Oxnard Marriage Licenses
Marriage licenses in Oxnard are issued by the Ventura County Clerk. The city has about 201,000 people and is the largest city in Ventura County. All couples getting married must apply through the county clerk. You cannot get a license from the city. Ventura County has two clerk offices. The main office is in Ventura at 800 South Victoria Avenue. That office is about 12 miles north of Oxnard. The county also has a branch office in Thousand Oaks. Most Oxnard residents use the Ventura office since it is the closest. The county keeps all marriage records and issues certified copies when you need them.
Oxnard Quick Facts
Ventura County Handles Marriage Licenses
Oxnard is in Ventura County. The county clerk has the only authority to issue marriage licenses for Oxnard residents. This is required by the California Family Code Sections 350 through 360. The clerk runs two offices to serve the whole county. The main office in Ventura is the closest one to Oxnard and handles most marriage license applications for the area.
The Ventura office is at 800 South Victoria Avenue, Room 103. It is open Monday through Friday. Call (805) 654-2263 to check hours before you go. The office is in the Ventura County Government Center complex. Street parking and public lots are available near the office. You can also visit the Thousand Oaks office if that is more convenient. It is at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard and serves residents from the eastern 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 Oxnard, you may need to contact the state. For recent marriages, the county clerk has what you need.
Ventura County uses an appointment system through Acuity Scheduling. You can book an appointment online to apply for your marriage license. Both of you still need to go in person at the scheduled time. The appointment system keeps wait times short when you visit the office from Oxnard.
Apply for a Marriage License in Oxnard
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. The county uses Acuity Scheduling to manage appointments. This helps you avoid long waits when you visit from Oxnard. 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. 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 $108 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 Oxnard 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 Oxnard
Ventura County charges $108 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 (805) 654-2263 to check the current rates before you go from Oxnard to apply.
If you want a civil ceremony at the county office, that costs $60. You can book a ceremony when you pick up your license or call ahead to schedule one. The county offers ceremonies only on certain days. Ask about availability when you call. 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 Oxnard.
- Public marriage license: $108
- Confidential marriage license: $122
- Civil ceremony: $60
- 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 Oxnard 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 either Ventura 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 third-party vendors. Check the county website for current ordering options.
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 Oxnard 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 Oxnard 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 Oxnard.
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 Oxnard marriage.
Legal Resources in Oxnard
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 Ventura County Bar Association can refer you to a lawyer who handles these issues in Oxnard.
For general legal help, the California Courts Self-Help Center has guides and forms. Ventura County also has self-help services at the courthouse in Ventura. These services are free and open to anyone who needs help with court forms or understanding California law in Oxnard.
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 Oxnard and the county does not have it on file.
Ventura County Marriage License Records
Oxnard is in Ventura County. All marriage licenses for Oxnard residents are issued by the Ventura County Clerk. The county serves over 850,000 people and has two office locations. For more details on county services, fees, forms, and how to order copies of marriage records, visit the Ventura County page.
Nearby California Cities
Other large cities in Ventura County also use the county clerk for marriage licenses. These include Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura. Each of these cities has over 100,000 residents and follows the same process for marriage licenses that Oxnard does.