3 Weeks - Have We Left it Too Late!?
 

We have been planning to get married when we visit Orlando in August, but have not been organised and now fear it could be too late? 3 weeks -1 day in fact.

Our original plan was to apply for the licence by email, then get married on our 2nd day in Florida, most likely either at the Secret Garden in Longwood, or the Chapel of Love in Eustis. There will be only us and our 2 kids, and we want to keep it cheap, quick and informal but in pleasant surroundings!

I hadn't taken into account having to get "notaries" to sign the licence, and the additional time (& cost) this could take. Are these Notaries lawyers who you have to pay to vouch for you? Even though they don't know you? I've used a friend who's a J.P. for passports previously.

Am I right in thinking if we go to a courthouse on our first day, we don't need either notaries or witnesses? We just pay the $100 odd fee and sign the papers and we are then ready to get married the next day?

I'm going to contact both venues anyway, but I know Dibbers are always very helpful and some of you have been through practically identical processes.

Any help gratefully received!

Yes that's exactly what you do. Any courthouse in Florida can issue it. You just need your passports and the cash.
Theresa at the chapel in Eustis is lovely , we are getting married there in September and she was great. Really nice lady , just give her a call.

However you can't get married the next day ,there's a three day waiting period ! So yes you can do it but you can't do it on your Second day .

I think this is for Florida residents only?

Unless it’s changed since we married there 14 years ago, we could have actually married the day we got our licence at the courthouse if we wanted. Florida residents couldn’t though.

OP we didn’t need any notaries or witnesses. Just us filing in the paperwork at the courthouse and just us and the minister and photographers when we got married.

Thanks for the help everyone - it seems like we could be in luck!

One more question - I take it that the woman's name doesn't change when the wedding has been conducted. This would be something we would or could get done when we're back in the UK? So the passport will be unaffected by name change? What about marital status? Isn't that on passports, and does it not matter for the sake of the return flight?

The flight ticket needs to match the passport name.

I left my passport in my maiden name for many years after I married until it was due for renewal, as I didn't want to have to pay the price to change the name on it, so I just left it until it came round for renewal and then did it. I just booked flight tickets in my maiden name until the point it actually renewed.

Passports don't detail marital status.

There is no law stating you must change you name once married, you can remain miss/ms "Smith" for life or become Mrs "Jones"for personal affairs & Miss Smith professionally which has become common esp when your name is linked to your profession. ie Dr Smith.

Sorry the other posters are correct . We were originally getting married in a different state and that did have a waiting period, apologies.

My passport expired this month and we get married in September, I doubt I'll bother paying getting the name changed when we get back (mind you I probably will only use my married name socially and keep my existing surname for work anyway ... not really decided for sure yet)
It's not a legal requirement to take your spouse's name anyway (my partner doesn't mind either way though I realise for some husbands it is something they'd mind)

The name change is only if you want it to. I use my married name everywhere but at work for security reasons and its no issues. My passport is now in my married name but also has a note in it saying my maiden name is used for professional purposes.