Search Walton County Marriage License

Walton County marriage license records are managed at the Clerk of the Circuit Court in DeFuniak Springs. The clerk's office on U.S. Highway 90 handles all new marriage license applications and keeps completed records on file after each ceremony. If you live in Walton County or plan to get married in the area, this is where the process begins. Residents from Santa Rosa Beach, Freeport, Paxton, and all other parts of Walton County use this same clerk's office. You can also search for older marriage license records through the clerk or through the state's online portal.

Walton County Clerk of Court Marriage License Office

The Walton County Clerk of the Circuit Court issues all marriage licenses from the courthouse in DeFuniak Springs. Both people must visit the office in person to complete the application. Walton County sits in the Florida panhandle and is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit. Staff at the clerk's office can answer questions and guide you through each step of the marriage license process.

Florida Statute 741.01 gives the clerk sole authority to issue marriage licenses in the county. No other office in Walton County can handle this task. After the wedding, the completed license comes back to this same clerk's office for recording. A copy then goes to the state for permanent storage.

Check the Walton County Clerk website for current office hours and any updates on scheduling requirements.

The office on U.S. Highway 90 East is easy to find. If you are driving from the coast or from a neighboring county, plan for some travel time since DeFuniak Springs sits inland from the beaches.

Getting a Marriage License in Walton County

Both people must appear at the Walton County clerk's office at the same time. Bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport are all accepted. You need your Social Security number for the application, though you do not need to bring the physical card.

Both applicants must be 18 or older under Florida Statute 741.04. A 17-year-old may apply with parental consent from both parents, as long as the other applicant is no more than two years older. If either person was married before, the clerk needs the date that prior marriage ended. You also need to say how it ended and give the state and county where a divorce was filed. Without these details, the Walton County clerk cannot process your application.

The Florida Bar's Family Law Handbook is required reading before you apply. The clerk will ask about it during the application. This guide covers the legal rights and duties that come with marriage in Florida.

Note: No blood test is needed to get a marriage license in Walton County or any other Florida county.

Walton County Marriage License Fees

A marriage license in Walton County costs $86. This fee is the same across all 67 Florida counties. If both people finish a four-hour premarital preparation course, the fee drops to $61. Florida Statute 741.0305 provides the $25 reduction. Bring the original completion certificate to the clerk in DeFuniak Springs when you apply.

The fee is split between the Domestic Violence Trust Fund and the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund. This structure is set by the Florida legislature and does not vary by county. Certified copies of a recorded marriage license cost about $3 each. If the Walton County Clerk offers courthouse ceremonies, the fee is typically $30. Call the office to ask about ceremony options and accepted payment methods. Some clerk offices charge a small fee for credit card payments.

Marriage License Waiting Period in Walton County

Florida residents face a three-day waiting period after the Walton County Clerk issues the license. The license is not valid during those three days. You cannot hold the ceremony until the wait is over.

You can skip this wait. Complete a four-hour premarital course from a provider registered with the Walton County Clerk. Bring the original certificate when you apply. The license becomes valid right away, and you save $25 on the fee. Out-of-state residents have no waiting period at all.

The premarital course covers several practical topics. Communication, conflict management, finances, and parenting are all part of it. Both people can take it together or on their own. Just make sure the provider is approved by the Walton County Clerk's office.

Note: Both people must complete the premarital course for the waiting period to be waived.

After Your Walton County Wedding

A Walton County marriage license is good for 60 days. Florida Statute 741.041 sets this rule. If you do not hold the ceremony within 60 days, the license expires and you must start over with a new application and fee. The ceremony can take place anywhere in Florida. It does not have to be in Walton County.

After the wedding, the person who performed the ceremony sends the signed license back to the Walton County Clerk. The clerk records it and forwards a copy to the Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics. State filing takes about 60 days after the ceremony date.

Under Florida Statute 741.07, ordained ministers, judicial officers, clerks of the circuit court, and notaries public can all officiate a wedding in Walton County. Retired judges can perform ceremonies too.

Copies of Walton County Marriage Records

Recorded marriage licenses are on file at the Walton County Clerk's office in DeFuniak Springs. Request copies in person, by mail, or search online through the MyFloridaCounty official records portal. This portal covers all 67 Florida counties.

The Florida Department of Health keeps marriage certificates from June 6, 1927 to the present. Use VitalChek to order certified copies online. The state search fee is $5 for one year and one copy. For records before 1927, contact the county clerk where the license was first issued.

Cities in Walton County

Walton County includes DeFuniak Springs, Santa Rosa Beach, Freeport, Paxton, and several unincorporated communities along the coast and inland. None of these cities have a population large enough for a dedicated city page. All Walton County residents go to the clerk's office in DeFuniak Springs for marriage license services.

Nearby Counties

Several counties border Walton County in the panhandle region. A Florida marriage license is valid statewide, so you can apply at any county clerk's office.