk follows Florida Statute 741.01, which gives the clerk sole authority to issue marriage licenses in the county. No other office or agency in Wakulla County can handle this for you. The clerk also records completed licenses and keeps them on file at the courthouse for public access.

If you need to reach the Wakulla County Clerk before your visit, call the number below. They can tell you what to bring and let you know about current wait times or scheduling needs.

The MyFloridaCounty portal provides online access to official records in Wakulla County and all other Florida counties.

How to Apply for a Wakulla County Marriage License

Visit the Wakulla County clerk's office with the person you plan to marry. Both of you must show up at the same time. Bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, or passport will work. You also need to provide your Social Security number on the application, but you do not have to bring the physical card with you.

Under Florida Statute 741.04, both applicants must be at least 18 years old. A 17-year-old can apply with written consent from both parents, but the other person must be no more than two years older. If either person was married before, you need to tell the clerk when and how that marriage ended. Was it by divorce, death, or annulment? The clerk also needs the state and county where a divorce took place.

Before your visit, review the Family Law Handbook published by the Florida Bar. The Wakulla County clerk will ask if you have read it during the application process.

Note: No blood test is needed for a marriage license in Wakulla County.

Marriage License Fees in Wakulla County

The standard marriage license fee in Wakulla County is $86. This is the same fee charged by every clerk's office in Florida. Take a four-hour premarital preparation course and the fee goes down to $61. Florida Statute 741.0305 provides this $25 reduction when both people complete an approved course and bring their original certificates to the clerk.

Part of the $86 goes to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund. Another part goes to the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund. The Florida legislature sets these splits. Certified copies of a recorded marriage license typically cost about $3 each from the Wakulla County Clerk. Call ahead to ask about accepted payment methods.

Note: Some clerks add a small processing fee for credit card payments, so you may want to bring cash or a check.

Wakulla County Marriage License Waiting Period

Florida residents face a three-day wait after the clerk issues the marriage license. This applies in Wakulla County just like every other county. The license cannot be used until three full days pass from the date it was issued.

Skip the wait by finishing a four-hour premarital course from a provider registered with the Wakulla County Clerk. Bring the original certificate when you apply. The license becomes effective right away. You also save $25 on the fee. The course covers communication skills, managing conflict, handling finances, and parenting responsibilities. Both people can take it together or separately. Out-of-state residents do not have to wait at all, regardless of whether they take a course.

After the Ceremony in Wakulla County

Your Wakulla County marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. Under Florida Statute 741.041, the ceremony must happen within this window or the license expires. If it lapses, you need to apply again and pay a new fee.

After the wedding, the signed license goes back to the Wakulla County Clerk. The person who officiated the ceremony usually takes care of this. The clerk records the license and forwards a copy to the Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics. State-level filing takes roughly 60 days. Until then, you can still get copies from the Wakulla County Clerk directly.

Florida Statute 741.07 lists who can perform a wedding. Ordained ministers, judges (including retired judges), notaries public, and clerks of the circuit court all qualify. You can hold the ceremony anywhere in Florida, not just in Wakulla County.

Copies of Wakulla County Marriage Records

The Wakulla County Clerk keeps recorded marriage licenses at the courthouse in Crawfordville. Request copies in person or by mail. You can also search for recorded documents through the MyFloridaCounty official records portal online.

The Florida Department of Health holds marriage certificates from June 6, 1927 to the present. You can order certified copies from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville or through VitalChek. The state search fee is $5 for one year and one copy. Additional copies cost $4. Records before 1927 must be requested from the county clerk where the license was originally issued.

Cities in Wakulla County

Wakulla County includes the communities of Crawfordville, Sopchoppy, St. Marks, and Panacea. None of these cities are large enough for a dedicated city page. All Wakulla County residents go to the clerk's office on Crawfordville Highway for marriage license services. It is the sole location in the county for this purpose.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Wakulla County. A marriage license from any Florida county is valid for use statewide, so you can pick the clerk's office that works best for you.