Anaheim Marriage License Records
Marriage license applications in Anaheim are processed through the Orange County Clerk-Recorder office, with a convenient branch location at 600 West Santa Ana Boulevard in Anaheim that charges $61 for public licenses and $66 for confidential ones. The County Clerk requires both parties to appear in person with valid photo identification, offers online appointment booking through ocweddings.ocrecorder.com, and performs civil wedding ceremonies for $28. Anaheim residents benefit from three Orange County Clerk offices in Santa Ana, Anaheim, and Laguna Hills, allowing couples to pick the most convenient location, with office hours Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm and most applications completed in about 15 to 20 minutes.
Orange County Handles Marriage Licenses
All marriage licenses for Anaheim come from Orange County. Anaheim is part of Orange County. No city in California has the power to issue marriage licenses. That job falls to each county clerk under state law.
The Orange County Clerk-Recorder has three office locations. The Anaheim office is at 600 West Santa Ana Boulevard. The main office is at 211 West Santa Ana Boulevard, Room 201, in Santa Ana. A third office is at 24031 El Toro Road, Suite 120, in Laguna Hills. You can visit any of the three offices. The Anaheim office is convenient for people who live or work in Anaheim, Fullerton, and nearby cities.
Orange County offers both public and confidential marriage licenses. A public license becomes part of the public record after you file it. Anyone can look it up. A confidential license stays private. Only the two people who got married can get copies. Public licenses cost $61. Confidential ones cost $66. Both types work the same way for legal purposes. The only difference is privacy.
How to Get a Marriage License
Book an appointment online at ocweddings.ocrecorder.com. The online system shows open slots at all three office locations. Pick a time that works for both of you. Both people must come to the appointment together. You cannot send just one person.
Walk-ins are allowed but appointments get priority. If the office is busy, walk-ins may wait an hour or more. Book ahead if you can. Most appointments are available within a few days. Busy times are Friday afternoons and the weeks before major holidays.
Bring a valid photo ID for each person. Driver licenses, passports, and state IDs all work. The clerk will ask for basic information like full names, birth dates, birth places, and social security numbers. If either person was married before, say when and how that marriage ended. The clerk enters this info into the computer system. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
You pay the fee after the clerk reviews your information. The office takes credit cards, debit cards, checks, and cash. They print your license right then. It is valid for 90 days from that date. You must have your wedding ceremony within those 90 days anywhere in California.
Marriage License Fees
A public license costs $61. A confidential license costs $66. These are among the lowest fees in Southern California. You pay when you visit the clerk office. The office accepts credit cards, debit cards, checks, and cash.
Civil ceremonies at the clerk office cost $28 extra. That fee covers the ceremony and the deputy commissioner who officiates. The ceremony lasts about 10 minutes. You can bring guests. The number of guests allowed depends on the space at each office. Ask when you book your ceremony.
Certified copies of your marriage certificate cost about $15 to $20 after your wedding. Order those from the Orange County Clerk-Recorder office. Most couples do not need certified copies right away. You can wait and order them later if you need proof of marriage for legal or official reasons.
Orange County Clerk Offices
The Anaheim office is at 600 West Santa Ana Boulevard. It is in downtown Anaheim near the city government buildings. Parking is available on the street and in nearby lots. The office is a short drive from Disneyland and many major hotels in the area.
The Santa Ana office is at 211 West Santa Ana Boulevard, Room 201. The Laguna Hills office is at 24031 El Toro Road, Suite 120. All three locations handle marriage license applications and civil ceremonies. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. Check the website at ocrecorder.com before you visit to confirm hours.
You can call 714-834-2500 with questions about any location. The phone line is open during office hours. Staff can tell you about wait times, help with appointment booking, or explain what documents you need. Most questions get answered quickly.
Wedding Ceremonies at the Clerk Office
Orange County performs civil ceremonies at all three office locations. The $28 fee is one of the lowest in California. Ceremonies last about 10 minutes. A deputy commissioner reads a short script. You exchange vows and rings if you want. The commissioner signs your license after the ceremony. You can bring guests. Ask when you book your ceremony about how many guests are allowed.
If you want a bigger wedding or a custom ceremony, hire your own officiant. Any authorized person can officiate weddings in California. That includes judges, priests, ministers, rabbis, and people with online ordination. Your officiant must file the signed license with the county within 10 days of the ceremony. Make sure they know to do this. If the license does not get filed, your marriage is not legal.
Getting Copies of Marriage Records
After your wedding, the officiant files your license with the Orange County Clerk-Recorder. The marriage becomes an official record once filed. You can order certified copies from any of the three office locations. Visit ocrecorder.com for information on ordering copies.
Public marriage records are open to anyone. You do not need to prove who you are to get a copy of a public record. Confidential records are different. Only the two people who got married can get copies of a confidential record. You must show ID and prove you are one of the spouses.
The county has records going back many decades. Older records may take longer to find. Some very old records are only on paper and require staff to search archived files. Allow extra time if you need a record from 20 or 30 years ago.
California Marriage License Laws
Both people must be at least 18 years old. If you are under 18, you need a court order. No one under 18 can marry without a judge approving it. California law changed in recent years to eliminate marriage for anyone under 18 without court approval.
You do not need to be a California resident. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen. Anyone can get married in California as long as they meet the basic rules. The license is good for 90 days. Have your ceremony within that time. If the 90 days pass, your license expires. You have to apply again and pay the fee again.
No blood test is required. California stopped that in 1995. You do not need witnesses for a confidential marriage. Public marriages need at least one witness age 18 or older. Most people bring family or friends to serve as witnesses. The witness signs the license after the ceremony.
California marriage law is in the Family Code Sections 350-360. Confidential marriage rules are in Family Code Sections 500-511. These laws explain who can marry, how licenses work, and what happens after the ceremony.
Legal Help in Anaheim
If you need legal advice about marriage, name changes, or family law, several groups in Orange County offer free or low-cost help. Legal Aid Society of Orange County serves low-income residents. Visit legal-aid.com for information about services.
The Orange County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. They can connect you with a family law attorney. Visit ocbar.org for more details. The first consultation is usually affordable.
For general questions about the marriage license process, call the Orange County Clerk at 714-834-2500. Staff can explain fees, what documents to bring, and how the process works. They cannot give legal advice, but they can tell you how to get a license and what to expect.
California State Marriage Records
The California Department of Public Health maintains statewide marriage records. Visit cdph.ca.gov or call 916-445-2684. They can provide certified copies for marriages from certain years. For marriages from 2000 to 2007, you must contact the county, not the state.
The state charges $19 per certified copy. That is less than what Orange County charges, but not all records are available from the state. Check with both to see which one has what you need. The state office processes mail orders in about two weeks. They do not have a walk-in counter.
Other Major Cities in Orange County
Anaheim is the tenth largest city in California. Other big cities in Orange County include Santa Ana, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Fullerton, Orange, and Costa Mesa. All of these cities use the Orange County Clerk-Recorder for marriage licenses.
Nearby cities in other counties include Long Beach in Los Angeles County and Riverside in Riverside County. Each county has its own clerk office with different fees and procedures. If you live near a county border, you can apply in any county. The license is valid anywhere in California.