Search Glendale Marriage Licenses
Marriage licenses in Glendale are issued by the Los Angeles County Clerk. The city has about 188,000 people and is in southern Los Angeles County. All couples getting married must apply through the county clerk. You cannot get a license from the city. Los Angeles County has seven clerk offices that serve the whole county. The main office is in Norwalk, but there are also offices in Van Nuys, Downey, Lancaster, and other locations. The Van Nuys office may be the closest to Glendale. You can pick the office that works best for your schedule. The county keeps all marriage records and issues certified copies when you need them.
Glendale Quick Facts
Los Angeles County Handles Marriage Licenses
Glendale is in Los Angeles County. The county clerk has the only authority to issue marriage licenses for Glendale residents. This is required by the California Family Code Sections 350 through 360. The clerk runs seven offices to serve the large county. The Van Nuys office is in the San Fernando Valley and may be the closest one to Glendale.
The main office is at 12400 Imperial Highway in Norwalk. That office is about 25 miles south of Glendale. The Van Nuys office may be more convenient for Glendale residents. Call (800) 201-8999 to check addresses and hours before you go. All offices offer the same services for marriage licenses. You can use any office that works best for your location.
The California Department of Public Health keeps old marriage records for some years. If you need a copy of a marriage from a long time ago in Glendale, you may need to contact the state. For recent marriages, the county clerk has what you need.
Los Angeles County has an online system at marriage.lavote.net. You can start your marriage license application online and book an appointment. Both of you still need to go in person at the scheduled time. The online system saves time when you visit from Glendale.
Apply for a Marriage License in Glendale
Both people must go to the clerk office together. One person cannot apply alone. Bring a valid government photo ID like a driver license, passport, or state ID. If you were married before, bring proof that the marriage ended. This can be a divorce decree or a death certificate. You do not need to be a California resident. Anyone can apply for a license here as long as they meet the age and ID rules.
You can start your application online before you go to the office. Visit marriage.lavote.net and fill out the form. The system will give you a confirmation number. Bring that number when you visit the office from Glendale. The clerk will review your info, check your IDs, and issue the license. If you do not start online, you can fill out a paper form at the office when you get there.
The form asks for basic info like names, birth dates, and birth places. It also asks if you want a public or confidential license. Most couples choose public. A confidential license is for couples who already live together and want the marriage record to stay private under California Family Code Sections 500 through 511. The clerk can explain the difference if you are not sure which one to pick.
You pay when you pick up the license. The fee is $91 for a public license. A confidential license is $85. The office accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. After you pay, the clerk gives you the license. It is good for 90 days. You must have your ceremony within that time or the license expires. After the ceremony, your officiant signs the license and mails it to the county. The county files it and you can order copies a few weeks later for your Glendale marriage.
Note: California does not have a waiting period, so you can get married the same day you get your license.
Marriage License Fees in Glendale
Los Angeles County charges $91 for a public marriage license. A confidential license is $85. These fees are set by the county and may change over time. Call the clerk at (800) 201-8999 to check the current rates before you go from Glendale to apply.
If you want a civil ceremony at the county office, that costs $35. You can book a ceremony when you pick up your license or schedule one for a later date. Some couples do the ceremony right after they get the license to keep things simple. If you have your own officiant, you do not pay the ceremony fee. Just make sure your officiant is registered with the state and knows how to return the signed license to the county after your wedding in Glendale.
- Public marriage license: $91
- Confidential marriage license: $85
- Civil ceremony: $35
- Certified copy of marriage certificate: Contact county for fee
You can order certified copies of marriage certificates online through third-party vendors. The California Department of Public Health online ordering page explains how this works. Most orders go through VitalChek, which charges a service fee on top of the county or state fee.
Get Copies of Glendale Marriage Records
After your marriage is filed, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate. You need these for legal matters like name changes, benefits, and insurance. A certified copy has a raised seal and signature from the county clerk. Plain copies do not have the seal and are not valid for most legal uses.
Go to any Los Angeles County Clerk office to order in person. Bring your ID and know the names of both spouses and the marriage date. The clerk can look up the record and print a copy while you wait. By mail, send a letter with the same details and a check for the fee. Online orders can be placed through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the county fee.
Only certain people can order marriage records. If the marriage is public, anyone can request a copy. If it is confidential, only the two spouses can order records. No one else can get a confidential marriage record in Glendale unless they have a court order under California Family Code Section 511.
For older records, the California Department of Public Health may have what you need. Call them at (916) 445-2684 to find out if they have the record from your Glendale marriage. The state charges $19 for a certified copy of a marriage certificate.
California Marriage Laws
You must be at least 18 years old to get married without a court order. Both people must be able to consent. You cannot be married to someone else. If you were married before, that marriage must be ended by divorce or death before you can get a new license in Glendale.
California does not require a blood test. That rule ended in 1995. There is no waiting period either. You can get the license and use it the same day. The license is valid for 90 days. If you do not have a ceremony within that time, the license is no longer good and you must apply again.
Your officiant must be authorized by California. This can be a judge, a religious leader, or a deputy commissioner. After the ceremony, the officiant fills out the license and sends it to the county within ten days. That is the law under the California Family Code. If the signed license is not returned, your marriage may not be on file and you will have trouble getting copies for your Glendale marriage.
Legal Resources in Glendale
You usually do not need a lawyer to get a marriage license. The process is simple. But if you have questions about prenuptial agreements, property rights, or other legal matters related to marriage, you may want to talk to a family law attorney. The Los Angeles County Bar Association can refer you to a lawyer who handles these issues in Glendale.
For general legal help, the California Courts Self-Help Center has guides and forms. Los Angeles County also has self-help services at several courthouses. These services are free and open to anyone who needs help with court forms or understanding California law in Glendale.
The California Department of Public Health Vital Records page has information on state-level marriage records. This is useful if you need a copy of an older marriage certificate from Glendale and the county does not have it on file.
Los Angeles County Marriage License Records
Glendale is in Los Angeles County. All marriage licenses for Glendale residents are issued by the Los Angeles County Clerk. The county serves over 10 million people and has seven office locations. For more details on county services, fees, forms, and how to order copies of marriage records, visit the Los Angeles County page.
Nearby California Cities
Other large cities in Los Angeles County also use the county clerk for marriage licenses. These include Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Clarita, Burbank, Pasadena, and Torrance. Each of these cities has over 100,000 residents and follows the same process for marriage licenses that Glendale does.