Posted by MonicaFL on 7/9/08 1:46pm
Msg #254612

For FL notaries who perform marriages

Well, here's one for the books. I received a phone call from a lady in CA who is going to marry a person who is incarcerated in Coleman Federal Prison. I have received and filled out all of the necessary paperwork to gain access to the Prison BUT, I was curious as to how they were going to obtain a marriage license. Well, here's the answer - it can be done by applying on line to BROWARD COUNTY - they do this ONLINE. Actually, The incarcerated one makes application, Broward County sends the person the necessary paperwork, they fill it in, send it back. The other person also applies to Broward County, sends in the necessary information and Broward County will send them a marriage license (which I have to sign of course when the deed is done). I thought this was quite interesting and thought I would share it with all of you - just in case you might get a call to do something like this in a prison. Of course, I had to send in some information about myself so they could perform a background check on me before they would give me permission to gain access to the prison. I also inquired about witnesses - and the "bride" told me that her soon to be husband's "Friend" would be standing up for him and the counselor will be standing up for her. Just thought I would throw this out to you - it is for information only.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 7/9/08 5:02pm
Msg #254646

I have done several at the Okeechobee Correctional Institute.
The bride had to get the marriage license and they both had to appear before the Clerk of the Court or a notary to get the application signed. So, the notary at the CI notarized the application. I also had to answer a lot of questions from the prison chaplain before I could get clearance to go to the CI. Took about a week.
The chaplain advised me that I wasn't to wear anything provocative, wasn't to wear any expensive jewelry. . I could only wear an inexpensive watch. I must not carry more than $25 and nothing larger than a five-dollar bill.
The first wedding there was postponed twice. The second time the chaplain called me. He had spoken to the bride. . She told him that she had the license. The clerk at the county courthouse had told her that the groom could sign the license before the ceremony on Saturday.
I called the clerk’s office and was told that the groom has to sign the license in front of a notary who would notarize his signature. The bride would have to take the license back to the courthouse for them to validate it.

When everything had been worked out I went to the CI.I had to pick up a special phone to tell a guard that I was there to perform a wedding ceremony. He traded me a visitor’s badge for my ID card, promising to return my ID when I turned in the visitor’s badge. My escort, the Chaplain, came, so I was let into the prison proper after my purse was gone through for contraband, and I was asked if I was carrying a cell phone, sharp items, etc. I had to walk through a metal detector and I was in!

I was issued a body alarm. The guard said that if I felt threatened in any way I could press the white button or pull the cord on the alarm and lots of guards would appear.

The service was in the prison chapel. The chaplain was also there. (He said he couldn't perform the ceremony himself) A "lifer" in for murder set up sound equipment and even sang (he was quite good!), Another inmate took Polaroid photos.


As I was leaving the chaplain asked me if I would be willing to perform more marriages at the facility as he had a stack of requests just waiting for authorization from the state capital.


Which facility at Coleman?

Reply by MonicaFL on 7/10/08 8:09pm
Msg #254828

The Federal Prison.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 7/13/08 9:10am
Msg #255036

It consists of 4.
FCI Coleman Low
FCI Coleman Medium
USP Coleman I
USP Coleman II