MIAMI – Here is what you really need to know if you are planning on getting married in January:

10 THINGS TO KNOW

1. The County Clerk of Court issues marriage licenses for a $93.50 fee.

2. Both parties are required to appear at the County Clerk of Court's office.

3. There is a three-day waiting period before the ceremony may take place from the effective date of the marriage license for Florida residents. And the license must be used within 60 days of the effective day.

4. Couples from out of state don't have a three-day waiting period.

5. Premarital counseling is not required to get a marriage license

6. If the couple provides a premarital preparation course certificate of completion from a registered premarital counseling program, they get a $32.50 discount on the cost of the marriage license.

Here is a list of pre-marital course providers >>

7. If the couple provides a certificate of completion from a registered premarital counseling program, applicants won't have a three-day waiting period.  If one of the partners takes the premarital preparation course, there is no delay.

8. Blood tests and witnesses are not required to get a marriage license in South Florida.

9. Marriage licenses must be returned to the Clerk's Officer within 10 days after the marriage and are for use for 60 days.  The original is kept  in Jacksonville and couples get a copy. The process takes about three weeks.

10. Partners who have been married in the past have to provide proof of the exact date of the divorce, annulment or death.

Where to get a license in South Florida

There are 16 courthouses that issue marriage certificates in the tri-county area. County clerks coordinate the process.

• Broward County Clerk Howard C. Forman, 201 S.E.  6th St., #136, in Fort Lauderdale. For information, call 954-831-7019.
  
• Miami-Dade County Clerk Harvey Ruvin, 73 West Flagler St., #242. For information, call 305-349-7333.
  
• Monroe County Clerk Amy Heavilin, 500 Whitehead St., Key West. For information, call 305-295-3130.
  

IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED

Florida requires two forms of identification and a Social Security number. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens and do not have a Social Security number need to provide an Alien Registration card, a driver's license or a passport.

One of them must be a photo identification that includes the signature of the applicant. A driver's license, a passport, an ID card, an Alien Registration card or a U.S. Military identification are valid forms of identification.

Broward County: The courthouse is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Broward County recommends that a questionnaire be filled out before going to court. Here is the link >>

The court also recommends that couples read the Florida Law Handbook. Here is the link >>

There are five locations where license can be obtained. The Main Broward County Courthouse, 201 SE 6th St., Room 270, in Fort Lauderdale. The North Region Courthouse is at 1600 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Room 160. The West Regional Courthouse is at 100 n. Pine Island Road, Room 180, in Plantation. The South Regional Courthouse is at 3550 Hollywood Blvd., Room 160, in Hollywood. The Rick Case Honda building is at 15700 Rick Case Honda Way in Davie.  For more information, call 954-831-6525 Ext. 7842.

The address for recording and to get certified copies of previously record documents is 115 South Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301.  For information call, 954-821-4000

Miami-Dade County:  You must go to the Marriage License Bureau at Metro-Dade Flagler Building, 140 West Flagler St., Suit 1503, in Miami, or to a District Court Office. There are four open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Martin Luther King Office is at 2121 NW 62 St., Room 1200-A, in Miami. The Coral Gables District Court is at 3100 Ponce de Leon Blvd. The Hialeah District Court is at 11 E. 6th St. The Miami Beach District Court is at 1130 Washington Ave., Suite 200. The North Dade Justice Center is at 15555 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite #100 in North Miami Beach. The South Dade Government Center is at 10710 SW 211 St., Suite 1200, in Cutler Bay. The Sweetwater Sub-Office is at 500 SW 109 Ave., 3rd floor.

Monroe County: You can get a marriage license at four locations. The Key West Courthouse is at 500 Whitehead St. The Marathon Branch Courthouse is at 3117 Overseas Highway, in Marathon. The Upper Keys Government Center is at 88820 Overseas Highway, in Plantation Key. The Clerk of Court is at 50 High Point Road in Plantation Key.

Monroe County requires an original certificate of the premarital preparation course.