California Marriage License Guide

You can get married anywhere in the State of California. You may have a Marriage License issued in any California County and use it in any other California County. As a general rule, set an appointment with the County to obtain your Marriage License approximately 30 days before your Wedding Day.

California offers you choices in Marriage Licenses:

PUBLIC

• You need at least one witness and up to two witnesses present during your ceremony. 

• The witnesses DO NOT have to accompany you to the County Clerk's Office to purchase your Marriage License.

• It is recommended that the witnesses both be adults.

• The Marriage Record is recorded and made available to the public.

CONFIDENTIAL

• You must state that you are living together as a couple.

• No witnesses are required.

• The Marriage is recorded, but records are confidential and are only available to the couple or by Court Order.

Do this the week you intend to purchase the Marriage License and not sooner, since the Counties purge their database every 15 days. 

Go to the County's Online Website and fill out the Marriage License Application one week BEFORE you go to the County Offices. If you dothis, your Marriage License will already be filled out and ready when you approach the clerk at the window. 

You should also make an appointment with the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk to obtain your marriage license. Some Counties REQUIRE that you set an appointment.

Los Angeles County Website

Orange County Website

Santa Barbara Website

Ventura County Website

Riverside County Website

San Bernardino County Website

San Diego County Website

You must appear together at the County Clerk/Registrar-Recorder Office to get your Marriage License. You will be required to present Valid Identification to county officials. The valid forms of identification that the county will accept are as follows: driver's license, government-issued identification card, passport or birth certificate, and a valid photo ID.

After Signing Your Marriage License At The County Clerk's Office: 

1. Please Do Not Write Anything On The Document.  

2. Do Not Fold Your Marriage License. 

3. Keep It And Its Envelope Dry.

If You Wish To Change Your Name, Please Inform The Clerk When Purchasing Your Marriage License.

The Name Equality Act Of 2007 Gives Specific Rights To Parties At The Time They Are Applying For A California Marriage License In Order To Chose And List, On The Marriage License, The New Name That Each Party Will Go By After The Marriage. 

• While You Are Not Required To Change Your Name After Marriage, California Does Offer You The Option To Do So If You Wish.

• If You Intend To Change Your Name, Please Inform The Clerk At The Time Your Marriage License Is Issued. This Will Initiate The Name Change Process.

To Legally Change Your Name In California After Marriage, You Must List Your New Name On Your Marriage License Application And Then Use Your Certified Marriage Certificate To Update Your Name With The Social Security Administration, DMV, And Other Agencies. You Do Not Need A Separate Court Order To Change Your Name After Marriage. 

Before The Ceremony:

• Complete A Marriage License Application: Go To Your County Clerk's Office To Get And Fill Out A Marriage License Application. 

• List Your New Name: In The Designated Space On The Application, Write The New Middle Or Last Name You Wish To Use After The Marriage. 

• Obtain The License: The County Clerk Will Issue The Marriage License. 

After The Ceremony:

1. Get Your Marriage Certificate:
   Once You Are Married, You Will Need A Certified Copy Of Your Marriage Certificate. 

2. Update Your Social Security Record:
   Inform The Social Security Administration Of Your Name Change And Provide Them With The Certified Marriage Certificate. More Information From The Social Security Administration At This Hyperlink.

3. Update Your Driver's License/ID:
   Go To A California DMV Office With Your Certified Marriage Certificate To Get A New Driver's License Or Identification Card. More Information From The California Department Of Motor Vehicles At This Hyperlink.

4. Update Other Documents:
   Use Your Marriage Certificate To Change Your Name On Your Passport, Bank Accounts, And Any Other Documents Or Accounts. More Information From The U.S. State Department On How To Change Your Name On Your Passport At This Hyperlink.

Important Reminders For Your Marriage License:

Bring The License: Please Ensure You Bring Your Valid Marriage License With You On Your Wedding Day. I Cannot Legally Officiate The Ceremony Without It.

Keep It Pristine: Do Not Fold Or Allow The License To Get Wet, As This Can Invalidate The Document.

Designate A Responsible Holder: Since You Will Be Busy Before The Ceremony, I Highly Recommend Entrusting The License To Your Wedding Coordinator Or Another Responsible Party. This Person Can Present It To Me Upon My Arrival.

If You Purchased A PUBLIC Marriage License:

I Will Need To Meet With Your Two Witnesses Before The Ceremony So They Can Sign The License. Since Members Of The Wedding Party (E.g., Maid/Matron Of Honor, Best Man) Are Often Occupied With Photos, It Is Advisable To Choose Witnesses Who Are Not Similarly Engaged, Such As A Parent Or Grandparent.

If You Purchased A Confidential Marriage License: 

• There Will Be No Witnesses And I Do Not Need To Meet With Anyone. 

• I Will Complete The Marriage License Myself. 

The Officiant Is Legally Required To Return Your Marriage License Back To The Issuing County Within 10 Days After The Marriage Ceremony. 

This Legal Requirement Is Clearly Printed On The Back Of Your Marriage License.

On the first business day after your wedding I will return your completed Marriage License to the issuing County via the US Postal Service Priority Mail. That evening I will send you an Email with a hyperlink to the US Postal Service and a Tracking Number from the US Postal Service for your Marriage License. You may then visit the US Postal Service website, enter your Tracking Number and see the status of your Marriage License’s delivery to the issuing County. 

Once the issuing County receives your Marriage License it will take them up to four (4) weeks [Note: it takes Los Angeles County up to eight (8) weeks]  to process and record your marriage in the State of California. After the County has recorded your marriage you may obtain Marriage Certificates (legal proof of marriage) from the issuing County.

At the time you purchase your Marriage License only Los Angeles County offers couples the option to Prepay for Marriage Certificates (proof that a marriage has been recorded between you both in the State of California.)  If you prepaid Los Angeles County for Marriage Certificates they will generate and mail your Marriage Certificates to the address you provided the County Clerk on the day you purchased your Marriage License. 

Certified copies of the Marriage Certificate may be purchased from the County that issued your Marriage License in three (3) ways:

1. In Person: You can obtain copies of your Marriage Certificate by visiting the specific County Clerk's Office where you purchased your Marriage License and purchasing the certificates at the Clerk's window in person.

2. Online: Order Marriage Certificates online through the issuing County's website. Follow the County's Online ordering instructions.

3. Through the Mail: Ordering Marriage Certificates through the US Mail from the issuing County:

   • Simply download, print and fill out the County’s Order Form and Proof of Identity Form. 

   • Complete the Forms. 

   • Stable a check made out for the correct amount to the upper left hand corner of the Order Form. 

   • Have a Notary Public notarize your signature on the Proof of Identity Form. 

   • Insert all of these Forms into an envelope and mail them to the issuing County (I recommend using Certified Mail with signature required by the recipient, this will track and provide you evidence of delivery to the issuing County.)

   • The issuing County will then mail you copies of your Marriage Certificate to the mailing address you provided the County.