Tracy Marriage License Records

Marriage license records for Tracy are issued by the San Joaquin County Treasurer-Tax Collector-County Clerk office. Tracy is a city of about 104,000 people in San Joaquin County in the Central Valley. All marriage licenses for Tracy residents go through the county clerk system in Stockton. The county clerk office handles all license applications and maintains marriage records for San Joaquin County. If you got married in Tracy or anywhere in San Joaquin County, your marriage record is kept by the county clerk and you can request certified copies through their office anytime.

San Joaquin County Handles Marriage Licenses

Tracy is in San Joaquin County. The county clerk handles all marriage license applications for Tracy residents. Cities cannot issue marriage licenses in California. Only county clerks have this authority under California Family Code.

The San Joaquin County Clerk office is at 675 Texas Street in Stockton. This is the main office that serves Tracy residents. You must have an appointment to apply for a marriage license. Both people must come together in person. Walk-in service is not available at the San Joaquin County clerk office.

You can schedule your appointment by calling the clerk office at 209-468-3939 or through the county website. The clerk will answer questions about the application process and help you pick an appointment time that works for you in San Joaquin County.

Marriage License Requirements

Tracy couples must meet California state requirements. You must be at least 18 years old. If you are under 18, you need a court order. No blood test is required. You do not need to be a California resident. Anyone from any state or country can get a marriage license in San Joaquin County.

Bring valid photo ID to your appointment. A driver license, passport, or state ID card works. You need your social security number. If you were married before, tell the clerk when and where that marriage ended. The clerk fills out the application during your appointment at the Fairfield office.

What to bring:

• Government-issued photo ID for both people
• Social security numbers
• Information about previous marriages if applicable
• Payment for the license fee

Your marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued. You must have your wedding ceremony within that time. After the ceremony, the person who performed your wedding must sign the license and return it to the county clerk within 10 days. Once the clerk files the signed license, your marriage is official in San Joaquin County.

Public Marriage Licenses

A public marriage license costs $65 in San Joaquin County. This is the standard type. The license becomes a public record after your ceremony. Anyone can request a copy of your marriage certificate. You need at least one witness at your wedding. The witness must be 18 or older and must sign the license.

San Joaquin County also offers confidential marriage licenses. A confidential license costs $73. To qualify, both people must already be living together as a married couple when you apply. No witness is required for a confidential ceremony. The license does not become a public record. Only the two people who got married can get copies. California Family Code Sections 500 through 511 set the rules for confidential marriages in Tracy and across California.

If you want privacy, choose a confidential license. If you do not mind public access, a public license is fine. Both types are legally valid. You cannot change from one type to the other after the clerk issues your license in San Joaquin County.

Note: Confidential marriage records stay with the San Joaquin County Clerk and are not sent to the California Department of Public Health.

Marriage Ceremonies

The San Joaquin County Clerk performs civil marriage ceremonies. The ceremony fee is varies. This is separate from the license fee. Ceremonies are held on varies by location at the clerk office in Stockton. The ceremony lasts about 10 minutes. You can bring a small group of guests. The clerk reads a standard script and you exchange vows.

You can also hire your own officiant. Any judge, religious leader, or person authorized under California law can perform your wedding. The officiant must return the signed license to the county clerk within 10 days. You can have your wedding anywhere in California once you have your license from San Joaquin County.

Many Tracy couples schedule their ceremony for the same day they pick up their license. The Thursday ceremony schedule works well for couples who want a simple civil ceremony. If you want a larger wedding, get your license first and plan your ceremony for later. Just make sure your ceremony happens within 90 days of the license date.

Requesting Marriage Certificate Copies

You can get copies of your Tracy marriage certificate from San Joaquin County or from the California Department of Public Health. The county clerk is faster for recent records. The state vital records office can provide older records for public marriages but takes longer.

To order from San Joaquin County, visit the clerk office in Stockton. You can also order by mail. Contact the office at 209-468-3939 for information about mail orders and fees. Most orders are processed within one to two weeks in San Joaquin County.

The California Department of Public Health charges $19 per certified copy of public marriage certificates. You can order by mail or through VitalChek, the authorized online service. VitalChek adds service fees. The state cannot provide records for years 2000 through 2007. For those years, contact San Joaquin County. The state does not keep confidential marriage records.

Note: Allow 2 to 3 weeks for mail orders from the state vital records office.

California Marriage License Laws

California Family Code Sections 350 through 360 set the requirements for marriage licenses. These statutes cover age requirements, ID requirements, and license validity. The 90-day validity rule comes from this part of California law. San Joaquin County clerks follow these statutes when they issue licenses to Tracy residents.

California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 controls who can get certified copies of marriage certificates. This law creates two groups. Authorized persons include the married couple, their legal representatives, and certain family members. They can get certified copies for legal use. Other people can only get informational copies.

Confidential marriage laws appear in California Family Code Sections 500 through 511. Section 509 limits access to confidential records. Section 511 sets penalties for unauthorized disclosure. These laws protect couples who choose confidential licenses in San Joaquin County.

Other San Joaquin County Cities

Nearby qualifying cities include Stockton and Modesto. Both cities are in San Joaquin County. Residents use the same county clerk system for marriage licenses.