Marriage License | United States | Endless Love Ceremonies

HOW TO OBTAIN A MARRIAGE LICENSE IN CALIFORNIA

REGULAR (PUBLIC) CALIFORNIA MARRIAGE LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

You may obtain your license at any County Clerk’s office in California. You do not need to obtain your license in the county where you live, or the county where you’ll be married. We recommend that you call the County Clerk’s office to see if they suggest setting an appointment to obtain your license, in some counties there are long lines depending on the location, day, and time you go.
Both parties (you and your fiancé(e)) must apply in person together at any County Clerk’s office. Bring an unexpired photo ID such as driver’s license or passport to verify your identities. Some counties recommend bringing certified copies of your birth certificates. You must also know your parents’ names, mothers’ maiden names, and places of their birth in order to apply. We recommend contacting that clerk’s office prior to going there to make sure you have all the documents and information you need to apply.
California marriage licenses are only valid for 90 days, so you must obtain your marriage license within the 90 days immediately prior to your wedding date.
No blood test is required.
There is no waiting period. The clerk will give you your license immediately.
If you have been married before, you must show proof of divorce, death or annulment.
The cost for applying varies by county, and some counties will only accept cash payments.
After your ceremony, your officiant is legally required to file your license within 10 days.
Generally, couples are permitted to submit requests for certified copies beginning 7 days after the wedding date. Instructions for obtaining certified copies are included in your marriage license packet.
DON’T FORGET! Make sure you bring your marriage license on your wedding day – your officiant cannot legally marry you if your license is not physically present before they begin your ceremony. Your officiant will file it with the county on your behalf, and the county will mail it back to you within a few weeks to confirm that everything is official.

CALIFORNIA CONFIDENTIAL MARRIAGE LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

Per the California Department of Public Health:

The participating parties must be at least 18 years old to apply for a confidential marriage license. Minors may NOT purchase a confidential marriage license.
The participating parties must be living together as spouses at the time they apply for the marriage license, and must sign an affidavit on the license attesting to those facts.
You are not required to get married in the county where you purchase the confidential marriage license; however, you must be married in California. You must file the license in the county where it was purchased.
No witnesses are required to be at the ceremony, AND no witnesses sign on the marriage license.

The marriage license is a confidential record and is registered at the County Clerk’s Office in the county where it was purchased. Only the couple may purchase copies of the marriage license and must present valid picture identification together with the required fee to the County Clerk in order to do so. Persons other than the married couple requesting copies of a confidential marriage license may only do so by presenting a court order to the County Clerk in the county where the license is registered. Fees for California confidential marriage license vary by county. In some counties it is more expensive than a public license, in others it is the same price.

CALIFORNIA NAME CHANGE AFTER MARRIAGE

(Applies to both public (normal) and confidential marriage licenses)

The “Name Equality Act of 2007” allows one (or both) parties applying for a marriage license in California to change their middle and/or last name, which takes effect after the marriage has been solemnized (after you’re actually married, not after you apply).
The decision to change your name must be made at the time you apply for a marriage license. That means you need to think about it and decide whether to change your name BEFORE you go to the county clerk to apply.

Los Angeles County -
Public license Fee: $91
Confidential License Fee: $85

Website: https://www.lavote.net/home/county-clerk/marriage-licenses-ceremonies/apply-for-a-marriage-license/apply

Orange County -

Public license Fee: $61
Confidential License Fee: $66

Website: https://www.ocrecorder.com/services/marriage

Riverside County -

Public license Fee: $100
Confidential License Fee: $110

Website: https://www.asrclkrec.com/MarriageLicenseCeremonies

San Bernardino County

Public license Fee: $89
Confidential License Fee: $90

Website: https://sbcountyarc.org/services/marriage/

San Diego County