What a couple needs to get a Florida marriage license before a Palm Beach wedding: where to apply, the three-day wait for residents, and how out-of-state couples skip it.
Any Florida county clerk can issue a marriage license valid anywhere in the state, so most couples apply at the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Both applicants generally appear together, in person, with valid government-issued photo ID; there is no blood test and no Florida residency requirement.
Florida imposes a three-day waiting period between application and the effective date — but it applies only to Florida residents who have not completed a registered premarital preparation course. Out-of-state couples are exempt from the wait entirely, which is what makes Palm Beach so friendly to destination weddings. Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days and must be used within that window.
The license fee is in the range of roughly $86, reduced for Florida residents who complete an approved premarital course. Fees, hours, accepted documents and any divorce-decree requirements change, so confirm the current details with the Palm Beach County Clerk before you travel, and remember the officiant returns the signed license to the clerk after the ceremony.