Del Norte County Marriage License Information
Del Norte County marriage licenses are issued at the Clerk-Recorder office in Crescent City, located at 981 H Street, Suite 160, where the county processes marriage license applications for couples planning to marry anywhere in California. The office charges $61 for a public marriage license, with payment accepted only by check or money order and not by cash, making Del Norte County unique among California counties for its no-cash policy on marriage licenses. Both people must appear together in person at the Crescent City office to apply, show valid photo identification, and complete the marriage license application that is then valid for 90 days throughout the state of California under Family Code requirements.
Del Norte County Marriage License Facts
Del Norte County Clerk Office
The Del Norte County Clerk-Recorder is at 981 H Street, Suite 160, in Crescent City. This is the county courthouse building in downtown Crescent City. All marriage license services for Del Norte County are provided from this location. The office serves residents and visitors throughout the county, which is the northernmost coastal county in California.
You can visit during regular business hours. Call (707) 464-7216 before your visit if you have questions about the marriage license process. The clerk staff can tell you what to bring and answer basic questions about requirements. The county's website at co.del-norte.ca.us has information about marriage licenses and other vital records services available in Del Norte County.
Parking is available near the courthouse in downtown Crescent City. Street parking and public lots are within walking distance. The office is accessible by foot from most downtown locations. Plan to spend about 20 to 30 minutes at the clerk office to complete your marriage license application and pick up your license in Del Norte County.
Check or Money Order Only
Del Norte County does not accept cash for marriage license fees. You must pay by check or money order. This is the opposite of some counties that only take cash. Make your check or money order payable to "Del Norte County Clerk-Recorder" for $61 if you want a public marriage license.
Bring your checkbook if you have a checking account. Personal checks are accepted. If you do not have checks, you can buy a money order from a bank, post office, or convenience store before visiting the clerk office in Crescent City. Make sure the money order is for the exact amount of the license fee.
The no-cash policy is important to know before you travel to the clerk office. Many people assume they can pay cash for government services, but Del Norte County requires checks or money orders for marriage licenses. This policy helps the county track payments and reduce errors in financial record keeping.
How to Apply
Both people must appear in person at the Del Norte County Clerk office. Bring valid photo ID for each person. A driver license, passport, state ID card, or military ID works fine. The clerk will verify your identities and complete the marriage license application with you. This process takes about 15 to 20 minutes in Del Norte County.
The application asks for standard information. You need your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If either person was married before, provide the date and place where that marriage ended. The clerk may ask follow-up questions about previous marriages to confirm you are legally able to marry again under California law.
After filling out the application, you pay the $61 fee by check or money order. The clerk processes your payment and prints your marriage license. You receive the physical document immediately. It is valid for 90 days from the issue date. You can use this license to get married anywhere in California within those 90 days.
Make sure both people are present when you visit. The clerk cannot issue a license if only one person shows up. Both people must appear together under California Family Code Section 350 and related statutes for all marriage licenses in the state.
Marriage License Fees
Del Norte County charges $61 for a public marriage license. This is one of the lower fees in Northern California. The fee covers processing your application and issuing the license document. It does not include ceremony fees if you want the county to perform your wedding, though information about civil ceremony availability was not confirmed for Del Norte County.
If you need certified copies of your marriage certificate after the ceremony, you can order them from the Del Norte County Clerk office. Certified copy fees vary by county but typically range from $15 to $25 per copy. Ask the clerk staff about current copy fees when you apply for your license or call (707) 464-7216 to inquire about certificate costs in Del Norte County.
For marriages that occurred before 2000 or after 2007, you can also order copies from the California Department of Public Health. The state charges $19 per copy. Visit cdph.ca.gov to learn more about state vital records services and which years are available from the state versus the county in California.
Public Marriage Licenses
Del Norte County issues public marriage licenses for $61. A public license becomes part of the public record after your wedding ceremony. Anyone can request a copy of the marriage certificate from the county clerk or the state vital records office once the license is filed. This is the most common type of license in California.
Public licenses require a witness to be present at your ceremony. The witness must be at least 18 years old and mentally competent. The witness signs the marriage license along with the officiant after the ceremony. This is a legal requirement under California law for public marriages.
After your ceremony, the officiant files the completed license with the Del Norte County Clerk within 10 days. Once filed, the marriage becomes an official record. You can then order certified copies of your marriage certificate for use in legal matters like name changes or updating government records in Del Norte County.
Confidential Marriage Option
California counties can issue confidential marriage licenses as an alternative to public licenses. Research did not confirm the exact fee for confidential licenses in Del Norte County, so contact the clerk office at (707) 464-7216 to ask about confidential license availability and cost if this option interests you.
Confidential licenses do not become part of the public record. Only the two people who got married can obtain copies later. To qualify, both people must be living together as a married couple when they apply. No witness is required for a confidential ceremony. The officiant signs and files the license, but the record stays private under California Family Code Section 509. Other people cannot access it unless they have a court order.
Many couples choose confidential licenses for privacy. Others prefer public licenses because they are more standard and easier to use when dealing with government agencies or financial institutions. Both types are fully legal in California. You cannot change from one type to the other after the license is issued in Del Norte County.
Marriage License Requirements
Both people must be at least 18 years old to get a marriage license in Del Norte County. If someone is under 18, a court order is required in California. No blood test is needed. California stopped requiring blood tests in 1995. You do not need to be a resident of Del Norte County or California. People from any state or country can apply here.
You must apply in person together at the clerk office in Crescent City. Both people must be present. You cannot send someone else to apply for you. The clerk needs to verify your identities and ask questions that only you can answer. If either person was married before, be ready to provide the date and place where that marriage ended. Divorce decrees are not usually required, but the clerk may ask for documentation in some cases.
Your marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued. You must have your wedding ceremony within those 90 days. If the license expires before your ceremony, you need to apply again and pay another fee. Make sure you plan your wedding date before getting the license to avoid wasting money on an expired license in Del Norte County.
After Your Ceremony
The person who performs your wedding ceremony must complete and sign your marriage license. This can be a judge, clergy member, or other authorized officiant under California law. The officiant has 10 days after the ceremony to return the completed license to the Del Norte County Clerk office in Crescent City. This is a state law requirement.
Once the license is filed, your marriage becomes an official record in California. The county clerk processes the filed license and adds it to the vital records database. This usually takes a few days to a few weeks depending on how quickly the officiant returns the license and how busy the clerk office is at the time in Del Norte County.
After the license is filed, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate. These are the official documents you use to change your name on a driver license, social security card, passport, bank accounts, or other legal records. Order extra copies if you need to update multiple documents. It is easier to get several copies at once than to request them separately later in Del Norte County.
Obtaining Marriage Certificates
You can request certified copies of your marriage certificate from the Del Norte County Clerk-Recorder at 981 H Street, Suite 160, in Crescent City. Call (707) 464-7216 to ask about the current copy fee and how to submit your request. Options may include in-person requests, mail requests, or online requests depending on what services the county offers.
In-person requests are usually processed within a few days. Bring valid photo ID and be ready to pay the copy fee. Mail requests take longer. Allow two to three weeks for mail orders. If the county uses an online service like VitalChek, you may be able to order copies online with additional service fees for faster processing in Del Norte County.
Nearby California Counties
Del Norte County is in the far northwest corner of California, bordering Oregon to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Nearby California counties each have their own clerk offices with different fees and procedures. You can apply for a marriage license in any California county regardless of where you live or plan to have your ceremony.