Marriage Q &
A
Some questions regarding the solemnization of marriage may require legal advice. If
the following questions and answers do not address your concerns, you or your
customers may need to seek the advice of an attorney.
Q: My son's wedding next month will be performed by a Notary Public. Is a marriage
ceremony performed by a Notary Public of the State of Florida "legal and binding"?
A: There are many factors which determine the validity of a marriage. Assuming, though,
that the Florida Notary Public is duly appointed and commissioned at the time of the
ceremony, that both the bride and the groom are qualified to be joined in marriage, that
the couple have obtained the required Florida marriage license, and that the marriage
ceremony is performed in Florida, the marriage would be "legal and binding." Florida
law will presume a marriage to be legal until otherwise shown.
Q: Does Florida require blood tests prior to the issuance of a marriage license?
A: No.
Q: Does Florida recommend any premarital counseling prior to the issuance of a
marriage license?
A: Yes. During the 1998 Legislative Session, the Legislature passed the "Marriage
Preparation and Preservation Act of 1998" in an effort to strengthen marriages, make
stronger families, children and communities, and reduce the divorce rate. See Chapter 98-
403, Laws of Florida. The Act recommends the completion of a premarital preparation
course of not less than 4 hours taught by a provider who has been approved by the Clerk
of the Circuit Court.
The course may be completed by personal instruction or by video/electronic instruction.
Providers must furnish a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the course, which
should be submitted to the Clerk's Office when applying for a marriage license. For those
couples who voluntarily complete this premarital preparation course, the state offers a
reduced marriage license fee and no waiting period.
Additionally, the Legislature has authorized the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar
to create a handbook explaining those sections of Florida law pertaining to the rights and
responsibilities of marital partners to each other and to their children, both during a
marriage and upon dissolution.
NOTE: For additional information about the premarital preparation course and
providers in your area, or the family law handbook, please contact the Clerk of the
Circuit Court, Marriage Division, in your county.
Q: Is there a waiting period for the issuance of the marriage license?
A: Yes. Effective January 1, 1999, there is a 3-day delay in the effective date of the
marriage license if the couple does not participate in a premarital preparation course
meeting the requirements specified in law and whose provider is registered with the Clerk
of the Circuit Court. Exceptions to the delayed effective date must be granted to non-
Florida residents seeking a marriage license from the state and for individuals asserting
hardship who have been granted a waiver by a county court judge.
Q: What is the county/state fee for obtaining a marriage license?
A: Florida law specifies that the marriage license fee is $88.50. For all couples who
complete the premarital preparation course, there is a reduction of $32.50, making the
marriage license cost $56.00 for these couples.
Q: Occasionally, when I am scheduled to perform a marriage ceremony, the bride and
groom forget to bring their marriage license with them to the ceremony. What should I do
in this instance?
A: The law states that the official "shall require of the parties a marriage license" before
the solemnization of the marriage. That means that you should take possession of the
marriage license before you perform the ceremony. Remember, you must also complete
your portion and return the Marriage Record to the county for recording. If the couple
forgets their marriage license or has not yet obtained a license, you may not solemnize
the marriage.
Q: Is a Florida Notary Public authorized to perform a marriage ceremony outside the
state, or may a Notary from another state perform a marriage ceremony in Florida?
A: No. Florida is one of only three states (the other two are South Carolina and Maine)
which authorize their Notaries Public to "solemnize the rites of matrimony." A Florida
Notary may perform a marriage ceremony providing the couple first obtain a marriage
license from an authorized Florida official and may only perform a ceremony within the
geographical boundaries of Florida. Thus, a Florida Notary may not perform a marriage
ceremony in another state. Additionally, a Notary from another state, including South
Carolina and Maine, may not perform a marriage ceremony in Florida. And, a Florida
notary may not marry a couple who has obtained a marriage license from another state.
Q: May a Notary Public solemnize the marriage of two individuals when one party is not
physically present, but participates in the ceremony via telephone or video transmission,
or when one of the parties is not present and another individual represents that person in
the ceremony, i.e., "marriage by proxy"?
A: No. Florida law does not allow marriage by proxy. Both parties must be physically
present before the Notary Public for the solemnization of the marriage. The Notary
should properly identify both parties prior to the ceremony.
Q: May I perform the marriage ceremony for a member of my family, specifically my
daughter?
A: Yes. You may perform a marriage ceremony for a person who is related by blood or
marriage. The prohibition against notarizing the signature of a spouse, son, daughter,
mother, or father does not apply because you are not notarizing the signature of the bride
and groom. You are only certifying that the couple have been joined in marriage
according to the laws of the State of Florida. See Attorney General Opinion, 91-70 (1991)
below.
Q: My fiance and I would like to have a special friend who lives in another state come to
Florida to perform our marriage ceremony. Would that be acceptable if we have a Notary
Public witness the ceremony and sign the license?
A: No. Florida law provides that only certain officials are authorized to solemnize
marriage. Your friend may participate in the ceremony, for instance, by providing an
inspirational message or prayer; but the vows and pronouncement should be done by an
official authorized to solemnize marriage in Florida.
Q: What officials are authorized in Florida to perform a marriage ceremony?
A: Section 741.07, Florida Statutes, provides that the following persons are authorized to
solemnize matrimony:
State judicial
officers (judges)
Notaries Public
Retired state
judicial officers
Federal judges
serving in a
court with
jurisdiction over
a part of this
state
Regularly
ordained
ministers of the
Gospel, elders,
or other
ordained clergy,
if in good
standing with
his or her
affiliate church
or denomination
Clerks and
Deputy Clerks
of the Circuit
Court
Designated
members of the
Society of
Friends
(Quakers)
The following officials are not authorized to perform marriage in Florida:
State Attorneys Judges of
Compensation
Claims
Administrative
Law Judges
Persons in these positions are not judicial officers of this state.
Q: What fee may I charge when performing a marriage ceremony?
A: The law provides that you may charge the same fee for solemnizing matrimony as the
Clerks of the Circuit Court charge for the same service. That fee is set by law and is
currently $20. Many Notaries provide additional services related to the wedding, such as
flowers, reception, photographer, etc., and have a right to be compensated for these
services. If you charge for extras, we recommend that you provide your customers with
an itemized list of charges before the wedding ceremony in order to prevent any
misunderstanding about your fees.
Q: When "solemnizing the rites of matrimony," is it acceptable for the Notary Public to
complete the marriage certificate without actually performing a marriage ceremony?
A: No. Completing the marriage certificate portion of the Marriage Record is not the
same act as performing the marriage ceremony. Actually, the certificate is your way of
certifying that you solemnized the marriage. You should not falsely certify that a
ceremony was performed when, in fact, one was not.
The ceremony does not have to be in any particular form. Any form of ceremony to
solemnize a marriage that the parties choose ordinarily suffices, as long as both parties
agree to the marriage and make a legally binding commitment to each other. A marriage
ceremony is usually performed for the sake of notoriety and certainty and must be
conducted by a person authorized by law to perform the ceremony.
Q: Should I perform a marriage ceremony if it appears that the bride or groom is not
mentally capable of understanding his or her actions at the time of the ceremony? What if
I suspect that the bride or groom is not a willing party to the marriage? What if one of the
parties appears intoxicated or under the influence of some mind/behavior- altering
substance?
A: As a Notary Public, you are not expected to make a legal determination or a medical
evaluation of a person's mental competency; but, you should be use your own common
sense to determine that both parties are willing participants and are mentally capable of
entering into the marriage at the time of the ceremony. If you have any doubt about the
willingness or mental state of either party, you must refuse to solemnize the marriage.
Q: May I solemnize the marriage of a couple when one of the parties is under the age of
18?
A: Yes, providing the couple produces a valid Florida marriage license signed and sealed
by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and providing that you have no reason to suspect that
the marriage license was obtained by fraud. If either or both parties are minors, parental
consent is required. It is the responsibility of the bride and groom to provide the proper
documentation to the Clerk's Office when they apply for the marriage license.
Q: Is a Notary Public permitted to perform a marriage ceremony for two persons of the
same sex?
A: No. Florida law prohibits same-sex marriages. A Notary Public or other authorized
person may not perform a marriage ceremony without a marriage license issued in
accordance with the requirements set forth in Chapter 741 of the Florida Statutes. The
law provides that a marriage license may not be issued unless:
•
both parties sign an affidavit reciting their true and correct ages,
•
both parties meet the age requirement or comply with the special provisions set
forth for those individuals under the age of 18, and
•
one party is male and the other party is female.
Thus, Florida Notaries may not perform a marriage ceremony for two persons of the
same sex. If you choose to participate in an unofficial ceremony "uniting" two persons of
the same sex, you must not do so in your official capacity as a Notary Public of the State
of Florida.
Q: I recently read educational materials from an organization which stated that, as a
Notary Public, I am not allowed to refuse to perform notarial services when asked. Must I
solemnize a marriage if I have a religious conviction against doing so?
A: No. You have the right to refuse to perform notary services for any number of reasons,
including your own religious convictions. Of course, you should never exercise your
authority in a discriminatory manner.
Q: Are witnesses required to sign the marriage certificate?
A: Although the marriage certificate has spaces for two witnesses to sign, witnesses are
not specifically required by law. However, it is recommended that two witnessess, other
than the Notary, sign the marriage certificate in the event that proof of the marriage
ceremony is necessary in the future. Remember, though, you are not notarizing the
signatures of the witnesses.
Q: May I perform a marriage ceremony in a different county than the one where the
marriage license was issued?
A: Yes. A Florida marriage license is good in any county in Florida. However, after the
marriage is solemnized, the license must be returned to the county that issued it for
recording.
Q: May I perform a marriage ceremony while aboard a ship?
A: Yes - as long as the ship is in Florida waters at the time of the ceremony. The legal
definition of "Florida waters" is somewhat complex, but is generally stated as three
geographic miles from the coastline seaward on the Atlantic Ocean and nine geographic
miles from the coastline seaward on the Gulf of Mexico. Determining the exact location
of the ship is best left to the captain or someone qualified to make that judgment.
Many cruise ships prefer to conduct marriage ceremonies while safely docked in a
Florida port. Then, the wedding party enjoys celebrating after the ship sails. Whether on a
cruise ship or a private vessel, you should ensure that you are in Florida waters at the
time of the marriage ceremony.
Q: May I participate in a ceremony for the renewal of marriage vows?
A: The renewal of marriage vows is not an official duty of a Notary Public. No marriage
license is required because no marriage is taking place. This type of ceremony is usually
done as part of a celebration of a wedding anniversary or as a recommitment by the
parties to each other without any legal effect. You may participate in a renewal
ceremony, but not in your official capacity as a Notary Public.
