Riverside Marriage License Services

Marriage license records for Riverside residents come from the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder office, which serves the county seat and surrounding communities with over 320,000 people. Riverside couples can apply for marriage licenses at one of six branch offices throughout Riverside County, including the main office at 2724 Gateway Drive in Riverside, with public marriage licenses costing $111 and confidential licenses at $122. The county clerk offers both online appointment scheduling and civil ceremony services, including the special 14th Street Chapel venue, making Riverside County one of the most accommodating marriage license providers in California with multiple convenient locations for residents across the Inland Empire region.

Riverside County Clerk Office Locations

Marriage licenses for Riverside city residents are issued by Riverside County. The county operates six branch offices across the region. The main office is located at 2724 Gateway Drive in Riverside. This is the most convenient location for people who live in the city of Riverside.

Other Riverside County locations include offices in Corona, Palm Desert, Temecula, Indio, and Blythe. All six offices handle marriage license applications. You can visit any location regardless of where you live in Riverside County. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm at most branches. Some offices have extended hours on certain days.

The Riverside County website is rivcoacr.org. You can find detailed information about each office location, current hours, and appointment availability. The county has modernized its marriage license process with online tools and scheduling systems. You can call the main phone number at 951-486-7000 for questions or to book an appointment at any Riverside County office location.

How to Apply for a Marriage License

Both people must appear together in person at a Riverside County office. You cannot apply by mail or have someone else pick up your marriage license. Bring valid photo identification for each person. A California driver license, state ID, passport, or military ID works. The clerk will ask basic questions about your name, birthplace, date of birth, and social security number.

If either person was married before, you must state when and where that previous marriage ended. The clerk may ask for a divorce decree or death certificate in some cases. Most of the time a simple statement is enough. No blood test is required. California eliminated that requirement in 1995. You do not need to be a California resident to get a marriage license in Riverside County.

The appointment takes about 20 to 30 minutes from start to finish. You pay the license fee at the appointment. Riverside County accepts credit cards, debit cards, checks, and cash. The clerk prints your marriage license at the end of the appointment. You leave with the physical document that day. The license is valid for 90 days from the issue date in California.

Marriage License Fees

A public marriage license costs $111 in Riverside County. A confidential marriage license costs $122. These fees are set by the county and may change from year to year. Payment is due when you pick up your marriage license at the office.

Civil ceremony fees are separate from the license fee. Riverside County offers several ceremony options. A basic ceremony at a clerk office costs $96. The county also operates the 14th Street Chapel, a special venue for wedding ceremonies. The chapel ceremony costs $138. This includes use of the space for a short ceremony with up to 10 guests.

Certified copies of your marriage certificate are available after the wedding from the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder office. The first certified copy costs $24. Each additional copy costs $18. You can order copies in person, by mail, or through VitalChek online. Online orders have extra service fees.

Public and Confidential Marriage Licenses

Riverside County issues both types of marriage licenses allowed under California law. A public marriage license becomes part of the public record once it is filed. Anyone can request a copy later from the county recorder or state vital records office. Most couples in Riverside choose a public license.

Confidential marriage licenses cost $122 in Riverside County. Only the two people who got married can obtain copies. To qualify for a confidential license, both people must be living together as a married couple when they apply. No witness is needed at the ceremony for a confidential marriage. The license does not become a public record under California Family Code Section 509.

Some people choose confidential licenses for privacy. Others prefer public licenses because they are more common and easier to use when ordering copies from the state. Both types are fully legal in California. You cannot change from one type to the other after your license is issued in Riverside County.

Wedding Ceremonies in Riverside

After you get your marriage license from Riverside County, you can have your wedding ceremony anywhere in California. Many Riverside residents choose local venues. The city has parks, hotels, and event spaces. You need an officiant who is authorized to perform marriages under California law. This can be a judge, minister, or any person registered with the county as an officiant.

The officiant must sign the marriage license after the ceremony. They have 10 days to return the signed license to the Riverside County Clerk office. Make sure your officiant knows this requirement. If the license is not filed on time, your marriage may not become an official record.

Riverside County also performs civil ceremonies at their offices and at the 14th Street Chapel. These ceremonies are short and simple. They last about 10 minutes. The county clerk reads a standard ceremony script and the couple exchanges vows. You can book your ceremony when you pick up your marriage license.

Requirements Under California Law

Both people must be at least 18 years old to get a marriage license in Riverside. If someone is under 18, they need a court order. The marriage license is valid for 90 days. You must have your ceremony within that time period.

California Family Code Sections 350 through 360 set the basic rules for marriage licenses. These laws cover identification requirements, license validity, and filing procedures. The county clerk must follow these statutes when issuing licenses in Riverside County.

For confidential marriages, California Family Code Sections 500 through 511 apply. Section 509 explains who can access confidential marriage records. Only the married couple can get copies. Other people need a court order to see confidential marriage records in California.

Getting Certificate Copies

After your wedding, the officiant files your marriage license with the Riverside County Clerk office. Once filed, the marriage becomes an official record. You can order certified copies from the county recorder. Most people need certified copies for changing their name, updating insurance, or filing taxes.

You can order copies in person at any of the six Riverside County offices. Bring valid identification. You can also order by mail using the application form on the county website. Mail orders take two to three weeks to process. Online orders through VitalChek arrive faster but have extra service fees.

For older marriage records, the county recorder has archives going back many decades. Some very old records may only be available in paper form. Allow extra time if you need copies of records from more than 10 years ago in Riverside County.

Riverside Resources

The main Riverside County office is at 2724 Gateway Drive. This is the closest location for most Riverside city residents. You can find legal help from local groups if you have questions about marriage licenses or need assistance with forms.

For more information, visit the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder website. The site has application forms, fee schedules, and detailed directions to all six office locations. You can also call 951-486-7000 during business hours for help.

Nearby Riverside County Cities

Other Riverside County cities with populations over 100,000 that use the same county clerk office: Corona, Moreno Valley, Jurupa Valley, Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula