| Obtaining a Marriage License and changing your name on official documents in Dade County Florida |
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What You Need to Know Official documents are important. Be sure that they are all up to date at the beginning of your new life. If they are done in an organized and efficient fashion, then the rest of your life will be too!
Obtaining a Marriage License As of January 1, 1999 persons wishing to be married must:
Before your wedding day, you need to obtain a marriage license. The license is valid for 60 days. Where: Marriage License Bureau at County Clerk's Office. Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a - 5 p except weekends and holidays. Dade Offices: 140 West Flagler Street, Room # 1503 15555 Biscayne Boulevard 1130 Washington Avenue, Room # 224 3100 Ponce de Leon Boulevard 5400 NW 22 Avenue 10710 SW 211 Street, Room # 1200 Offices are usually very busy. Allow 1 to 2 hours waiting time. The best time to go is early morning, before 9:00 a. Appointments are not available. No blood tests are necessary in the State of Florida. If you are unsure about anything, contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court and they can direct you to the person or department that can help. Both You and Your Fiancé Must
Responsibilities at the Ceremony Your Responsibility Present your license to the ceremony officiant. Officiant's Responsibility Mailing the official marriage license to the Clerk of the Circuit Court where it will be registered and notarized. The Process Allow 3 to 4 weeks for your license to be returned to you. You will not be able to change your name on anything official, e.g., bank accounts, credit card accounts, loans, mortgages, etc., without this license. Make Copies Once you have received your official marriage license, you should make about 10 copies so that you may send them to the various accounts that you might be changing your name on. You need to have your official marriage license before you can change any accounts. What Happens at the Ceremony Wedding Day Ceremony Sequence - The Officiant:
Changing your name on bank accounts, credit cards, driver's license and Passports Obtaining a New Social Security Card
Credit Cards Each credit card company will require a copy of the official marriage license to be sent to them. Call each company first and they will give you an address where you should send the copy. Typically, they will issue you a new card within seven to ten business days upon receipt of a copy of your license. Bank Accounts, Mortgages, and Loans Banks require you to provide them with the official marriage license in order to change the name on your accounts. You will have go in to the bank personally. This is a simple process, but speak with a customer service representative, not the teller at the window. How to Obtain a New Driver's License Obtain a new driver's license at the Division of Motor Vehicles. In Dade County call the main phone number (305) 229-6333 and they will direct you to the closest office. The office hours are 7:00 a to 5:00 p - Tuesday through Friday. If you go before 9:00 .0, an appointment is not necessary. Any time after, without an appointment, you may have to wait up to 1 hour or more. Your original marriage license is necessary in order to change your name on your license. There is a $10.00 fee and they will take another picture. How to Change Your Address You can obtain a form from your local post office, or a Pak Mail, Mailbox Etc., or similar store. Simply fill out the form and give it to the post office, after which they will forward all of your mail from that point on. If moving from an apartment, go and check with the apartment manager a few weeks after you have moved to make sure that no mail is waiting for you, like magazine subscriptions, etc. How to Obtain a New Passport Passport agencies are located in Federal Government Centers. Once again, you should arrive early in the morning. They don't make appointments. You need to present your old passport along with your original marriage license. You will also need a regulation size passport photo. The fee is $10.00. Life Insurance Beneficiary Contact your insurance company to change life insurance beneficiaries. They will ask for a copy of your marriage license. Getting your mother to learn you new name! This will take some time. Be patient and still answer her when she calls you by your maiden name. This will probably be the hardest thing to change. Take everything in stride and enjoy your new name. Comments from Brides "The license got lost in the mail and we didn't get a copy. I couldn't change my driver's license, or social security card until the process of getting a new one was finished." Tip Carry a copy of your marriage license with you until you receive your new social security card in case you run into any trouble. Since you are sending the official marriage license, not a copy, you should send it by certified mail. Persons Authorized to Perform Marriage Ceremonies in the State Of Florida All regularly ordained ministers of the gospel or elders in communion with some church, or other ordained clergy, and all judicial officers, including retired judicial officers, clerks of the circuit courts, and notaries public of this state may solemnize the rights of matrimonial contract, under the regulations prescribed by law. Any marriage which may be had and solemnized among the people called "Quakers," or "Friends," in the manner and form used or practiced in their societies, according to their rites and ceremonies, shall be good and valid in law; and wherever the words "minister" and "elder" are used in this chapter, they shall be held to include all of the persons connected with the Society of Friends, or Quakers, who perform or have charge of the marriage ceremony according to their rites and ceremonies. |