Access Modesto Marriage Records
Marriage licenses in Modesto are issued by the Stanislaus County Clerk. The city is the county seat with about 221,000 people. All couples must go to the county clerk office to apply for a license. The office is at 1021 I Street, Suite 101 in downtown Modesto. You cannot get a marriage license from the city. The county clerk has the only authority to issue licenses under California state law. The office keeps all marriage records and gives out certified copies when you need them. Modesto residents can walk in during business hours to apply or to get copies of marriage certificates.
Modesto Quick Facts
Stanislaus County Issues Marriage Licenses
Modesto is in Stanislaus County and serves as the county seat. The county clerk issues all marriage licenses for Modesto and the rest of the county. This is required by the California Family Code Sections 350 through 360. The clerk office is in the same building as other county services in downtown Modesto. It is easy for residents to find and reach.
The office is at 1021 I Street, Suite 101. It is near the Stanislaus County courthouse in the center of Modesto. The office is open Monday through Friday. Call (209) 525-5250 to check hours or ask questions before you go. Parking is available on nearby streets and in public lots. The office does not take appointments for marriage licenses. You just walk in during business hours to apply.
For old marriage records, the California Department of Public Health may have copies if the marriage was from a long time ago. The state keeps some records for public marriages from before 2000 and after 2007. For years in between, you must go through the county clerk in Modesto.
Stanislaus County offers civil ceremonies at the clerk office for an extra fee. You can schedule a ceremony for the same day you pick up your license or for a later date. Call ahead to check availability for civil ceremonies in Modesto.
Apply for a Marriage License in Modesto
Both people must go to the clerk office in person. One person cannot apply alone. Bring a valid photo ID like a driver license, passport, or state ID card. If you were married before, bring proof that the marriage ended. A divorce decree or death certificate will work. 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 requirements.
The clerk will give you a form to fill out. It asks for names, birth dates, birth places, and where you plan to get married. You do not have to get married at that place. You can change your mind later. The form 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 the fee when you apply. A public license costs $76. A confidential license is $81. The office accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. After you pay, the clerk gives you the license right away. It is good for 90 days from that date. You must have your wedding ceremony within those 90 days or the license expires. If it expires, you have to apply again and pay again.
After your ceremony, your officiant signs the license and mails it back to the county clerk. The law says the officiant has ten days to do this. Once the county gets it, they file the marriage record. You can order certified copies a few weeks later when the record is in the system in Modesto.
Note: California does not have a waiting period, so you can get married the same day you get your license in Modesto.
Modesto Marriage License Fees
Stanislaus County charges $76 for a public marriage license. A confidential license is $81. These fees are set by the county and may change over time. Call the clerk at (209) 525-5250 to check the current rates before you go to Modesto to apply.
If you want a civil ceremony at the county office, that costs $45. You can book a ceremony when you pick up your license or call ahead to schedule one. Some couples do the ceremony right after they get the license. If you have your own officiant, you do not pay the ceremony fee. Just make sure your officiant is registered with California and knows how to return the signed license to the county after your wedding in Modesto.
- Public marriage license: $76
- Confidential marriage license: $81
- Civil ceremony: $45
- 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 Modesto marriage.
Order Copies of Modesto 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 the Stanislaus County Clerk office in Modesto 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 third-party vendors like 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 Modesto 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 Modesto marriage. The state charges $19 for a certified copy of a marriage certificate.
Marriage Laws in California
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 Modesto.
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.
Your officiant must be authorized by California. This can be a judge, a religious leader, or a deputy commissioner of civil marriages. 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, the marriage record may not be filed and you will have trouble getting copies later in Modesto.
Legal Resources in Modesto
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 Stanislaus County Bar Association can refer you to a lawyer who handles these issues in Modesto.
For general legal help, the California Courts Self-Help Center has guides and forms. Stanislaus County also has self-help services at the courthouse in Modesto. These services are free and open to anyone who needs help with court forms or understanding California law.
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 Modesto and the county does not have it on file.
Stanislaus County Marriage License Records
Modesto is in Stanislaus County and is the county seat. All marriage licenses for Modesto residents are issued by the Stanislaus County Clerk. The county serves over 500,000 people across the Central Valley. For more information on county services, office hours, fees, and how to order marriage records, visit the Stanislaus County page.
Nearby Cities Over 100,000 Population
Other large cities near Modesto in the Central Valley also go through their county clerk offices for marriage licenses. Stockton and Tracy are in San Joaquin County. Fresno and Clovis are in Fresno County. Each city follows the same state laws for marriage licenses that Modesto does.