Huntington Beach Marriage Records
Huntington Beach residents get marriage licenses from the Orange County Clerk. The city has about 193,000 people and is in northwest Orange County. All marriage license applications go through the county clerk. You cannot get a license from the city. Orange County has three clerk offices that serve the whole county. The main office is in Santa Ana at 211 West Santa Ana Boulevard. The county also has branch offices in Anaheim and Laguna Hills. The Anaheim office is closest to Huntington Beach and may be more convenient. You pick which office works best for your schedule. The county keeps all marriage records and issues certified copies when you need them.
Huntington Beach Quick Facts
Orange County Issues Marriage Licenses
Huntington Beach is in Orange County. The county clerk has the only authority to issue marriage licenses for Huntington Beach residents. This is required by the California Family Code Sections 350 through 360. The clerk runs three offices across the county. The Anaheim office is closest to Huntington Beach and is about 10 miles northeast of the city center.
The Anaheim office is at 600 North Harbor Boulevard. It is open Monday through Friday. Call (714) 834-2500 to check hours before you go. The office is in the Anaheim Civic Center. Street parking and public lots are available nearby. You can also use the Santa Ana office at 211 West Santa Ana Boulevard, Room 201, or the Laguna Hills office at 24151 Laguna Hills Mall, Suite 120. All three offices offer the same services for marriage licenses in Huntington Beach.
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 Huntington Beach, you may need to contact the state. For recent marriages, the county clerk has what you need.
Orange County has an online system at ocweddings.ocrecorder.com. You can book an appointment online and start your marriage license application. Both of you still need to go in person at the scheduled time. The online system keeps wait times short when you visit from Huntington Beach.
Apply for a Marriage License in Huntington Beach
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.
Book an appointment online before you go to the office. Visit ocweddings.ocrecorder.com and choose a date and time. This helps you avoid long waits when you visit from Huntington Beach. At the appointment, the clerk will give you a form to fill out. It 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.
You pay when you pick up the license. The fee is $61 for a public license. A confidential license is $66. 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 Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach
Orange County charges $61 for a public marriage license. A confidential license is $66. These fees are set by the county and may change over time. Call the clerk at (714) 834-2500 to check the current rates before you go from Huntington Beach to apply.
If you want a civil ceremony at the county office, that costs $28. You can book a ceremony when you pick up your license or schedule one for a later date. Orange County offers ceremonies at all three office locations. 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 Huntington Beach.
- Public marriage license: $61
- Confidential marriage license: $66
- Civil ceremony: $28
- Certified copy of marriage certificate: Contact county for fee
The California Department of Public Health forms page has information on state-level marriage records. You can also order copies through the state if the county does not have what you need for your Huntington Beach marriage.
Order Copies of Huntington Beach Marriage Certificates
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 Orange 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 the county website or third-party vendors.
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 Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach.
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 Huntington Beach marriage.
Legal Resources in Huntington Beach
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 Orange County Bar Association can refer you to a lawyer who handles these issues in Huntington Beach.
For general legal help, the California Courts Self-Help Center has guides and forms. Orange County also has self-help services at the courthouse in Santa Ana. These services are free and open to anyone who needs help with court forms or understanding California law in Huntington Beach.
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 Huntington Beach and the county does not have it on file.
Orange County Marriage License Records
Huntington Beach is in Orange County. All marriage licenses for Huntington Beach residents are issued by the Orange County Clerk. The county serves over 3 million people and has three office locations. For more details on county services, fees, forms, and how to order copies of marriage records, visit the Orange County page.
Nearby California Cities
Other large cities in Orange County also use the county clerk for marriage licenses. These include Anaheim, Irvine, Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Fullerton, Orange, and Costa Mesa. Each of these cities has over 100,000 residents and follows the same process for marriage licenses that Huntington Beach does.