Procedure
•The
couple must obtain a valid Florida marriage license from a county court judge
or clerk of the circuit court and present it to the notary public before the
marriage ceremony.
•The
notary public performs the marriage ceremony. An example of a simple, civil
ceremony is printed below. It may be personalized, and the bride and groom may
even exchange their own vows. But, the couple's vows must reflect their
intentions to make a legally binding commitment to each other.
•The
notary public is responsible for making a certificate on the appropriate
portion of the marriage license and returning it to the office of the county
court judge or clerk of the circuit court which issued the license within 10
days after solemnizing the marriage. § 741.08, Fla. Stat.
General Information
•A
Florida notary public may perform a marriage ceremony only within the
geographical boundaries of this state.
•A
notary public may charge up to $20 for solemnizing the rites of matrimony. §§
117.045 & 28.24 (29), Fla. Stat.
•A
notary public may perform a marriage ceremony for a person who is related to
him or her by blood or marriage. The prohibition against notarizing the
signature of a spouse, son, daughter, mother, or father does not apply because
the notary is not notarizing the signature of the bride And groom, but is only certifying that the couple have been joined in
marriage by the notary according to the laws of the State of
Florida. Op. Att‘y Gen. Fla. 91-70 (1991).
•The
notary should check the expiration date of the license to ensure that the
license is still valid.
•The
notary should also require identification if the bride and groom are not
personally known. It is recommended that two
witnesses, other than the notary, sign the marriage certificate in
the event that proof of the marriage
ceremony is necessary in the future.
Sample Ceremony
Notary states,
"Dearly
beloved, we are gathered here today (tonight) to join this man and
this woman in (holy) matrimony."
Exchange of Vows
Notary asks the man, "(his
name), do you take this woman to be your wife, to live together
in (holy) matrimony, to love, honor, comfort her
and keep her in sickness and in health, and
forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall
live?"
Man answers, "I
do."
Notary asks the woman, "(her
name), do you take this man to be your husband, to live
together in (holy) matrimony, to love, honor, comfort
him and keep him in sickness and in health,
and forsaking all others, for as long as you
both shall live?"
Woman answers, "I
do."
Notary states, "Repeat
after me:"
To the man: "I,
(his name), take you (her name ), to be my wife, to have and to hold from this
day forward, for better, for worse, for
richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to
love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
To the woman: "I,
(her name), take you (his name ), to be my husband, to have and to hold
from this day forward, for better for worse, for
richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to
love and to cherish, till death do us part."
Exchange of
Rings
Notary asks the man to place the
ring on the woman's finger and to repeat the following,
"I
give you this ring as a token and pledge of our
constant faith and abiding love." (Repeat the same
for the woman).
Pronouncement
Notary asks the couple to join
hands, then declares, "By virtue of the authority vested
in me under the laws of the State of Florida, I now
pronounce you husband and wife. The bride and groom may now kiss."
For additional question please refer to Governor's Reference Manual. http://www.flgov.com/notary_ref_manual/ or www.AaronNotary.com
