Oakland Marriage License Lookup

Marriage license applications in Oakland are processed through the Alameda County Clerk-Recorder office at 1106 Madison Street, which charges $81 for public licenses and $90 for confidential ones, with civil ceremonies available for $75. The County Clerk requires both parties to appear in person with valid photo identification, operates two offices in Oakland and Dublin, and offers virtual ceremony services through Microsoft Teams for couples who prefer remote weddings. Oakland couples can walk in during office hours Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm or book appointments online to reduce wait times, with most applications processed in about 20 minutes once both parties meet with a clerk.

Alameda County Issues Marriage Licenses

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

The Alameda County Clerk-Recorder office is at 1106 Madison Street in Oakland. This is the main office for the county. A second office is in Dublin at 5850 Dublin Boulevard. You can visit either office. The Oakland office is convenient for people who live or work in Oakland, Berkeley, and surrounding East Bay cities.

Alameda 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 $81. Confidential ones cost $90. Both types work the same way for legal purposes. The only difference is privacy.

How to Get a Marriage License

Visit the Alameda County Clerk-Recorder office at 1106 Madison Street in Oakland or the Dublin office at 5850 Dublin Boulevard. 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.

Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are available online. Book ahead if you want to avoid waiting. The office website is auditor.alamedacountyca.gov. Most people get through in 30 minutes or less even without an appointment.

Marriage License Fees in Alameda County

A public license costs $81. A confidential license costs $90. These fees are reasonable compared to other Bay Area counties. 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 $75 extra. That fee covers the ceremony and the officiant. The ceremony takes about 10 minutes. You can bring guests. Alameda County also offers virtual ceremonies through Microsoft Teams for the same price. This is a good option if you have family or friends who cannot attend in person.

Certified copies of your marriage certificate cost about $15 to $20 after your wedding. Order those from the same 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.

Alameda County Clerk Office in Oakland

The office is at 1106 Madison Street in downtown Oakland. It is near Lake Merritt and many BART stops. The Lake Merritt BART station is a short walk away. Multiple AC Transit bus lines serve the area. Parking is available on the street and in nearby garages. Metered parking can be hard to find during the day.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm. The office is closed on weekends and county holidays. Arrive before 3:30pm to make sure you have enough time to complete your application before closing.

You can call 510-272-6362 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

Alameda County performs civil ceremonies at both the Oakland and Dublin offices. The $75 fee covers the ceremony and the officiant. Ceremonies last about 10 minutes. You can bring guests. The office also offers virtual ceremonies through Microsoft Teams. This is unique among California counties. Virtual ceremonies cost the same as in-person ones.

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 Alameda County Clerk-Recorder. The marriage becomes an official record once filed. You can order certified copies from the same office at 1106 Madison Street in Oakland. Visit auditor.alamedacountyca.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 Oakland

If you need legal advice about marriage, name changes, or family law, several groups in Oakland offer free or low-cost help. Bay Area Legal Aid serves low-income residents in Alameda County. Visit baylegal.org for information about services.

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

For general questions about the marriage license process, call the Alameda County Clerk at 510-272-6362. 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 Alameda 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 Alameda County

Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay and the eighth largest in California. Other big cities in Alameda County include Fremont, Hayward, Berkeley, and Richmond. All of these cities use the Alameda County Clerk-Recorder for marriage licenses.

Nearby cities in other counties include San Francisco in San Francisco County and San Jose in Santa Clara County. Each county has its own clerk office with different fees and procedures. If you live near a county border, you can apply in any county. The license is valid anywhere in California.