Find Amador County Marriage Licenses

Marriage license services in Amador County are provided by the County Recorder-Clerk office located at 810 Court Street in Jackson, the county seat. The office requires appointments for all marriage license applications and accepts only cash, checks, or money orders for payment. Public marriage licenses cost $65 in Amador County, while confidential licenses are $78. This Gold Country county serves about 40,000 residents and processes hundreds of marriage licenses each year under California state law.

Amador County Recorder-Clerk Office

The Amador County Recorder-Clerk office is at 810 Court Street in Jackson, CA 95642. This is the only location that issues marriage licenses in Amador County. You must call 209-223-6468 to schedule an appointment. Walk-in service is not available for marriage licenses.

Jackson sits in the Sierra Nevada foothills about 60 miles southeast of Sacramento. The town grew during the Gold Rush era and remains the government center for Amador County. The recorder-clerk office is in the county courthouse complex on Court Street. Parking is available near the courthouse in downtown Jackson.

Office hours are typically Monday through Friday during standard business hours. Some county offices close for lunch. When you call to make your appointment, ask about current hours and what documents to bring. The Amador County Recorder-Clerk website provides contact information and general office details for marriage license applicants in Amador County.

How to Apply

Call 209-223-6468 to schedule your marriage license appointment in Amador County. Staff will ask basic information and tell you what to bring. Both people must appear together at the scheduled appointment time. You cannot apply by mail or have someone else apply for you under California law.

Bring valid photo identification for each person. A California driver license, passport, or state-issued ID card works. Out-of-state licenses are accepted. If either person was married before, you need to know the date and location where that marriage ended. The clerk may ask for divorce decree details or death certificate information in some cases.

The appointment usually takes 15 to 20 minutes. The clerk reviews your information and completes the marriage license application. You pay the fee at the end of the appointment. Amador County accepts cash, personal checks, or money orders only. Credit and debit cards are not accepted for marriage licenses in Amador County.

Note: Bring exact cash or a check made out to Amador County Recorder-Clerk in Amador County.

Marriage License Fees

A public marriage license costs $65 in Amador County. This is one of the lower fees among California counties. A confidential marriage license costs $78. The price difference reflects the extra processing required for confidential records under California law.

Payment must be cash, check, or money order. No credit cards. No debit cards. If you write a check, make it payable to "Amador County Recorder-Clerk." The clerk cannot accept partial payments or hold licenses until you return with payment. You must pay the full fee at your appointment in Amador County.

The California Department of Public Health maintains marriage records at the state level for certain years. These state records supplement county records. Amador County coordinates with state vital records systems to ensure marriage records are properly maintained under California Health and Safety Code requirements.

These fees cover the cost of preparing the marriage license document and maintaining marriage records. California counties set their own marriage license fees within limits established by state law. Amador County's fees are below the state average for both public and confidential licenses in California.

About Your Marriage License

Your marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. This is a statewide rule in California. You must have your wedding ceremony within that 90-day period. If the license expires before your ceremony, you need to apply again and pay another fee in Amador County.

The marriage license is a multi-page document. One copy goes to the couple. Another copy goes to the officiant who performs the ceremony. The officiant must complete their portion of the license immediately after the ceremony and return it to the Amador County Recorder-Clerk office within 10 days. This filing is required by California Health and Safety Code Section 102525.

Once the officiant files the completed license, your marriage becomes an official record. The Amador County Recorder-Clerk maintains these records and can provide certified copies later. Make sure your officiant understands the 10-day filing deadline. Late filings can cause problems with record processing in Amador County.

Public or Confidential Licenses

Amador County issues both types of marriage licenses. Most couples choose a public license at $65. Public marriage records become available to anyone who requests them after filing. Anyone can order a certified copy from the county or state vital records office in California.

Confidential licenses cost $78 in Amador County. To qualify, both people must be living together as a married couple at the time of application. This requirement is set by California Family Code Section 500. Confidential marriage records are not public. Only the two people who married can obtain copies later, except by court order under Section 511.

No witness is required for a confidential marriage ceremony. Public marriages require at least one witness age 18 or older to sign the license. The witness watches the ceremony and confirms it took place. Choose your license type carefully. You cannot change from public to confidential or back after the license is issued in Amador County.

Note: Confidential marriage records stay with Amador County and are not sent to the state in California.

Eligibility and Requirements

Both people must be at least 18 years old to marry without parental consent in Amador County. People under 18 need a court order from a California superior court. No blood test is needed. California eliminated the blood test requirement in 1995.

You do not need to be a California resident. You do not need to be a United States citizen. People from any state or country can get a marriage license in Amador County. The license is valid throughout California, so you can have your ceremony anywhere in the state after getting the license from Amador County.

California Family Code Section 300 sets the minimum age and basic eligibility rules. Section 350 governs the application process. These laws apply statewide. Amador County follows the same requirements as every other California county for marriage licenses.

Certified Marriage Certificate Copies

After your ceremony, the officiant returns the signed marriage license to the Amador County Recorder-Clerk office. The office processes the filing and enters your marriage into official records. You can then request certified copies of your marriage certificate from Amador County.

Contact the Recorder-Clerk office at 209-223-6468 to ask about ordering copies. Most counties charge between $15 and $25 per certified copy. You may be able to order in person, by mail, or online depending on what systems Amador County uses. Certified copies include the official county seal and clerk signature in California.

The California Department of Public Health also maintains marriage records for certain years. However, they cannot provide records for the years 2000-2007. For those years, you must get copies from the county where the license was issued. Confidential marriage records are never sent to the state and remain with Amador County only.

California Marriage Statutes

State law controls how Amador County handles marriage licenses. The California Family Code contains most marriage laws. Sections 300-536 cover marriage requirements, license types, ceremonies, and records in California.

Health and Safety Code provisions also apply. Section 103525 explains certified copy issuance. Section 103526 lists who can obtain marriage certificates. Section 103625 addresses vital records fees. These statutes apply uniformly across California.

Amador County has no authority to change state marriage laws. The county sets local fees and office procedures, but must follow all state requirements. This ensures marriage licenses work the same way throughout California, whether issued in Amador County or any other county.

Amador County Area

Amador County lies in the Sierra Nevada foothills east of Sacramento and Stockton. The county covers about 600 square miles with a population near 40,000. Jackson is the county seat and largest community. Other towns include Sutter Creek, Plymouth, Ione, and Pine Grove.

The region is part of California's Gold Country. Gold was discovered here in the 1840s, leading to rapid development during the Gold Rush. Many historic buildings remain in Jackson and other Amador County towns. Tourism, wine production, and timber industries support the local economy today in Amador County.

Highway 49 runs through the county, connecting Gold Rush era towns. Highway 88 crosses from west to east, climbing into the Sierra Nevada. The county offers access to outdoor recreation including hiking, fishing, and winter sports at higher elevations near Amador County.

Cities in Amador County

Amador County has several small incorporated cities including Ione, Jackson, Plymouth, and Sutter Creek. None of these cities have populations over 100,000. All marriage licenses for Amador County residents are issued by the County Recorder-Clerk office in Jackson, regardless of which city you live in. Cities do not issue marriage licenses in California.

Nearby California Counties

Amador County borders several other counties. Each has its own recorder-clerk office with different marriage license fees and procedures.

El Dorado County, Sacramento County, San Joaquin County, Calaveras County, Alpine County