Won’t be in Key West long enough to get your license? Coming in off of a cruise ship and don’t want to spend time in the courthouse? Coming in too close to a holiday and don’t want to chance that the courthouse will be open? When you are a confirmed client of ours, we’ll tell you how to get your license by mail without the added $100-$200 additional processing fees seen on the internet!
**PLEASE READ** If you do not present us with a valid marriage license from the state of Florida before your wedding, we cannot legally marry you! Obtaining a license is YOUR responsibility. If you don’t present us with a marriage license at the time of your wedding because you don’t have one, there will be NO refunds. If you have any questions about this policy, please ask us.
Please click HERE for a Monroe County Courthouse HOLIDAY CALENDAR through 2020. Should you have any questions about the times the courthouse is open, we suggest you call to be sure! Also below is information on how to obtain an Apostille if you need one. ( US residents do not need an Apostille )
Observed Holidays 2020
New Year’s Day 1/1/2020, Wed
Martin Luther King Jr. Day 1/20/2020, Mon
President’s Day 2/17/2020, Mon
Good Friday 4/10/2020, Fri
Memorial Day 5/25/2020, Mon
Independence Day 7/3/2020, Fri
Labor Day 9/7/2020, Mon
Columbus Day 10/12/2020, Mon
Veteran’s Day 11/11/2020, Wed
Thanksgiving Day 11/26/2020, Thu
Day After Thanksgiving 11/27/2020, Fri
Christmas Day 12/25/2020, Fr
General Information
In Monroe County, the Clerk’s Office is the issuing agent of Marriage License for the State of Florida. The Clerk’s Office provides this service at the following locations:
| Key West Courthouse 500 Whitehead Street (corner of Whitehead & Southard, Lester Bldg.) Key West, FL 33040 305-292-3458 FAX: 305-295-3970 |
Marathon Branch Courthouse 3117 Overseas Highway (48 1/2 Mile Marker Ocean Side) Marathon, FL 33050 305-289-6027 FAX: 305-289-1745 |
Upper Keys Gov’t Center 88820 Overseas Highway (88 1/2 Mile Marker Gulf Side) Plantation Key, FL 33070 305-852-7145 FAX: 305-852-7146 |
Clerk of Court 50 High Point Road Plantation Key, FL 33070 |
ISSUANCE:
Applicant must be eighteen (18) years old to obtain a marriage license. Sixteen (16), and Seventeen (17), year olds must have both parent’s consent. If you are younger, parent’s consent/consent of a County Judge, and proven pregnancy may apply, depending on the age and situation. Both applicants must appear in person at the time of application.
IDENTIFICATION:
Applicant’s must provide a valid picture-type ID, with date of birth shown. (Driver’s License, passport, student ID Card, Military ID, or Alien Registration Card.) There is no residence or citizenship requirement.
PRIOR MARRIAGES:
If either applicant has been previously married, the exact date of the last death, divorce, or annulment must be provided. You should bring a copy of your divorce decree with you at the time of application.
TIME LIMIT:
The license must be used within sixty (60) days from the “effective date”. Below is the effective date criteria:
- If both parties are Florida residents they must both attend a premarital class and present certification of the attendance to the clerk at the time of application. There is no waiting period. If no class is attended, there is a three (3) day waiting period (from the date of issue), before the marriage ceremony may take place. This class must be taken thru an authorized provider listed in Monroe County. Original certificate of completion is required at time of application. List of providers is available upon request.
- If only one of the couples is a Florida resident and the Florida resident takes the course, there is no waiting period.
- If both parties are out of state residents, there is no waiting period.
SOLEMNIZATION:
A marriage may be performed by regularly ordained clergy, judiciary, State of Florida notaries, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and Deputy Clerks.
COST:
A marriage license cost $86.00. The exception is if both parties are Florida residents, have both provided proof of a premarital class cost is then $61.00.
RECORDING OF LICENSE:
After the marriage, the person who performed the ceremony must return the license, within ten (10) days, to the marriage license section, where it will then be recorded in the Official Records. Until that license is received, there is no record of the marriage. After recordation, a certified copy will be returned to the newlyweds, by mail. The original license is sent to the OFFICE OF VITAL STATISTICS in Jacksonville.
The process takes approximately 3 weeks.
Click on the link below for information about obtaining an apostille:
https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/other-services/apostille-notarial-certification/
