How to Get a Marriage License in Fort Lauderdale (Broward County, FL)

Who issues the license in Broward County

In Florida, marriage licenses are issued by the clerk of the circuit court. Licenses are issued at the county level, not by a city. Fort Lauderdale is the county seat of Broward County, but you do not apply with the city. The same is true if you live in Hollywood or Pembroke Pines, two other cities in the county. Your application goes through the clerk of the circuit court.

You are also not limited to Broward. You may apply at any county's clerk of the circuit court, and the license is valid statewide. If another county is more convenient for the two of you, you can apply there.

What the license costs

The fee is $86. If you are Florida residents and you complete the premarital preparation course, the fee is $61.

Fees can change, and we cannot confirm the exact amount this office charges today. Ask the clerk to confirm the current fee before you go. Ask which payment methods it accepts too, so you do not arrive with one it will not take.

The waiting period

For Florida residents, there is a three-day waiting period. You can waive it by completing a four-hour premarital course from a registered provider. Non-residents have no wait.

That means the course does two things for Florida residents: it lowers the fee to $61 and it waives the three-day wait. If your wedding date is close, that matters. If you are not in a hurry, you can skip the course and wait the three days, though you will pay the higher fee.

Two things to check:

•Whether your course provider is registered. The waiver applies to a registered provider, so confirm this before you pay for a class.

•How the wait applies if one of you is a Florida resident and the other is not. Ask the clerk to confirm this instead of assuming.

How long the license is valid

The license is valid for 60 days from the effective date. Plan your wedding inside that window. If you pick up the license too early, it could expire before the ceremony. If you wait too long to apply, you may run into the waiting period.

When you apply, ask the clerk how the effective date is set on your license, so you can count the 60 days from the right day.

What to confirm with the clerk before you go

We do not have verified details for this office, so call or check with the clerk of the circuit court before you make the trip. Ask about:

•The street address of the office you plan to visit

•Phone number and opening hours

•Whether you need an appointment or can walk in

•Accepted payment methods

•The exact fee, with and without the premarital course

•What documents each of you needs to bring

•Whether both of you must be there in person

It also helps to settle a few things between you first:

1.Are you both Florida residents, or is one of you from out of state?

2.Do you want to take the premarital course, or would you rather pay the higher fee and wait three days?

3.What date do you want to marry, and does it fall inside the 60-day window once you have the license?

Once you have those answers and the clerk has confirmed the rest, you can apply with no surprises at the counter.

Broward County marriage licenses, by the numbers

486 marriage licenses were filed in Broward County in the last 30 days and 4,446 in the last 12 months; the newest filing we hold is dated 2026-09-29. Month-by-month counts and the public record are on the Broward County marriage license page.

State rules checked against [Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court — Marriage Licenses](https://www.miamidadeclerk.gov/clerk/marriage-licenses.page). Fees and procedures change — the clerk of the circuit court has the final word. General information, not legal advice.