Washington County Marriage License Records

Washington County marriage license applications are processed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Chipley. The clerk's office on Jackson Avenue is the sole place in the county to apply for a new marriage license or look up an existing record. Couples from every part of Washington County, including Vernon, Wausau, and Ebro, use this same courthouse. The clerk processes applications, files completed licenses, and sends copies to the state after each ceremony. If you need a marriage license in this part of the Florida panhandle, the Chipley courthouse is your starting point.

Washington County Clerk Marriage License Office

The Washington County Clerk of the Circuit Court handles all marriage license applications at the courthouse in Chipley. This is the only location in Washington County where couples can apply. Staff at the office will walk you through the form, collect the fee, and issue the license once everything checks out. Both people must be present at the same time.

Washington County is part of Florida's 14th Judicial Circuit. Under Florida Statute 741.01, the clerk is the only person in the county who can issue a marriage license. After the wedding ceremony, the completed license comes back to this office for recording. The clerk files it and sends a copy to the Florida Department of Health for permanent state records.

Visit the Washington County Clerk's website for office hours and updates. Calling ahead is a good idea if you want to make sure the office is open when you plan to visit.

How to Apply for a Washington County Marriage License

Go to the Washington County clerk's office in Chipley with the person you plan to marry. Both of you must be there together. Bring a valid photo ID. Driver's license, passport, or state ID all work. You need to provide your Social Security number on the form, but the card itself is not required. Under Florida Statute 741.04, both people must be at least 18.

A 17-year-old may apply with consent from both parents, but the other person must be no more than two years older. If you were married before, tell the clerk how and when that marriage ended. Divorce, death, or annulment are the options. The clerk also needs the state and county of the divorce. Without this information, your Washington County application will not move forward.

Review the Family Law Handbook before your visit. The Florida Bar publishes it in English, Spanish, and Creole. The Washington County clerk will ask if you have read it.

Washington County Marriage License Fees

The fee for a marriage license in Washington County is $86. This is the same price in every Florida county. Complete a four-hour premarital preparation course and the cost drops to $61. That is a $25 savings under Florida Statute 741.0305. Bring the original course certificate to the Chipley courthouse when you apply.

The $86 fee is divided between the Domestic Violence Trust Fund and the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund. These allocations come from the Florida legislature and are the same in all 67 counties. Certified copies of a recorded license cost about $3 each from the Washington County Clerk.

Call the Washington County Clerk at (850) 638-6009 to ask about accepted payment methods. Cash is always an option. Some offices charge a small processing fee for credit card use.

Note: If the clerk performs a courthouse ceremony in Washington County, the fee is typically around $30.

Washington County Marriage License Waiting Period

Florida residents must wait three days after the marriage license is issued. This applies in Washington County and every other county. The license is not valid for those three days. You cannot get married until the waiting period ends.

Skip the wait by finishing a four-hour premarital course. Use a provider registered with the Washington County Clerk's office. Bring the original completion certificate when you apply. The license becomes valid the same day, and you save $25 on the fee. Out-of-state residents have no wait at all.

The course covers communication, conflict resolution, financial management, and parenting topics. Both people can take it together or separately. Make sure the provider is on the approved list for Washington County, or the certificate will not be accepted.

After Your Washington County Wedding

Under Florida Statute 741.041, a marriage license is valid for 60 days from the issue date. Hold the ceremony within that window or the license expires. If it does expire, you must apply again in Washington County with a new fee. The ceremony can take place in any Florida county.

The person who performs the wedding returns the signed license to the Washington County Clerk. The clerk records it and sends a copy to the Bureau of Vital Statistics. State-level filing takes about 60 days after the ceremony. Your first certified copy is usually included with the original license fee.

Florida Statute 741.07 lists who can perform a wedding. Ordained ministers, judges, notaries public, and clerks of the circuit court all qualify. Retired judicial officers can officiate too. You have plenty of options for who can run your ceremony in Washington County or elsewhere in Florida.

Note: The officiant should send the signed license back to the Washington County Clerk within 10 days of the ceremony.

Get Copies of Washington County Marriage Records

The Washington County Clerk has recorded marriage licenses on file at the Chipley courthouse. You can get copies in person or send a request by mail. The MyFloridaCounty portal lets you search recorded documents in Washington County and other counties online.

Marriage certificates from June 6, 1927 forward are also on file with the Florida Department of Health. Order copies from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville, or use VitalChek to order online. The state search fee is $5 for one calendar year and one certified copy. Records before 1927 must come directly from the county clerk where the license was first filed.

Cities in Washington County

Washington County includes Chipley, Vernon, Wausau, Ebro, and Caryville. None of these cities have a population large enough for a dedicated city page. All Washington County residents use the clerk's office on Jackson Avenue in Chipley for marriage license applications and records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Washington County in the panhandle. You can apply for a marriage license at any Florida county clerk, since the license is valid statewide.