Find California Marriage License Records
California marriage license records include both public and confidential marriage licenses issued by county clerks across the state. You can search for marriage certificates through the California Department of Public Health for records dating back decades, or contact individual county clerk offices for recent license applications and confidential marriage records. Each of California's 58 counties maintains its own marriage license records and provides access through online portals, in-person visits, or mail requests, with many counties now offering appointment scheduling and digital application systems for obtaining marriage licenses and certified copies throughout California.
California Marriage License Quick Facts
Where to Get Marriage Records in California
Marriage license records in California come from two main sources. County Clerk offices issue marriage licenses and keep the official records for each county. The California Department of Public Health maintains a statewide collection of marriage certificates.
Each county clerk in California handles marriage license applications and issues both public and confidential marriage licenses. Public licenses are available to anyone who asks. Confidential licenses have restricted access. Only the two people who got married can request copies of confidential marriage records. County clerks also perform civil marriage ceremonies in many California counties for an additional fee. You can visit a county clerk office in person, call their phone number, or use their website to start the license application process. Most counties now let you fill out the initial application online before your required in-person visit to pick up the license in California.
The state health department offers a way to get certified copies of marriage certificates for marriages that took place in California. The California Department of Public Health Vital Records office keeps marriage records but cannot provide copies for all years. They can only give you certified copies for certain time periods. For the years 2000 through 2007, you must contact the County Recorder office in the county where the license was issued. The state vital records office does not keep confidential marriage records at all. Those stay with the county clerk that issued them in California.
The fee for a marriage certificate from the state is $19.00 per copy. You pay by check or money order made out to CDPH-VR. The office does not have a public counter. You must order by mail or use an approved third-party service. VitalChek is the authorized online ordering service for California vital records. It charges extra service fees on top of the state fee. The state vital records office is located in Sacramento and you can call them at 916-445-2684 during business hours Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm in California.
California Marriage License Requirements
California law sets specific rules for who can get a marriage license. Both people must be at least 18 years old. If someone is under 18, they need a court order before a county clerk can issue a license. No blood test is required in California. That rule ended in 1995. You do not have to be a California resident. People from any state or country can get a marriage license in California. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen either.
Both people must appear together in person at a county clerk office to get the license. You cannot send someone else to pick it up for you. You need to bring valid photo identification. A driver license, passport, or state ID card works. The clerk will ask for basic information like your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If you were married before, you need to say when and where that marriage ended. California does not require witnesses for a marriage license application, but you will need at least one witness at the actual wedding ceremony for a public marriage license in California.
The marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date the county clerk issues it. You must have your wedding ceremony within that 90-day window in California. After the ceremony, the person who performed the marriage must sign the license and return it to the county clerk within 10 days. The officiant can be a judge, a religious leader, or anyone with valid authority to perform marriages under California law. Once the signed license is filed with the county clerk, the marriage becomes a legal public record in California.
Note: License requirements and fees vary by county, so check with your local county clerk office before applying in California.
Public and Confidential Marriage Licenses
California offers two types of marriage licenses. The public marriage license is the standard option. It creates a public record that anyone can access. The confidential marriage license provides more privacy. These two license types serve different needs in California.
A public marriage license becomes part of the public record once it is filed. Anyone can request a copy of a public marriage certificate from the county recorder or the state vital records office. Most people in California get a public license. The couple must have at least one witness present at the ceremony. The witness must be 18 years old or older and must sign the license. Public licenses are available to any couple that meets the basic requirements. You pick up the license at the county clerk office and it costs between $50 and $144 depending on which county you go to in California.
Confidential marriage licenses are different. California Family Code Sections 500 through 511 set the rules for these licenses. To qualify, both people must be living together as a married couple at the time they apply. No witness is required for the ceremony. The license does not become a public record. Only the two people who got married can get copies. Other people cannot access confidential marriage records unless they have a court order. Law enforcement agencies and government offices can see the records for official purposes, but the general public cannot. If you want a copy of your own confidential marriage certificate, you must go back to the same county clerk office that issued the license in California. The state vital records office does not keep confidential marriage records.
Confidential licenses cost slightly more in most counties. Fees range from $55 to $144 depending on the county. Some people choose a confidential license for personal privacy reasons. Others pick it because they do not want a public record of their marriage. Both types of licenses are legally valid in California. You cannot switch from one type to the other after the license is issued. The choice you make at the time of application is permanent for that marriage in California.
How County Clerks Handle Marriage Licenses
County clerk offices in California issue all marriage licenses. Each of the 58 counties runs its own clerk office. The office is usually in the main county government building or courthouse. Larger counties have branch offices in multiple cities. You can go to any county clerk office in California to get a marriage license. You do not have to apply in the county where you live or where you plan to have the wedding ceremony.
Most counties now require appointments for marriage license applications. Walk-in service is not available at many clerk offices anymore. You can make an appointment through the county clerk website or by calling their phone number. Some counties use online scheduling systems like Acuity or TimeTrade. Other counties ask you to call during business hours to book a time slot in California.
The appointment usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. The clerk will review your identification and ask you questions to fill out the marriage license application. You pay the license fee at the appointment. Most counties accept credit cards, debit cards, checks, and cash. A few smaller counties only take cash or checks. The clerk gives you the marriage license at the end of the appointment. You leave with the physical license document that day in California. Some counties have started offering video appointments or remote license pickup for people who cannot visit in person.
License fees vary widely across California counties. The lowest fee is around $49 in some small rural counties. The highest fee is over $200 in one county. Most counties charge between $60 and $130 for a public marriage license. Confidential licenses usually cost a bit more. These fees can change from year to year when counties update their fee schedules in California.
Marriage Ceremonies Performed by County Clerks
Many county clerk offices in California offer civil marriage ceremonies. This is an optional service. You do not have to use the county clerk as your officiant. You can have any authorized person perform your wedding ceremony in California. But if you want a simple civil ceremony, the clerk office is a convenient choice.
Civil ceremonies at clerk offices are short and basic. The ceremony lasts about 5 to 10 minutes. The clerk or deputy clerk reads a standard script and the couple exchanges vows. Some counties let you write your own vows. Most do not allow music, decorations, or large groups of guests. The limit is usually 6 to 10 guests. Ceremonies are held at the clerk office during regular business hours on specific days of the week. Some counties only do ceremonies on Thursdays or Fridays in California.
The ceremony fee is separate from the license fee. Fees range from $21 to $138 depending on the county. Some counties charge more for weekend ceremonies or ceremonies at special locations. A few counties have wedding chapels or outdoor ceremony sites. Riverside County operates a chapel called the 14th Street Chapel and charges $138 for a ceremony there. Tuolumne County has a free wedding chapel called the Hitching Post in California. Most couples book their ceremony appointment at the same time they pick up their marriage license from the county clerk office.
Note: Not all county clerks in California perform marriage ceremonies, so check with your local office about ceremony availability and fees.
California Marriage License Laws
California Family Code contains the statutes that govern marriage licenses. These laws cover who can get married, how licenses are issued, and how marriage records are kept in California.
California Family Code Sections 350 through 360 set the basic requirements for marriage licenses. These sections explain what identification you need, how long a license is valid, and what happens after the ceremony. The 90-day validity period comes from these statutes. The requirement that both people appear in person is also in this part of the law. County clerks must follow these rules when they issue licenses in California.
Confidential marriages are covered in California Family Code Sections 500 through 511. Section 509 explains who can access confidential marriage records. Section 511 describes the penalties for unauthorized disclosure of confidential marriage information. These laws protect the privacy of couples who choose confidential licenses in California. A county clerk or other government worker who improperly releases confidential marriage information can face legal consequences under California law.
California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 lists who can obtain certified copies of marriage certificates. This statute divides requesters into authorized persons and other parties. Authorized persons include the people named on the certificate, their legal representatives, and certain family members. They can get certified copies that are valid for legal purposes. Other parties can only get informational copies that are not accepted for official use in California. County recorders and the state vital records office follow this law when they process certificate requests.
The fee structure for vital records is set in California Health and Safety Code Section 103625. This statute establishes the $19 fee for marriage certificates and allows counties to charge their own fees for services. The legislature adjusts these fees from time to time. Assembly Bill 64 increased vital records fees by $2 starting in January 2026 across California.
Historical Marriage Records
Older marriage records in California are kept in different places. The California State Archives holds some historical county records. Many county recorder offices have marriage records going back over 100 years. The exact dates depend on when the county was established and how well records were preserved in California.
If you need a very old marriage record, start by contacting the county recorder in the county where the marriage took place. County recorders maintain marriage records after the county clerk files them. The recorder office usually has indexes you can search by name or date. Some counties have digitized their old marriage indexes and put them online. Other counties still use paper index books at the recorder office in California. For marriages before 1905, records may be incomplete or hard to find since registration was not as strict back then.
Browse California Marriage Records by Location
Major Counties
Find marriage license information for the largest counties in California. Each county clerk office has its own procedures and fees for issuing marriage licenses and providing ceremony services.
Los Angeles County | San Diego County | Orange County | Riverside County | San Bernardino County | Santa Clara County
View All 58 California Counties →
Major Cities
Browse marriage license records by city. Remember that cities do not issue marriage licenses in California. All licenses come from county clerk offices.
Los Angeles | San Diego | San Jose | San Francisco | Fresno