Ventura Marriage License Records

Marriage license applications in Ventura go through the Ventura County Clerk Recorder office. Ventura is the county seat and the main city in Ventura County with around 110,000 people living here. You can get both public and confidential marriage licenses at the clerk office on South Victoria Avenue. The county clerk issues licenses to couples from anywhere in California and keeps all marriage records for Ventura County. If you got married in Ventura, your license is on file at the county clerk recorder office and you can request a certified copy at any time.

Ventura County Handles All Marriage Licenses

Ventura residents apply for marriage licenses through Ventura County. The county clerk recorder office is the only place to get a marriage license if you live in Ventura. Cities do not issue licenses in California. All 58 counties handle marriage license applications and maintain marriage records under California Family Code.

The Ventura County Clerk Recorder main office sits at 800 South Victoria Avenue in Ventura. Both parties must appear together in person to pick up the license. You need an appointment before you visit. The county uses Acuity Scheduling for appointment booking. Go to the county clerk website to schedule your time slot. Walk-in service is not available at the Ventura office. Call 805-654-2263 if you have questions about the application process or need to change your appointment time in Ventura.

Ventura County also has a branch office in Thousand Oaks. You can apply for a marriage license at either location. The Thousand Oaks office serves the eastern part of the county. Both offices offer the same services and charge the same fees for marriage licenses.

Marriage License Requirements in Ventura

Ventura couples must meet California state requirements to get a marriage license. You must be at least 18 years old. If you are under 18, you need a court order first. No blood test is required. You do not need to be a California resident or a U.S. citizen. People from any state or country can apply for a marriage license in Ventura.

Both people must bring valid government photo ID to the appointment. A driver license works. A passport or state ID card also works. You will give the clerk your full name, birth date, birthplace, and social security number. If you were married before, tell them when and where that marriage ended. The clerk fills out the application while you wait at the Ventura office.

You will need to provide:

• Valid photo identification for both parties
• Social security numbers
• Information about previous marriages if applicable
• Payment for the license fee

The license is valid for 90 days after the clerk issues it in Ventura. You must have your wedding ceremony during those 90 days. After the ceremony, the person who married you must return the signed license to the county clerk within 10 days. Your marriage becomes official once the clerk files the completed license.

Public and Confidential Marriage Licenses

Ventura County offers both public and confidential marriage licenses. The public license is the standard type. It costs $108 in Ventura County. Anyone can request a copy of a public marriage certificate once it is filed. Most couples choose a public license.

A confidential marriage license costs $122 in Ventura County. To qualify for a confidential license, both people must already be living together as a married couple. No witness is required for a confidential marriage ceremony. The license does not become a public record. Only the two people who got married can get copies later. Other people cannot access confidential marriage records unless they have a court order. California Family Code Sections 500 through 511 set the rules for confidential marriages in Ventura and across the state.

If you want privacy, a confidential license might be the right choice. If you do not mind public access, a public license costs less. Both types are legally valid in Ventura. You cannot change from one type to the other after you pick up the license. The clerk will explain both options when you apply in Ventura.

Note: Confidential marriage records stay with the Ventura County Clerk office and are not available through the California Department of Public Health.

Civil Marriage Ceremonies

The Ventura County Clerk Recorder performs civil marriage ceremonies. The ceremony fee is $60. Ceremonies are held at the clerk office during regular business hours. The ceremony lasts about 10 minutes. You can bring a small group of guests. Most couples schedule their ceremony for the same day they pick up their license in Ventura.

If you prefer a private ceremony, you can hire your own officiant. Any judge, religious leader, or person authorized under California law can perform your wedding. The officiant must sign your license and return it to the county clerk office within 10 days of the ceremony. You can have your wedding anywhere in California once you have your license from Ventura County.

The ceremony creates the final marriage record. After the signed license is filed at the clerk office, you can order certified copies. Each certified copy shows your married name if you chose to change your name. Certified copies cost extra and you can request them by mail, online, or in person at the Ventura County Clerk Recorder office.

How to Get Marriage Certificate Copies

You can request copies of your Ventura marriage certificate from the county clerk office or from the California Department of Public Health. The county clerk is faster if you need a copy soon. The state vital records office takes longer but can provide older records for public marriages.

To order from Ventura County, contact the clerk recorder office at 800 South Victoria Avenue. You can go in person, call them, or check their website for mail order forms. The office accepts requests by mail with a check or money order. Some counties let you order online through third-party services. Check the Ventura County Clerk Recorder website for current ordering options and fees in Ventura.

The California Department of Public Health keeps marriage records for most years. They charge $19 per certified copy. You can order by mail or through VitalChek, the authorized online service. VitalChek adds service fees to the state fee. The state office cannot provide records for the years 2000 through 2007. For those years, you must contact Ventura County directly. The state also does not keep confidential marriage records at all. Those stay with the county clerk in Ventura.

Note: Allow 10 to 15 business days for mail orders from the county clerk office in Ventura.

California Marriage License Laws

California Family Code Sections 350 through 360 set the rules for marriage licenses. These statutes explain who can get a license, what ID you need, and how long the license stays valid. The 90-day validity rule comes from this part of California law. County clerks in Ventura follow these statutes when they issue licenses.

California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 lists who can get certified copies of marriage certificates. This law divides people into authorized persons and other parties. Authorized persons include the married couple, their lawyers, and certain family members. They can get certified copies valid for legal use. Other people can only get informational copies that are not accepted for official purposes in Ventura and across California.

Confidential marriage laws appear in California Family Code Sections 500 through 511. Section 509 restricts access to confidential records. Section 511 sets penalties for anyone who releases confidential marriage information without permission. These laws protect couples who choose confidential licenses in Ventura. A clerk or government worker who breaks these rules can face legal action under California law.

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying cities near Ventura include Oxnard, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks. All three cities are also in Ventura County. Residents of these cities use the same county clerk office for marriage licenses. Santa Clarita is nearby in Los Angeles County.