Chico Marriage License Records

Marriage license applications for Chico residents are handled by the Butte County Clerk Recorder office. Chico is the largest city in Butte County with about 103,000 people and serves as the county seat. All marriage licenses for Chico go through the county clerk system in Oroville. The county clerk issues both public and confidential marriage licenses and maintains all marriage records for Butte County. If you got married in Chico or anywhere in Butte County, your marriage record is kept by the county clerk recorder and you can request certified copies through their office anytime you need them.

Butte County Issues Marriage Licenses

Chico is part of Butte County. The county clerk recorder handles all marriage license applications for Chico residents. Cities cannot issue marriage licenses in California. Only county clerks have this authority under California Family Code.

The Butte County Clerk Recorder office is at 155 Nelson Avenue in Oroville. You must have an appointment to apply for a marriage license. Both people must come together in person. Walk-in service is not available at the Butte County clerk office.

You can schedule your appointment by calling the clerk office at 530-552-3400 or through the county website. The clerk will answer questions about the application process and help you pick an appointment time in Butte County.

Requirements to Get a Marriage License

Chico couples must meet California state requirements. You must be at least 18 years old. If you are under 18, you need a court order. No blood test is required. You do not need to be a California resident. Anyone from any state or country can get a marriage license in Butte County.

Bring valid photo ID to your appointment. A driver license, passport, or state ID card works. You need your social security number. If you were married before, tell the clerk when and where that marriage ended. The clerk fills out the application during your appointment at the Oroville office.

What you need:

• Government-issued photo ID for both people
• Social security numbers
• Information about previous marriages if applicable
• Payment for the license fee

Your marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued. You must have your wedding ceremony within that time. After the ceremony, the person who performed your wedding must sign the license and return it to the county clerk within 10 days. Once the clerk files the signed license, your marriage is official in Butte County.

Public Marriage Licenses in Chico

A public marriage license costs $99 in Butte County. This is the standard type. The license becomes a public record after your ceremony. Anyone can request a copy of your marriage certificate. You need at least one witness at your wedding. The witness must be 18 or older and must sign the license.

Butte County also offers confidential marriage licenses. A confidential license costs $110. To qualify, both people must already be living together as a married couple when you apply. No witness is required for a confidential ceremony. The license does not become a public record. Only the two people who got married can get copies. California Family Code Sections 500 through 511 set the rules for confidential marriages in Chico and across California.

If you want privacy, choose a confidential license. If you do not mind public access, a public license is fine. Both types are legally valid. You cannot change from one type to the other after the clerk issues your license in Butte County.

Note: Confidential marriage records stay with the Butte County Clerk Recorder and are not sent to the California Department of Public Health.

Civil Marriage Ceremonies

The Butte County Clerk Recorder performs civil marriage ceremonies at the Oroville office. Ceremonies are short and simple. They last about 10 minutes. You can bring a small group of guests. The clerk reads a standard script and you exchange vows.

You can also hire your own officiant. Any judge, religious leader, or person authorized under California law can perform your wedding. The officiant must return the signed license to the county clerk within 10 days. You can have your wedding anywhere in California once you have your license from Butte County.

Many Chico couples schedule their ceremony for the same day they pick up their license. This works well for a simple civil ceremony. If you want a larger wedding, get your license first and plan your ceremony for later. Just make sure your ceremony happens within 90 days of the license date.

How to Get Marriage Certificate Copies

You can get copies of your Chico marriage certificate from Butte County or from the California Department of Public Health. The county clerk is faster for recent records. The state vital records office can provide older records for public marriages but takes longer.

To order from Butte County, visit the clerk office in Oroville. You can also order by mail. Contact the office at 530-552-3400 for information about mail orders and fees. Most orders are processed within one to two weeks in Butte County.

The California Department of Public Health charges $19 per certified copy of public marriage certificates. You can order by mail or through VitalChek, the authorized online service. VitalChek adds service fees. The state cannot provide records for years 2000 through 2007. For those years, contact Butte County. The state does not keep confidential marriage records.

Note: Allow 2 to 3 weeks for mail orders from the state vital records office.

California Marriage License Laws

California Family Code Sections 350 through 360 set the requirements for marriage licenses. These statutes cover age requirements, ID requirements, and license validity. The 90-day validity rule comes from this part of California law. Butte County clerks follow these statutes when they issue licenses to Chico residents.

California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 controls who can get certified copies of marriage certificates. This law creates two groups. Authorized persons include the married couple, their legal representatives, and certain family members. They can get certified copies for legal use. Other people can only get informational copies.

Confidential marriage laws appear in California Family Code Sections 500 through 511. Section 509 limits access to confidential records. Section 511 sets penalties for unauthorized disclosure. These laws protect couples who choose confidential licenses in Butte County.

Nearby Cities

Chico is the only qualifying city in Butte County. Nearby cities in other counties include Redding in Shasta County to the north.