El Dorado County Marriage License Options

Marriage licenses in El Dorado County are handled by the Recorder-Clerk office at 360 Fair Lane in Placerville. Both people must appear together with valid photo ID. El Dorado County offers a remote marriage license option for some situations, which is unique in California. Civil ceremonies cost $40. The license is valid for 90 days after you get it under California Family Code Section 350. After your wedding ceremony, your officiant has 10 days to return the signed license to El Dorado County. That filing makes your marriage official and adds it to California's vital records system per Health and Safety Code Section 102100. You can then order certified copies from the Recorder-Clerk office in Placerville to use for name changes, insurance updates, or other legal purposes in California.

El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk Office

The Recorder-Clerk office is at 360 Fair Lane in Placerville. Call them at 530-621-5490. Placerville is the county seat. The town sits in the Sierra Nevada foothills between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. Many people here work in tourism, government, or commute to the valley. The clerk office is in the main county building. Parking is free in the lot next to the building in El Dorado County.

Visit the El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk website to learn more. The site has forms, fee schedules, and office hours listed. The staff at the clerk office handle property records, vital records, and business filings. Marriage licenses are one of several services they offer. The office sees a steady flow of people each day, but wait times are usually short if you come early in the morning or just after lunch in El Dorado County.

El Dorado County keeps marriage records going back many years. If you need a copy of an old marriage certificate, this is the place to ask. Very old records are stored on paper and take longer to find. Call ahead if your record is from before 1980 in El Dorado County.

Getting Your Marriage License

Both people must go to the Recorder-Clerk office together. Bring photo ID for both of you. A driver license, state ID, or passport works. California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 requires ID for marriage licenses. The clerk will ask your full name, date of birth, and place of birth. If either person was married before, the clerk needs to know when that marriage ended. You do not need to bring divorce papers unless the clerk asks for them in El Dorado County.

The clerk fills out the marriage license based on what you tell them. They print it right there. You pay the fee. Cash, check, or card all work. Make checks payable to El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk. The process takes about 20 minutes if the office is not busy. You walk out with your license the same day. The license is valid for 90 days in California.

El Dorado County offers a remote marriage license option in some situations. This lets you apply online if you cannot come to the office in person. Ask the clerk office about this option when you call. Not everyone qualifies for remote licenses. The office can tell you if you meet the requirements in El Dorado County.

Note: California does not require a blood test or waiting period for marriage licenses.

Civil Marriage Ceremonies

The El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk offers civil ceremonies for $40. That is in addition to the license fee. Call ahead to book a time. Ceremonies happen at the clerk office during regular business hours. They last about 10 to 15 minutes. The deputy clerk reads the standard vows. You say yes. You can exchange rings if you want. A few guests can attend, but space is limited in El Dorado County.

Some couples like the clerk office ceremony because it is simple and affordable. You can get your license and have your ceremony on the same day if you plan ahead. Others hire a private officiant or use clergy for a bigger wedding. Both ways work fine. The marriage is legal either way in California. The clerk signs your license after the ceremony and files it with the county right away.

Marriage License Costs

El Dorado County charges fees for marriage licenses. The county board sets the fees and can change them each year. The fee covers the cost of processing your license and filing it with the state under California Health and Safety Code Section 103625. Part of the money also goes to domestic violence prevention programs in California. Check the El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk website for current fee amounts before you visit.

Civil ceremony fees are separate from the license fee. If you want the El Dorado County Clerk to perform your ceremony, that costs $40. This is one of the lower ceremony fees in California. The ceremony is short and simple. The deputy clerk reads the vows and signs your license. Many couples choose this option because it is quick and affordable in El Dorado County.

Certified copies of your marriage certificate cost extra after the wedding. The fee is about $15 per copy. That is the state fee under Health and Safety Code Section 103625. You can order copies in person at 360 Fair Lane or by mail. Some people use online services like VitalChek, but those charge service fees on top of the county cost in California.

Public vs Confidential Licenses

Most people in El Dorado County get a public marriage license. After the wedding, the license goes into the public record. Anyone can ask for a copy from the county or from the state of California. Public licenses are standard and easy to work with later when you need copies for name changes, insurance, or other legal matters in California.

El Dorado County also offers confidential marriage licenses under California Family Code Sections 500 to 511. To get one, both people must be living together as a married couple when they apply. The license does not become part of the public record. Only the two people who got married can get copies later. A court order is needed for anyone else to see the record in California.

Confidential licenses do not need a witness at the wedding. The officiant signs the license and returns it to the county. The record stays sealed. Some couples choose this option for privacy. Others pick a public license because it is more common and easier to use later. Both types are legal and work the same way for taxes, insurance, and other official purposes in California.

Certified Copies

After your ceremony, the officiant files your marriage license with El Dorado County. Once filed, you can order certified copies from the Recorder-Clerk office at 360 Fair Lane. Copies cost about $15 each under state law. You can go in person or mail a request. Online services charge extra fees on top of the county cost in California.

Certified copies prove you are married. You need them to change your name on your driver license, update your insurance, or file joint taxes. The county gives you one free copy after the wedding, but you might need more later. Order extras if you plan to change your name or update many accounts at once in El Dorado County.

If you got a confidential license, only you and your spouse can order copies. Bring photo ID to the clerk office. The staff will check your ID against the record. Public licenses are easier because anyone can request them in California.

Marriage License Requirements

Both people must be 18 or older. If someone is younger than 18, a court order is needed under California Family Code Section 302. The clerk cannot issue a license to minors without that court order. No blood test is required. California stopped asking for blood tests in 1995. You do not need to live in El Dorado County or California. People from any state or country can get a marriage license here under California law.

You must apply in person together unless you qualify for the remote license option. The clerk needs to see both of you and check your ID if you apply in person. Bring a driver license, state ID card, or passport. The clerk will ask basic questions about your name, birth date, and birth place. If either of you was married before, the clerk will ask when that marriage ended in El Dorado County.

State and Local Resources

The California Department of Public Health keeps marriage records from before 2000 and after 2008. If you need a very old marriage certificate, you might need to contact the state in Sacramento instead of El Dorado County. The state charges $19 per copy. State orders take longer because they handle requests from all 58 California counties.

For legal questions about marriage, call a family law attorney in El Dorado County. The clerk office can issue your license and provide copies, but they cannot give legal advice. Questions about prenuptial agreements, property rights, or name changes should go to a lawyer in California.

El Dorado County has several legal aid organizations that can help with family law matters. If you need low-cost or free legal help, ask the clerk office for a referral list. They keep information about local resources in California.

Cities in El Dorado County

El Dorado County includes the cities of Placerville and South Lake Tahoe. All marriage licenses for these cities are issued by the El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk office in Placerville. Cities do not issue marriage licenses in California.

Nearby California Counties

El Dorado County borders several other California counties. Each county has its own clerk office with different fees and procedures.

Placer County, Sacramento County, Amador County, Alpine County