Fresno Marriage License Records

Marriage license applications in Fresno are processed through the Fresno County Clerk office at 2221 Kern Street, which charges some of the lowest fees in California at $58 for public licenses and $69 for confidential ones. The County Clerk requires both parties to appear in person with valid photo identification, processes applications in about 20 minutes, and offers civil wedding ceremonies for just $21. Fresno couples can walk in during office hours Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm, with most applications completed quickly even without appointments since the office handles fewer weddings than larger urban counties.

Fresno County Issues Marriage Licenses

All marriage licenses for Fresno come from Fresno County. No city in California has the power to issue marriage licenses. That job falls to each county clerk under state law.

The Fresno County Clerk office is at 2221 Kern Street in downtown Fresno. This is the main office for the whole county. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Closed on weekends and county holidays.

Fresno 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 $58. Confidential ones cost $69. These are among the lowest fees in California. Both types work the same way for legal purposes. The only difference is privacy.

How to Apply for a License

Visit the Fresno County Clerk office at 2221 Kern Street. Both people must come together. You cannot send just one person to apply. Bring a valid photo ID for each person. Driver licenses, passports, and state IDs all work.

The clerk will ask for basic information. Full names, birth dates, birth places, and social security numbers. If either person was married before, you must say when and how that marriage ended. The clerk enters this info into the computer. It takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.

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. The ceremony can be anywhere in California.

No appointment needed. Just walk in during office hours. The Fresno County Clerk usually has short wait times. Most people get through in 30 minutes or less. Busy times are lunch hours and late afternoons. Go in the morning if you want the shortest wait.

Marriage License Fees in Fresno County

A public license costs $58. A confidential license costs $69. These are the lowest fees in Central California and among the lowest in the entire state. 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 just $21 extra. That is also one of the lowest ceremony fees in California. The ceremony includes the officiant and takes about 10 minutes. You can bring guests. The number of guests allowed depends on the space available. Ask when you book your ceremony.

Certified copies of your marriage certificate cost about $15 after your wedding. Order those from the County Clerk 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.

Fresno County Clerk Office

The office is at 2221 Kern Street in downtown Fresno. It is near the intersection of Kern Street and Fresno Street, close to many government buildings. Parking is available on the street and in nearby lots. Most street parking is metered. Some free lots are within walking distance.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm. The office is closed on weekends and county holidays. Arrive before 4:30pm to make sure you have enough time to complete your application before closing. The last applications of the day may be rushed if staff need to close on time.

You can call 559-600-2575 with questions about marriage licenses. The phone line is open during office hours. Staff can tell you what documents to bring, explain the process, and answer questions about fees. They cannot give legal advice, but they can help with the basic steps of getting a license.

Civil Wedding Ceremonies

Fresno County performs civil ceremonies at the clerk office. The $21 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 Fresno County Clerk. The marriage becomes an official record once filed. You can order certified copies from the same office at 2221 Kern Street. Visit fresnocountyca.gov 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 Requirements

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 Fresno

If you need legal advice about marriage, name changes, or family law, several groups in Fresno offer free or low-cost help. Central California Legal Services provides assistance to low-income residents. Visit centralcallegal.org for information about services.

The Fresno County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. They can connect you with a family law attorney. Visit fresnocountybar.org for more details. The first consultation is usually affordable.

For general questions about the marriage license process, call the Fresno County Clerk at 559-600-2575. 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 Fresno 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 Fresno County

Fresno is the largest city in Central California and the fifth largest in the state. Another big city in Fresno County is Clovis. Both cities use the Fresno County Clerk for marriage licenses. The office at 2221 Kern Street serves the entire county.

Nearby cities in other counties include Visalia in Tulare County and Bakersfield in Kern County. Each county has its own clerk office with different fees. If you live near a county border, you can apply in any county. The license is valid anywhere in California.