Contra Costa County Marriage Licenses
Marriage license services in Contra Costa County are provided by the County Elections and Clerk office, located at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez, serving over 1.1 million residents across this diverse Bay Area county. You can apply for a marriage license in person at the Martinez office, with public licenses costing $95 and confidential licenses costing $100, and the county offers civil ceremony services for $50 to $75 depending on the ceremony location and time. Contra Costa County uses a secure online payment system at crsecurepayment.com for some services, making it easier to handle fees and appointments electronically.
Contra Costa County Marriage License Facts
Contra Costa County Clerk Office
The County Elections and Clerk office operates from 555 Escobar Street in Martinez. This is the only location where you can apply for a marriage license in Contra Costa County. The office handles all marriage license applications and performs civil ceremonies for residents and visitors to the county.
Office hours are typically Monday through Friday. Some services may require appointments. Call 925-335-7900 to ask questions about marriage services or to check current hours. The county website at contracostavote.gov/countyclerk has information about marriage licenses and other services in Contra Costa County.
Martinez is located in central Contra Costa County. The office serves communities throughout the county, from the western cities near the bay to the eastern suburbs and valleys. Most couples find Martinez accessible from anywhere in Contra Costa County.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
Both people must appear in person together at the Contra Costa County office in Martinez to apply for a marriage license. You should check the website or call ahead to confirm whether an appointment is required. Walk-in services may be available depending on current office policies in Contra Costa County.
Bring valid photo identification for each person. Driver licenses, state ID cards, and passports all work. The staff will ask for your full name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If you were married before, you must provide details about when and where that marriage ended in Contra Costa County.
The application process takes about 15 to 20 minutes. The staff reviews your information and answers any questions you have. Once everything is complete, you pay the license fee and receive your marriage license the same day in Contra Costa County.
What Happens at Your Visit
Both people must appear together at the Contra Costa County office to apply for a marriage license. The staff reviews your identification and asks questions to complete the application. This process takes about 15 minutes in Contra Costa County.
You pay the license fee after the application is complete. A public marriage license costs $95 in Contra Costa County. A confidential license costs $100. The office accepts credit cards, debit cards, checks, and cash. Some payment services may be handled through the county's secure payment system at crsecurepayment.com. After you pay, the staff prints your marriage license. You get the physical document right away. It is valid for 90 days from that date under California Family Code Section 359.
Your wedding ceremony must happen within those 90 days. The license has multiple copies. One stays with you. Another goes to your officiant, who must file it with the Contra Costa County Clerk within 10 days after the ceremony. Make sure your officiant knows to file the license on time. If it is not filed, your marriage will not become an official record in Contra Costa County.
Marriage License Fees
Contra Costa County charges $95 for a public marriage license and $100 for a confidential license. These fees are moderate compared to other Bay Area counties. The fee covers the full application and processing in Contra Costa County.
Civil ceremony fees range from $50 to $75 in Contra Costa County. The fee varies depending on the ceremony location and time. Standard office ceremonies cost $50. Ceremonies at other times or locations may cost more. You can pay for the license and ceremony at the same time, or get your license first and schedule the ceremony later in Contra Costa County.
After your wedding, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate from the County Clerk office. The first certified copy usually costs around $25. Each additional copy in the same order costs less. You can order copies in person, by mail, or through online services in Contra Costa County.
Civil Marriage Ceremonies
The Contra Costa County Clerk performs civil ceremonies at the Martinez office. The ceremony fee ranges from $50 to $75. Ceremonies are available during regular business hours Monday through Friday. You can book your ceremony when you pick up your license or by calling the office in Contra Costa County.
A typical civil ceremony takes 5 to 10 minutes. The deputy clerk reads a standard ceremony script. Both people say their vows. You can exchange rings if you want. A small number of guests can usually attend. Check with the office about guest limits and any other rules for civil ceremonies in Contra Costa County.
Many couples choose civil ceremonies because they are simple and affordable. The ceremony is legally valid just like any other wedding in California. After the ceremony, the deputy signs your marriage license and files it with the county. Your marriage becomes official at that moment in Contra Costa County.
Public and Confidential Licenses
Contra Costa County issues both public and confidential marriage licenses. A public license costs $95 and becomes part of the public record after filing. Anyone can request a copy of a public marriage certificate from the county or from California state vital records.
A confidential marriage license costs $100 in Contra Costa County. It does not become a public record. Only the two people who got married can request copies later. To qualify for a confidential license, both people must be living together as a married couple when they apply under California Family Code Section 500. No witness is required at the ceremony for a confidential marriage.
Some couples choose confidential licenses for privacy. Others prefer public licenses because they are more common. Both types are equally legal in California. You cannot switch from one type to the other after the license is issued in Contra Costa County.
Who Can Get a Marriage License
Both people must be at least 18 years old to get a marriage license in Contra Costa County. If someone is under 18, a court order is required. No blood test is needed. California eliminated the blood test requirement in 1995. You do not need to be a resident of Contra Costa County or California. Anyone from any state or country can get a marriage license in Contra Costa County.
Both people must apply in person together. You cannot send someone else to apply for you. Each person needs valid photo ID. The staff asks for your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If you were married before, you must state when and where that marriage ended. Divorce decrees are not usually required, but the staff may ask for proof in some cases in Contra Costa County.
Marriage licenses expire 90 days from the date of issue under California law. You must have your wedding ceremony within that time, or you will need to apply for a new license in Contra Costa County.
Certified Marriage Certificate Copies
After your wedding ceremony, your officiant files the marriage license with the Contra Costa County Clerk office. This usually happens within 10 days of the ceremony. Once filed, the marriage becomes an official California vital record. You can then order certified copies from the County Clerk office in Contra Costa County.
Certified copies are available in person at the Martinez office or by mail. You can also order online, which may include extra service fees. In-person requests are usually processed the same day or within a few business days. Mail requests take longer. Allow two to three weeks for mail orders in Contra Costa County.
For older marriages, the County Clerk office has records going back many decades. Some very old records are stored in archives and take longer to retrieve. If you need a copy of a marriage certificate from many years ago, allow extra time in Contra Costa County.
Major Cities in Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County includes several large cities. All marriage licenses for these cities are issued by the Contra Costa County Elections and Clerk office in Martinez. Cities do not issue marriage licenses in California.
Cities in Contra Costa County with populations over 100,000: Concord, Antioch, Richmond
Nearby California Counties
Contra Costa County borders several other Bay Area counties. Each county has its own clerk office with different fees and procedures.