THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT AND

COUNTY COMPTROLLER OFFERS

TWO OFFICES TO SERVE YOU:

Sarasota Historic Courthouse 2000 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34230

Robert L. Anderson Administration Center

4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice, FL 34293

Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.SarasotaClerk.com

941.861.7400

01/09/2019

ADDITIONAL FAQS…………. Karen E. Rushing

Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller

F r e qu e n t l y A s k e d Q ue s t i o ns

The Robert L. Anderson pond in Venice, FL, offers a bright, casual setting for weddings.

Front cover: Sarasota County’s Historic Courthouse on Main and US 301, Sarasota FL.

WHERE CAN I GET A COPY OF MY MARRIAGE LICENSE?

Marriage licenses recorded in Sarasota County can be viewed on SarasotaClerk.com, under Marriage License Records. Uncertified copies may be printed for free from your own computer. Certified copies may be obtained from the Clerk's Public records Department. If your license was issued in another county or state, you must search the rec-ords in that county or state.

I’M 17 YEARS OLD. CAN I STILL GET MARRIED? Certain restrictions apply for those under 18 years old.

must be a t least 18 years old to apply without parental consent; applicants under 18, but at least 17 years old, may only marry a person who is no more than two years older. For any applicant who is 17 years of age, a birth certificate and proof of identification along with notarized written consent of parents or guardian. Consent forms are available at the Clerk’s office.

RESOURCES………………….

Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Statistics www.floridahealth.gov/certificates/certificates Visit Sarasota Visitors Center Information (941) 706-1253 www.visitsarasota.org Email: info@visitsarasota.org

The Historic Courtroom, located in Sarasota, creates a stunning wedding backdrop .

Getting MARRIED

IN SARASOTA, FL

A GUIDE TO

p r e m a r i t a l c o u r s e s , f e e s , t h e a p p l i c a t i o n

p r o c e s s , g e t t i n g m a r r i e d a t t h e c o u r t h o u s e ,

a n d m o r e .

Congrats! You’re engaged, and you have a lot

of decisions to make. The Clerk of the Circuit Court and

County Comptroller’s office is here to help you as you

prepare for the big event. WHERE SHOULD WE GO TO APPLY FOR A MARRIAGE

LICENSE? Both applicants must visit the Clerk and

Comptroller’s office, either in Sarasota or in Venice. You

must apply in person, together, and bring your driver’s

license, passport, or state-issued Identification card. If

either person was married before, the exact date and

manner in which the last marriage ended is required.

HOW DO WE APPLY? Couples use the e-Marriage

Self-Service Application to read the Marriage Handbook,

then electronically complete and submit the application.

This method provides a quick and efficient option to

navigate you through the process.

IS OUR MARRIAGE LICENSE ONLY VALID IN SARASOTA? No,

it may be used anywhere in the State of Florida. Once

married, you must return it for recording to the county

where it was purchased. It is not valid in another state.

Marriage License FAQ—Frequently Asked Questions

Karen E. Rushing, the Sarasota County Clerk and Comptroller, is honored to be a part of your wedding plans. Whether you are a Florida resident, or have chosen Sarasota County as a destination wedding, this pamphlet will give you an overview of the requirements and steps to take before—and after—your wedding day .

WE’RE GETTING MARRIED! WHAT SHOULD WE DO FIRST? Go to SarasotaClerk.com to learn about required documents and current fees. If one or both applicants are Florida residents who voluntarily complete the State of Florida-approved premarital provider course, the state offers a reduced marriage license fee and waives the three-day waiting period. Simply present a printed copy of the course completion certificate, (including the name of the provider and number of hours attended ) with your license application.

IS READING THE MARRIAGE HANDBOOK THE SAME AS

ATTENDING A PREMARITAL COURSE? No.

WHERE CAN WE FIND A LIST OF REGISTERED

PREMARITAL COURSE PROVIDERS? The list of providers

is available on SarasotaClerk.com.

WE ARE FROM OUT OF STATE. HOW DO WE APPLY FOR A MARRIAGE LICENSE HERE? If neither applicant is a Florida resident, state law does not offer a reduction in the license filing fee, but the three-day waiting period is waived. Otherwise, the process is the same.

IS A BLOOD TEST, OR ARE WITNESSES NECESSARY? No.

DOES THE CLERK OF COURT PROVIDE FOREIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS? No. Since both applicants will be making a sworn affidavit, you must bring your own interpreter if either party does not sufficiently understand when the Deputy Clerk is giving the oath.

DOES THE CLERK PROVIDE SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS? Yes. If you are deaf, or hard of hearing, contact our office so that a sign language interpreter is made available to you.

CAN WE GET MARRIED AT THE COURTHOUSE? Of course! Multiple locations are available, with ceremonies held either at the beautiful Historic Courthouse in Sarasota, or at the Robert L. Anderson Center in Venice. There is an additional fee for this service, available Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. , with no appointment necessary. DOES OUR LICENSE EXPIRE? Your license is valid for sixty days from the date you applied. WHAT SHOULD WE DO AFTER THE CEREMONY? Once you are married and the license has been executed, return it to the Clerk of the Court within 10 days, in person or by mail. You will then receive a certified copy of the marriage certificate, which you will need for proof of marriage (for name change or legal purposes). The original will be filed into the Official Record, electronically recorded, then forwarded to the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Statistics for permanent records keeping.

The Marriage Parlor’s vintage décor offers an intimate spot to say I Do.

Thousands of

wedding

ceremonies take

place each year at

the 1927 Historic

Courthouse in

downtown

Sarasota, FL.

Restored numerous

times—most recent-

ly in 2018—and

added to the U.S.

National Register of

Historic Places in

1984, the court-

house is an

icon of Sarasota

County’s history,

and its architecture

is enjoyed by resi-

dents and visitors

alike.