Find San Jose Marriage License Records

Marriage license applications in San Jose are processed through the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder office located at 110 West Tasman Drive, which charges $80 for public licenses and $83 for confidential ones. The office requires both parties to appear in person with valid photo identification, offers civil wedding ceremonies at prices ranging from $80 to $120 depending on location, and maintains marriage records that become part of California's vital records system once filed. San Jose residents can walk in during office hours or book appointments online to avoid wait times, with most license applications processed in about 20 minutes once both parties meet with a clerk.

Santa Clara County Issues Marriage Licenses

All marriage licenses for San Jose come from Santa Clara County. No city in California has the power to issue marriage licenses. That job falls to each county clerk under state law.

The Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder office is at 110 West Tasman Drive in San Jose. This is the main office for the whole county. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours. Appointments are also available and help you skip the line. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.

Santa Clara 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 $80. Confidential ones cost $83. Both types work the same way for legal purposes. The only difference is privacy.

How to Apply for a License

Visit the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder office at 110 West Tasman Drive. 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.

Online appointments are available at clerkrecorder.santaclaracounty.gov. Book ahead if you want to avoid waiting. Walk-ins are fine but may have to wait if the office is busy. Most people get through in 30 minutes or less even without an appointment.

Marriage License Fees in Santa Clara County

A public license costs $80. A confidential license costs $83. These fees are among the lowest in the Bay Area. 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 between $80 and $120 depending on the location and time. The basic ceremony at the main office costs $80. Special locations or weekend slots cost more. The ceremony includes the officiant and takes about 10 minutes. You can bring guests. The number of guests allowed depends on the space available at each location.

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.

Santa Clara County Clerk Office

The office is at 110 West Tasman Drive in San Jose. It is near the intersection of Tasman Drive and North First Street, close to many tech company campuses in North San Jose. Parking is available in a lot next to the building. The lot is free for visitors.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. The office is closed on weekends and county holidays. Arrive before 4:00pm to make sure you have enough time to complete your application before closing. The last appointments of the day may be rushed if staff need to close on time.

You can call 408-299-5688 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

Santa Clara County performs civil ceremonies at several locations. The main office at 110 West Tasman Drive offers basic ceremonies for $80. Special locations like the Historic Courthouse in downtown San Jose cost more. Prices range from $80 to $120 depending on where and when you want your ceremony.

Ceremonies last about 10 minutes. A deputy commissioner reads a short script. You exchange vows and rings if you want. The commissioner signs your license after the ceremony. You can bring guests. The number of guests depends on the space available at each location. Ask when you book your ceremony.

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 Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder. The marriage becomes an official record once filed. You can order certified copies from the same office at 110 West Tasman Drive. Visit clerkrecorder.santaclaracounty.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.

For marriages that happened before 1988, you may need to contact the California Department of Public Health. The state office charges $19 per certified copy. Not all years are available from the state. Check with both the county and state to see which one has what you need.

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 Santa Clara County

If you need legal advice about marriage, name changes, or family law, several groups in Santa Clara County offer free or low-cost help. Law Foundation of Silicon Valley provides assistance to low-income residents. Visit lawfoundation.org for information about services.

The Santa Clara County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. They can connect you with a family law attorney. Visit sccba.com for more details. The first consultation is usually affordable.

For general questions about the marriage license process, call the Santa Clara County Clerk at 408-299-5688. 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 Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County

San Jose is the largest city in the Bay Area and the third largest in California. Other big cities in Santa Clara County include Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. All of these cities use the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder for marriage licenses. The office at 110 West Tasman Drive serves the entire county.

Cities in nearby counties like Fremont and Oakland in Alameda County, or San Francisco in San Francisco County, use their own county clerk offices. If you live near a county border, you can apply in any county. The license is valid anywhere in California.