Missouri How to Perform a Marriage Ceremony in Florida as a Notary

Florida notaries, did you know you can officiate weddings? Only a few states allow this special duty! Before you say "I do" to officiating, make sure you’re aware of the responsibilities.

Revised 8/21/24

One authorized duty for a Florida notary is the ability to perform a marriage ceremony. It is a special duty since only a handful of states allow their notaries to perform marriage ceremonies. Those states are Florida, Maine, Montana, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The duty does come with a few responsibilities that the notary must be aware of before performing the all-important ceremony.

The Marriage License. It is the couple's responsibility to obtain a Florida marriage license from the county Judge or Clerk of Courts office. The license has a 3-day waiting period, unless the couple has completed the Florida pre-marital course, in which case the 3-day waiting period is waived. Be sure to check the effective date before agreeing to a marriage date and before performing the ceremony.

Family members. This is the only notarial duty a Florida notary can perform for a family member.

Fees. Discuss the fee with the couple prior to the ceremony. A Florida notary is allowed to charge $30 for performing the ceremony. Any additional fees, such as time, travel, decorations, etc., must be disclosed ahead of time and provided on a detailed receipt.

Identification. The couple must be properly identified through either satisfactory evidence of identification or personal knowledge.

Now that the logistics have been discussed, it is time for the ceremony. The couple must be present within the State of Florida, in the presence of the notary and witnesses, if applicable, at the time of the ceremony. There are no specific words that must be said to perform a ceremony; however, there must be a verbal exchange between the notary and each person. The notary must feel certain that each person consents to the marriage and that there is no coercion.

Once the ceremony is over, the notary must fill out the Certificate of Marriage portion of the license. Each person must sign the license, as well as any witnesses if they have any, and then stamp the license.

The State of Florida does not require notaries to use a record book; however, if the notary chooses to use one, the couple should sign their record book entry at that time as well.

It is the notary’s responsibility to return the license to the County Clerk's office within 10 days of the ceremony. The license may be hand-delivered or mailed back to the Clerk's Office. The license will usually come with a self-address envelope for return.

NPU sells a Florida Marriage Kit to provide you with the tools you need to properly perform a marriage ceremony in the State of Florida.

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