Do the marriage license and certificate share the same document number?

Not necessarily. Each document can have its own record number, even though both share the spouses' names and the wedding date.

Can I apostille the license if it's all I have?

In most cases, the receiving authority wants the recorded certificate, not the license. If you only have the license, you'll generally need to request the certificate separately before apostilling.

How do I request the certificate if I lost the license?

You don't need the physical license to request the certificate. The certificate is requested directly from Florida's Bureau of Vital Statistics or the county clerk of court, using the marriage details (names and date).

Are the certificate and license issued by the same office?

The license is normally issued by the clerk of court's office before the wedding. The certificate, after the wedding, may be issued by Florida's Bureau of Vital Statistics or, in some cases, the same clerk of court, depending on the marriage date.

"Marriage license" vs. "marriage certificate": what's the legal difference in plain terms?

A "marriage license" is the prior authorization to marry; a "marriage certificate" is the after-the-fact record that the marriage took place. They are distinct documents even though the terms sometimes get used loosely.

Marriage in Florida

Marriage License vs. Marriage Certificate: Which One Gets Apostilled?

Practical guide · 5 min read · August 10, 2026

Legal documents and a passport next to an apostille stamp — Illustrative image; it does not represent an official Florida document.

"Marriage license" and "marriage certificate" get used interchangeably, but in Florida they are two separate documents, issued at different points in time, and usually only one of them is the one that actually needs an apostille. This guide clears up the difference and helps you identify which one you're holding.

Quick summary

1) The marriage license is signed before the ceremony and authorizes the marriage; 2) the marriage certificate is the official record that the wedding took place and was recorded; 3) foreign authorities almost always ask for the certificate, not the license; 4) both documents usually have different formats and numbers, though they share the spouses' names and the date; 5) if you only have the license, you'll generally need to request the certificate separately before apostilling.

The license and the certificate are not the same document

The marriage license is the document a couple obtains before the wedding; it legally authorizes the ceremony to take place within a set window. The marriage certificate is generated after the ceremony, once the officiant returns the signed license to the clerk of court and it gets recorded. In simple terms, the license is the prior permission; the certificate is the after-the-fact proof that the marriage happened and was recorded.

Why foreign authorities almost always ask for the certificate

A civil registry, bank, employer, or embassy abroad usually needs proof that the marriage actually happened and was recorded, not just that the couple had permission to marry. That's why the document almost always requested, and almost always apostilled, is the recorded certificate, not the original license.

Is there ever a case where the license gets apostilled?

In practice, it's uncommon. If a specific receiving authority expressly asks for the license in addition to the certificate, confirm that requirement in writing before processing the apostille, since most cases only require the certificate. When in doubt, it helps to have both documents on hand and confirm directly with whoever is requesting them.

How to tell which document you're actually holding

Check the heading on the document: most Florida licenses say "Marriage License" at the top, while the certificate usually says "Certificate of Marriage" or "Marriage Certificate." Both documents typically include the spouses' names and the wedding date, so don't rely on those alone: look at the document's title and whether it carries a recording seal or signature dated after the ceremony.

What to do if all you have is the license

If all you kept after the wedding is a copy of the license, you'll need to request the marriage certificate separately, either from Florida's Bureau of Vital Statistics or, in some cases, from the clerk of court in the county where the license was issued, before moving on to the apostille. If the marriage happened many years ago, tracking down the correct record can take an extra step.

Marriage License vs. Marriage Certificate: Which One Gets Apostilled?

The license and the certificate are not the same document

Why foreign authorities almost always ask for the certificate

Is there ever a case where the license gets apostilled?

How to tell which document you're actually holding

What to do if all you have is the license

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

Not sure if you have the license or the certificate?

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