Santa Clarita Marriage License Records
Santa Clarita residents apply for marriage licenses through the Los Angeles County Clerk. The city is in Los Angeles County and has about 229,000 people. All couples getting a license must go to a county clerk office. Los Angeles County has seven offices that serve Santa Clarita residents. You can pick the one that works best for your schedule. The main office is in Norwalk, but there are also locations in Van Nuys, Downey, Lancaster, and other areas. Each office can help you apply for a marriage license in Santa Clarita. The county keeps all marriage records and issues certified copies when you need them.
Santa Clarita Quick Facts
Los Angeles County Handles Marriage Licenses
Santa Clarita is part of Los Angeles County. All marriage license applications go through the Los Angeles County Clerk. The clerk has the only authority to issue marriage licenses for people who live in Santa Clarita or want to get married here. You cannot get a license from the city. State law puts all marriage license duties with the county clerk under the California Family Code Sections 350 through 360.
The county seat is in downtown Los Angeles, but the main clerk office for marriage licenses moved to Norwalk. That office is at 12400 Imperial Highway. It is about 40 miles south of Santa Clarita. If that drive is too far, you can use the Lancaster office in northern Los Angeles County. It is at 42455 10th Street West in Lancaster, which is closer to Santa Clarita than the Norwalk office. Call ahead to check hours.
Los Angeles County runs an online marriage license system at marriage.lavote.net. You start your application online and set an appointment. Both of you still need to show up in person at the office to finish the process. Online filing saves time when you get there. The county charges $91 for a public marriage license. A confidential license is $85. You pay when you pick up the license at the clerk office in Santa Clarita or any county office.
The California Department of Public Health keeps old marriage records for public marriages from certain years. If you need a copy of an older marriage certificate from Santa Clarita, check with the state. For most new records, the county clerk has what you need.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
Both people must go to the clerk office together. You cannot send one person to get the license. The law says both must be there to apply in person. Bring a valid government photo ID like a driver license or passport. If you were married before, bring proof that marriage ended. That can be a divorce decree or death certificate. You do not need to be a California resident. Anyone can get a marriage license in Los Angeles County as long as they meet state age and ID rules.
You will fill out a marriage license application at the office. The form asks for basic info like names, birth dates, and birth places. It also asks where you plan to get married. You do not have to use that place. You can change your mind later. The clerk office will ask if you want a public or confidential license. Most people pick public. A confidential license is for couples who already live together and want to keep the marriage record private under California Family Code Sections 500 through 511.
The license is good for 90 days from the date it is issued. You must have your ceremony within that time or the license expires. After the ceremony, your officiant signs the license and sends it back to the county. The county clerk files it and creates the official marriage record for Santa Clarita. It takes a few weeks for that record to be ready. Then you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate.
Note: California does not have a waiting period, so you can get married the same day you get your license.
Marriage License Fees in Santa Clarita
Los Angeles County sets the fees for marriage licenses. A public license costs $91. A confidential license is $85. You pay when you pick up the license. The county takes cash, checks, and credit cards. Some offices may not take all forms of payment, so it is a good idea to call the office ahead of time.
If you want a ceremony at the county clerk office, that costs extra. A civil ceremony is $35. You can have that done right after you get the license if there is an opening. Some couples do that on the same day to keep things simple. If you have your own officiant, you do not pay the ceremony fee. You just need to make sure your officiant is registered with the state and knows how to file the signed license with the county clerk after the wedding in Santa Clarita.
- Public marriage license: $91
- Confidential marriage license: $85
- Civil ceremony: $35
- Certified copy of marriage certificate: Varies by office
You can order copies of your marriage certificate from the California Department of Public Health Vital Records office or from the Los Angeles County Clerk. The county clerk is usually faster for new records. The state may take longer but can help with records from many years ago. Check with both to see which one has what you need.
Get Copies of Santa Clarita Marriage Records
After your marriage is filed, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate. You need a certified copy for legal matters like name changes, insurance, and benefits. A certified copy has a raised seal and is signed by the county clerk. Plain copies do not have the seal and are not accepted for most legal uses.
Order copies from the Los Angeles County Clerk. You can do this in person, by mail, or online. In person is the fastest way. Go to any clerk office and ask for a certified copy. Bring your ID and know the full names of both spouses and the marriage date. The office can look up the record and print a copy while you wait. By mail, send a letter with the same info and a check for the fee. Online orders go through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the county fee.
Only certain people can order marriage records. If it is a public marriage, anyone can get a copy. If it is a confidential marriage, only the two spouses can order copies. No one else can see or get a confidential marriage record in Santa Clarita unless they have a court order under California Family Code Section 511.
For older marriage records, you might need to contact the state. The California Department of Public Health has records for public marriages from before 2000 and after 2007. For marriages from 2000 to 2007, you must use the county. Call the state at (916) 445-2684 to find out if they have the record you need from Santa Clarita.
The California Department of Public Health online ordering page explains how to get copies through third-party vendors. Most orders are done through VitalChek, which handles online and phone orders for the state. This can save time if you do not live near a county office anymore but need a copy of your Santa Clarita marriage certificate.
California Marriage Laws
You must be at least 18 years old to get married without a court order. If you are under 18, you need a judge to approve the marriage. Both people must be able to consent. You cannot be married to someone else. If you were married before, that marriage must be over before you can get a new license in Santa Clarita.
There is no blood test. California stopped that rule in 1995. You also do not need any waiting period after you apply. You can get the license and use it the same day. The license is valid for 90 days. If 90 days pass and you did not have a ceremony, the license is no good. You must apply again and pay the fee again to get a new one.
Your officiant must be authorized by the state. This can be a judge, a religious leader, or someone with a deputy commissioner credential. After the ceremony, the officiant fills out the license and returns it to the county within ten days. That is the law under the California Family Code. If the officiant does not send it back, the marriage may not be on file when you go to get copies in Santa Clarita.
Legal Resources in Santa Clarita
Most people do not need a lawyer to apply for a marriage license. The process is simple. But if you have questions about prenuptial agreements, name changes, or other legal matters related to your marriage, you may want to talk to a family law attorney in Santa Clarita. The Los Angeles County Bar Association runs a referral service that can connect you with a lawyer who handles these issues.
For general legal help, the California Courts Self-Help Center has guides and forms. The Los Angeles Superior Court also offers self-help services at several locations in the county. These services are free and open to anyone who needs help understanding the law or filling out court forms in Santa Clarita.
If you need a copy of a marriage record for a divorce or legal separation case, contact the court where your case is filed. The court may need the original marriage certificate to process your case. The clerk office can tell you what documents you need and how to get them in Santa Clarita.
Los Angeles County Marriage License Records
Santa Clarita is in Los Angeles County. All marriage licenses for Santa Clarita residents are processed by the Los Angeles County Clerk. The county serves over 10 million people and handles thousands of marriage licenses each year. For more details on county offices, fees, forms, and how to order copies of marriage records, visit the Los Angeles County page.
Nearby California Cities
Other large cities near Santa Clarita also use their county clerk offices for marriage licenses. These cities include Lancaster, Palmdale, Glendale, and Burbank in Los Angeles County. Each of these cities has over 100,000 residents and follows the same process for marriage licenses that Santa Clarita does.