Moreno Valley Marriage License Info
Moreno Valley residents get marriage licenses from the Riverside County Clerk. The city has about 214,000 people and is in western Riverside County. All couples must apply through the county clerk. You cannot get a license from the city. Riverside County has six clerk offices that serve the whole county. The main office is in Riverside at 2724 Gateway Drive. That office is about 15 miles south of Moreno Valley. The county also has branch offices in Palm Desert, Indio, Hemet, Temecula, and Banning. You can use any office that works best for your location and schedule. The county keeps all marriage records and issues certified copies when you need them.
Moreno Valley Quick Facts
Riverside County Issues Marriage Licenses
Moreno Valley is in Riverside County. The county clerk has the only authority to issue marriage licenses for Moreno Valley residents. This is required by the California Family Code Sections 350 through 360. The clerk runs six offices across the county to serve residents. The main office in Riverside is the closest one to Moreno Valley and handles the most marriage license applications.
The Riverside office is at 2724 Gateway Drive. It is open Monday through Friday. Call (951) 486-7000 to check hours before you go. The office is south of downtown Riverside and is easy to reach from Moreno Valley via Highway 60. Street parking and public lots are available near the office. You can also visit the Temecula office if that is more convenient. It is at 41002 County Center Drive and serves residents from the southwest part of the county.
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 Moreno Valley, you may need to contact the state. For recent marriages, the county clerk has what you need.
Riverside County has an online system at webselfservice.riversideacr.com. You can start your marriage license application online before you visit the office. Both of you still need to go in person to finish the process and pick up the license. The online system saves time when you get there because most of the form is already filled out for Moreno Valley residents.
Apply for a Marriage License in Moreno Valley
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 webselfservice.riversideacr.com and fill out the marriage license form. The system will give you a confirmation number. Bring that number when you visit the office from Moreno Valley. 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. That option is covered by 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 $111 for a public license. A confidential license is $122. 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 Moreno Valley 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 Moreno Valley
Riverside County charges $111 for a public marriage license. A confidential license is $122. These fees are set by the county and may change over time. Call the clerk at (951) 486-7000 to check the current rates before you go from Moreno Valley to apply.
If you want a civil ceremony at the county office, that costs $96. Riverside County also has a special 14th Street Chapel in Riverside that offers ceremonies for $138. 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 the state and knows how to return the signed license to the county after your wedding in Moreno Valley.
- Public marriage license: $111
- Confidential marriage license: $122
- Civil ceremony: $96
- 14th Street Chapel ceremony: $138
- 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 Moreno Valley marriage.
Order Copies of Moreno Valley 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 Riverside 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 Moreno Valley 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 Moreno Valley 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 Moreno Valley.
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 Moreno Valley marriage.
Legal Resources in Moreno Valley
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 Riverside County Bar Association can refer you to a lawyer who handles these issues in Moreno Valley.
For general legal help, the California Courts Self-Help Center has guides and forms. Riverside County also has self-help services at the courthouse in Riverside. These services are free and open to anyone who needs help with court forms or understanding California law in Moreno Valley.
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 Moreno Valley and the county does not have it on file.
Riverside County Marriage License Records
Moreno Valley is in Riverside County. All marriage licenses for Moreno Valley residents are issued by the Riverside County Clerk. The county serves over 2 million people and has six office locations. For more details on county services, fees, forms, and how to order copies of marriage records, visit the Riverside County page.
Nearby California Cities
Other large cities in Riverside County also use the county clerk for marriage licenses. These include Riverside, Corona, Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula, and Jurupa Valley. Each of these cities has over 100,000 residents and follows the same process for marriage licenses that Moreno Valley does.