Santa Maria Marriage License Records
Marriage license applications for Santa Maria residents go through Santa Barbara County Clerk offices where couples must appear together in person to complete the application and pick up their license. Public marriage licenses cost $100 and confidential licenses run $111, with both types requiring current photo identification from each person and immediate payment before the clerk issues the document. Santa Maria residents have a county clerk branch office right in their city which sits alongside the main office in Santa Barbara, making it very convenient to get a marriage license without traveling far.
Santa Barbara County Handles All Licenses
All marriage licenses for Santa Maria come from Santa Barbara County. Cities do not have authority to issue licenses. That power sits with the county.
Santa Barbara County operates two clerk offices. The main office is at 1100 Anacapa Street in Santa Barbara. A branch office serves North County in Santa Maria. Santa Maria residents benefit from having a local office in their city. This cuts down on travel time and makes getting a marriage license much easier. Both offices offer the same services and have the same fees.
The county provides both public and confidential marriage licenses. Public licenses become part of public records that anyone can search. Confidential licenses stay private with only the two spouses able to get copies later. Public licenses cost $100. Confidential ones cost $111. Both types work the same under California law.
Getting Your Marriage License
Call ahead to book an appointment at either the Santa Barbara or Santa Maria office. Phone 805-568-2250 to schedule. Both of you must come at the same time. Walk-ins may be accepted but appointments move faster and guarantee you will be seen.
Bring valid photo ID for each person. Driver licenses work well. So do state IDs, passports, and military IDs. You need to give your full legal names, birth dates, where you were born, and social security numbers. If either of you was married before, say when that marriage ended and how. The clerk needs this information to complete your application. This takes 10 to 15 minutes.
After the clerk checks everything, you pay the fee. They take credit cards, debit cards, and checks. Your license prints right away. It is good for 90 days. Your ceremony must happen within that time anywhere in California. After 90 days, the license expires and you must start over.
Marriage License Fees
Public marriage licenses cost $100 in Santa Barbara County. Confidential licenses cost $111. These fees include all processing and the license itself. Santa Barbara County updates its fee structure each year based on state law and local costs.
If you want a civil ceremony at a clerk office, that adds $104 to your total. The ceremony lasts about 10 to 15 minutes. A deputy commissioner officiates. You can bring guests. Book ceremony slots when you get your license or schedule for later. Your license stays valid for 90 days so you have time to plan.
Certified copies of your marriage certificate cost extra after your wedding. Order them from the same office where you got your license. Many couples order a few copies right after the wedding for name changes and other legal purposes.
Note: Santa Barbara County fees are moderate compared to other California counties.
Clerk Offices in Santa Maria
The Santa Maria branch office location serves North County residents. This office provides all the same services as the main Santa Barbara office. Most Santa Maria residents use this local office. It saves the drive to Santa Barbara which is about 60 miles south.
The main Santa Barbara office sits at 1100 Anacapa Street. That drive takes about an hour from Santa Maria on Highway 101 south. Use this office if the Santa Maria location has no appointment slots or if you prefer the main office.
Office hours are Monday through Friday during standard business hours at both locations. Call 805-568-2250 with questions. Staff can help with appointment booking, explain what documents to bring, and answer questions about wait times. Check countyofsb.org before your visit to confirm hours.
Civil Wedding Ceremonies
Santa Barbara County performs civil ceremonies at both office locations. The $104 fee covers the ceremony and the officiant. You can book a ceremony when you get your license. Some couples do both on the same day. Others get their license first and come back later for the ceremony.
Ceremonies last 10 to 15 minutes. You say vows. You can exchange rings if you want. A deputy commissioner signs your license after the ceremony. Bring as many guests as fit in the ceremony room. Most rooms hold 15 to 20 people.
You can hire your own officiant for a custom ceremony. Ministers, priests, rabbis, judges, and people with online ordination can all officiate California weddings. Your officiant must file the signed license with Santa Barbara County within 10 days. If they forget, your marriage may not be legally recorded.
Getting Copies of Marriage Records
Your officiant files your signed license with Santa Barbara County after the wedding. The marriage becomes official once the county receives and processes it. This usually takes a few days to two weeks. You can then order certified copies from the clerk office. Visit countyofsb.org for ordering information and current fees.
Public marriage records are open to anyone. You do not need to prove who you are or explain why you want a copy. Confidential records work differently. Only the two spouses can get copies. You must show ID proving you are one of the married people.
Santa Barbara County has records going back many decades. Older records may take longer to find. Some very old records are stored on microfiche or in archived paper files. Staff must search these manually. Allow extra time if you need records from 20 or 30 years ago.
For marriages before certain years, you may need to contact the California Department of Public Health at cdph.ca.gov. The state office charges $19 per certified copy. Records from 2000 to 2007 are not available from the state. You must contact the county for those years.
California Marriage License Laws
Both people must be at least 18 years old. No exceptions unless a court grants special permission. California changed this law recently to protect minors from forced marriages.
You do not need to be a California resident. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen. Anyone can marry here if they meet the basic age and legal requirements. The license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. Have your ceremony within that window. If the license expires, you must apply and pay again.
No blood test is required in California. The state eliminated that rule in 1995. Confidential marriages do not need witnesses. Public marriages need at least one witness age 18 or older. The witness signs the license right after your ceremony.
California marriage law is found in the Family Code Sections 350-360. Rules for confidential marriages are in Family Code Sections 500-511. These statutes explain all requirements in detail.
Legal Help for Santa Maria Residents
Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County provides free legal services to low-income residents. They assist with family law matters including marriage, divorce, and name changes. Visit their website or call their office for information about eligibility and what services they offer.
The Santa Barbara County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. They connect you with family law attorneys who practice in North County including Santa Maria. First consultations are usually affordable and help you understand your legal options.
For questions about the marriage license process, call Santa Barbara County Clerk at 805-568-2250. Staff can explain fees, required documents, and how the application works. They cannot give legal advice but can tell you what to bring and what to expect.
California State Marriage Records
The California Department of Public Health maintains some statewide marriage records. Their office is in Sacramento. Contact them at cdph.ca.gov or call 916-445-2684. They have 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 Santa Barbara County charges. But not all records are available from the state. The state office processes mail orders in about two weeks. They do not have a walk-in counter. You must order by mail or through their authorized vendor VitalChek.
Santa Barbara County
Santa Maria is the largest city in North Santa Barbara County. The county seat is Santa Barbara which sits about 60 miles south. Both cities have clerk offices that serve all Santa Barbara County residents. Pick the office location that works best for your schedule and where you live in the county.