Getting married in Florida: no wait for non-residents, 3 days for residents, and a notary can officiate
In Florida, the waiting period depends on whether you are a Florida resident: residents wait 3 days after getting the Marriage License, unless they have taken a premarital course; non-residents have no waiting period. The license is valid for 60 days and can be used anywhere in Florida. A Florida notary public can also officiate a wedding, which is unlike most states. If you need to register the marriage in Taiwan, a certificate issued in Florida is authenticated by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Miami.
The details below use Duval County's (Jacksonville) official page as the example; for fees and application procedures in other counties, go by each county's website.
Requirements and ID
Duval County's rules (Duval County Clerk of Courts, checked 2026-10-23):
- Both of you must apply together in person.
- Bring valid government photo ID showing your correct legal name, date of birth and signature, such as a driver's license, passport, state ID or alien registration card. The page lists passports but says nothing specific about foreign passports.
- You must provide your Social Security number (SSN), but don't need to bring the card. Non-US citizens with an SSN give the SSN, those with an alien registration number give that number, and those with neither may need to show additional ID.
- If you were married before, give the exact date of your most recent divorce, spouse's death or annulment; you don't need to hand in the documents themselves.
- The Duval County Courthouse takes walk-ins only; the Beaches branch takes walk-ins, or you can complete the online pre-application and then book an appointment.
For other points for foreigners applying, see foreigners marrying in the US.
Fees and the premarital course
- Standard fee: US$86; with proof of a premarital course, it drops to US$61.
- Payment: cash, postal money order or cashier's check (payable to Duval County Clerk of Courts); credit cards carry a 3.5% surcharge; no personal checks.
- The premarital course must be completed within one year before applying, both of you must take it, and you hand in the certificate when you apply; it must come from a course provider registered in Duval County, as the county itself doesn't run courses.
Duval County's page is inconsistent on one point: the FAQ says the premarital course discount is only for Florida residents, while another section says it applies to both residents and non-residents. If you are a non-resident planning to use the discount, call first to confirm.
Waiting period and validity
- Florida residents: wait 3 days after getting the license; waived with proof of a premarital course.
- Non-residents: no waiting period.
- Valid for 60 days. A license issued by any Florida county can be used for a wedding anywhere in Florida; it cannot be used in another state or abroad.
For a comparison across states, see the official rules checked for 9 states.
Who can officiate, and the 10-day return
Under the Florida law cited by Duval County, the following can officiate a wedding:
- Ordained clergy and elders of a church.
- All Florida judges.
- Florida notaries public.
- Quakers may marry according to the customs of their community.
A notary here is a US notary public, which is not the same system as a court "notarized marriage" in Taiwan; in Florida, what counts legally is still whether the license was returned and recorded after the ceremony.
The license must be returned to the Clerk's office within 10 days after the ceremony; the officiant bears final responsibility, but anyone can return it on their behalf.
Certified copies and registering in Taiwan
- For Duval County records from 1988 onward, you can download uncertified copies online for free; for certified copies, apply to the Official Records and Research department (Room 1253, or call 904-255-2025). For licenses issued by other counties, apply to that county.
- Authentication uses up one certified copy, so order several at once (see item 10 of the checklist).
- Documents issued in Florida, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and nearby areas are authenticated by TECO in Miami (jurisdiction table from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US, checked 2026-10-22). We did not find the Miami office's official page on authentication fees, payment methods and processing times this time, so go by the office's website.
For the full steps to register in Taiwan and the 30-day deadline, see registering a US marriage in Taiwan in five steps; for a comparison of offices, see which TECO office to send your marriage certificate to.
Common questions
If I'm not a Florida resident, is there a wait to marry in Florida?
No. Duval County states that non-residents have no waiting period; Florida residents wait 3 days, unless they have taken a premarital course.
How long is a Florida marriage license valid?
60 days, usable anywhere in Florida, but not in another state or abroad.
Can a Florida notary marry us?
Yes. Under the Florida law cited by Duval County, a Florida notary public can officiate a wedding, and the license must be returned to the Clerk's office within 10 days after the ceremony.
Florida's waiting period, the 10-day return and registering in Taiwan are all on the timeline in the My Wedding Plan checklist: confirming the recording is item 9, certified copies item 10, and registering in Taiwan item 15. The checklist has a free version, and you can start without giving an email address.
Sources (checked 2026-10-23)
- Duval County Clerk of Courts: Marriage License (checked 2026-10-23)
- Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States: Office jurisdictions (checked 2026-10-22)