Marriage License
Marriage License
GENERAL INFORMATION
You must obtain a Marriage License BEFORE having a ceremony.
A Marriage License is valid for ninety (90) days with NO EXTENSIONS. A ceremony MUST occur within ninety (90) days of the Marriage License issuance and must be within the State of California.
After the ceremony, the Marriage License must be signed by your Officiant and returned (by the Officiant; this is specified on the back of your Marriage License) to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk for registration. This must be accomplished within ten (10) business days after the ceremony.
After the County has registered the Marriage License, you may purchase copies of your Marriage Certificate (legal Proof of Marriage). The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk will only automatically send you a marriage certificate if you pre-pay for these Certificates.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Both parties MUST appear together before the County Clerk at the time of issuance.
Both parties MUST present a valid and current government-issued photo ID.
Both parties MUST be 18 years of age or older.
Both parties MUST be unmarried at the time the Marriage License is issued.
If either party was previously married and the dissolution is not yet final, even if it will be final before the wedding date, the County will NOT issue you a Marriage License.
If the dissolution was final within the last 90 days, you will be required to provide the Clerk with a copy of the Court's Final Judgement.
If you are in a State Registered Domestic Partnership (SRDP), you may not enter into a marriage or be issued a Marriage License with someone OTHER than your registered Domestic Partner, UNLESS the most recent Domestic Partnership has been terminated or a Final Judgement of Dissolution or Nullity has be entered.
There is no Residency requirement for the issuance of a Marriage License.
NAME CHANGE (Optional)
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.
Access services to help you with the protocol and procedures for changing your name at this link
If you are already married, please Scan and email me a copy of your Marriage Certificate for my records.
After signing your Marriage License at the County Clerk's office, please do not write anything on the document. Also, do not fold your Marriage License; keep it and its envelope dry.
Step #1: Select the Marriage License you prefer
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.
Step # 2: Visit the County’s Online page & Complete your marriage license application form.
Go to the County's Online Website and fill out the Marriage License Application one week BEFORE you go to the County Offices. (Please Note: Counties purge their Data Banks every 15 Days.) If you do this, 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
Step #3: Go to the County Clerk/Registrar-Recorder Office
to purchase your Marriage License.
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.
COUNTY RECORDER OFFICES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Just to let you know, the following County Office locations and days and hours of operation are provided for your convenience. Location Days and Hours of Operation are subject to change.
You are urged to telephone the particular office you intend to visit and verify the days and hours they are open for business before visiting that office.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
NOTE: Los Angeles County lets you Pre-Pay for Marriage Certificates when you purchase your Marriage License.
If you exercise this option, they will automatically mail your Pre-Paid Marriage Certificates directly to the address you provide to the county.
NORWALK
12400 Imperial Highway Norwalk, CA
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
BEVERLY HILLS
9355 Burton Way, Fourth Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 PM
LANCASTER
44509 16th Street West, Suite 101
Lancaster, CA 93534
Monday-Friday 8:30 PM to 4:30 PM
LAX/COURT HOUSE
11701 S. La Cienega Blvd, 6th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Monday-Friday 8:30 PM to 4:30 PM
EAST LOS ANGELES
4716 East Cesar Chavez Avenue, Building B
Los Angeles, CA 90022
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
FLORENCE/FIRESTONE
7807 Compton Avenue, Room 102
Los Angeles, CA 90001
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
VAN NUYS
14340 West Sylvan Street
Van Nuys, CA 91401
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
ORANGE COUNTY
SANTA ANA
OLD ORANGE COUNTY COURTHOUSE
211 W Santa Ana Blvd. Room #201,
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
COUNTY ADMINISTRATION SOUTH
601 N. Ross Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
SOUTH COUNTY BRANCH OFFICE
LAGUNA HILLS CIVIC CENTER
24031 El Toro Road, Suite 160
Laguna Hills, CA
Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
NORTH COUNTY BRANCH
WELLS FARGO BUILDING/PARKING
222 S. Harbor Blvd. Suite 110A
Anaheim, CA 92805
Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Main Phone: (714) 834-2500
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
RIVERSIDE (Gateway)
2724 Gateway Dr.
Riverside, CA 92507
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
RIVERSIDE (Downtown)
4080 Lemon St, 1st Floor
Riverside, CA 92502
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
HEMET
880 N. State Street, Suite B-6
Hemet, CA 92543
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
BLYTHE
270 N Broadway
Blythe, CA 92225
Tuesday and Thursday ONLY: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
TEMECULA
41002 County Center Drive, #230
Temecula, CA 92591
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
PALM DESERT
38-686 El Cerrito Rd.
Palm Desert, CA 92211
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
SAN BERNARDINO
222 West Hospitality Lane
San Bernardino, CA 92415
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (909) 387-8314
APPLE VALLEY
LIBRARY
14901 Dale Evans Parkway
Apple Valley, CA 92307
Monday-Friday 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM (760) 240-7710
FONTANA
LIBRARY
16860 Valencia Ave.
Fontana, CA 92335
Call for hours (909) 854-6397
VENTURA COUNTY
County Government Center in Ventura County Clerk, Hall of Administration
Main Plaza
800 South Victoria Avenue, VENTURA, CA 93009
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Appointments are highly recommended.
Marriage licenses can also be obtained through the City of FILLMORE Finance Department.
Please call (805) 524-3701 for additional information.
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
SANTA BARBARA
Hall of Records
1100 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93102
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
SANTA MARIA
Betteravia Govt. Center
511 East Lakeside Parkway, Suite 115,
Santa Maria, CA 93455
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
LOMPOC
Clerk-Recorder's Office
401 East Cypress Street, Rm 102
Lompoc, CA 93436
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
To make an appointment, call (805) 346-8370 in Santa Maria
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
SAN DIEGO
Recorder/Clerk Main Office, County Administration Center
1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 260
San Diego, CA 92101
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
SANTEE
East County Office
10144 Mission Gorge Rd
Santee, CA 92071
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
CHULA VISTA
590 3rd Ave.
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
SAN MARCOS
141 E Carmel St.
San Marcos, CA 92078
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Recorder/Clerk (619) 237-0502
Step #4: your Marriage License on your Wedding Day
I will ask you for your Marriage License about thirty minutes before the start of your wedding ceremony. It is illegal to officiate a wedding without a Marriage License.
Please present your Marriage License in the original envelope given to you by the County with the County's mailing address imprinted on its face. Please DO NOT discard this original envelope and try to replace it with any other envelope. Please DO NOT write on, or in any way alter, your Marriage License or the original envelope.
If you have a Public Marriage License, your two adult witnesses must present valid legal photo identification (e.g., a Driver's License). Most couples select their Best Man and Maid of Honor as witnesses; however, they are usually preoccupied with taking photos with your wedding entourage before the ceremony. It may be prudent to select witnesses, such as parents, grandparents, and siblings, who are free before the ceremony starts.
I will fill out the Marriage License, and then your two adult witnesses and I will sign your Marriage License.
Step #5: What happens with my Marriage License after the Wedding,
How do we obtain copies of our marriage license and/or marriage certificates?
What happens with the Marriage License after I present it to the Officiant on my Wedding Day?
I will take the signed Marriage License with me since I am legally required to return it to the County within ten business days after the Wedding Ceremony.
On the first business day after your Wedding Ceremony, I will mail your Marriage License to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk via U.S. Postal Service Certified Mail.
I will send you an E-mail confirming that your Marriage License has been mailed to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. You will be given a U.S. Post Office Tracking Number so that you can verify that the county has received your marriage license. I will attach a photocopy of your Marriage License to this E-mail. Once I have submitted your Marriage License to the County, I will have no further access to the document. Please contact the County thereafter regarding the Marriage License and/or Marriage Certificates. Communication with the County will be facilitated if you provide them with your Marriage License Number (found on Line 25e of your Marriage License).
You may purchase legal copies of your Marriage Certificate from the County after they have received your Marriage License from the U.S. Postal Service. Please allow eight (8) weeks after the ceremony for Los Angeles County and four (4) weeks for other Counties for the County to process and register your Marriage.
PLEASE NOTE
I was ordained a Roman Catholic priest; however, as a former Catholic priest, I will sign your marriage license as a Minister of the Universal Life Church to extend services to all couples of all faiths at their Venue of choice. Your marriage will NOT be recorded as a sacrament in the Roman Catholic Church.
FUTURE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE COPIES
In future months and years after your wedding day, you may purchase additional copies of your Marriage Certificate in TWO WAYS:
1) Go in person to the Marriage Records Office of the County-Clerk/Registrar-Recorder, where you obtained your original Marriage License. You can go to the window and show the Clerk your Valid Legal Government issued Photo ID. You may then purchase additional Marriage Certificates from the County. NOTE: It MUST be the County Clerk's Office where you originally purchased the Marriage License.
2) You may also purchase Marriage Certificates from the County of Issuance through the U.S. mail. Go to the County Clerk's online website, download the forms, fill them out, and mail them to the County Clerk's Office.
More general information on California Marriage License