Fresno County Marriage License Services
Marriage license applications in Fresno County are handled by the County Clerk office at 2221 Kern Street in Fresno. A public license costs just $58 and a confidential license is $69, making Fresno County one of the most affordable options in California for getting a marriage license. Civil ceremonies are available for only $21 if you want the county to perform your wedding. Both people must appear together with valid photo IDs when you apply. Call 559-600-2575 for questions about the process or office hours in Fresno County.
Fresno County Marriage License Facts
County Clerk Office Location
The Fresno County Clerk office is at 2221 Kern Street in Fresno. This office handles all marriage license applications for the county. Fresno is the county seat and the largest city in the Central Valley. The office serves residents from cities across Fresno County including Fresno, Clovis, and smaller communities throughout the valley.
Call 559-600-2575 during business hours to ask questions or confirm current office hours. The main website is fresnocountyca.gov. Check the website before you visit to see hours and any special instructions for marriage license applications in Fresno County.
Fresno County has about 1 million residents. The county is the agricultural heart of California and sits in the center of the San Joaquin Valley. The clerk office processes several thousand marriage licenses each year for local residents and others who choose to get married in Fresno County.
Applying for Your License
Visit the Fresno County Clerk office at 2221 Kern Street in Fresno to apply for your marriage license. Both people must appear together in person. You cannot apply by mail or have someone else pick up your license. California law under Family Code Sections 350-360 requires both parties to appear and sign the application at the same time in Fresno County.
Bring a valid photo ID for each person. A driver license is the most common form of ID. You can also use a passport or state ID card. The clerk will ask for your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If either person was married before, you must say when and how that marriage ended.
The application process takes about 15 to 20 minutes if you have all your documents ready. The clerk reviews your information and checks your IDs. Then you pay the license fee. Once payment is complete, the clerk prints your marriage license. You get it right away. The license is valid for 90 days from that date in California.
There is no blood test required in California. That requirement was dropped in 1995. There is also no waiting period once you get your license. You can have your ceremony the same day if you want. Most couples wait a few days or weeks to plan their wedding, but the license is valid as soon as it is issued in Fresno County.
Affordable Marriage License Fees
A public marriage license costs just $58 in Fresno County. This is the lowest fee among major California counties. A confidential marriage license costs $69. The low fees make Fresno County an attractive option for couples throughout the Central Valley and beyond. You pay the fee when you apply in person at the clerk office.
The office accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. Make sure you bring enough to cover the type of license you want. The low cost has made Fresno County popular with couples from neighboring counties who want to save money on their marriage license fees.
If you want a civil ceremony performed by the county, that costs an additional $21. This is one of the lowest ceremony fees in California. The ceremony is simple and takes about 10 minutes. A deputy clerk officiates. You can bring a small number of guests. Ask about ceremony scheduling and guest limits when you apply for your license in Fresno County.
After your marriage is registered, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Each copy costs extra. The fee is set by California law under Health and Safety Code Section 103625. Most couples order at least one or two certified copies for legal purposes like name changes or updating insurance.
Using Your Marriage License
Your marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued in Fresno County. You must have your wedding ceremony within that time. If you do not, the license expires. You would need to apply again and pay the fee again if you miss the 90-day window. This is a statewide rule in California.
After your ceremony, the officiant must sign the license and return it to the Fresno County Clerk office within 10 days. The officiant keeps one copy of the license. You keep another copy. The county files the official copy once it is returned. That filing makes your marriage part of the legal record in California.
Make sure your officiant knows how to properly complete and file the license. If they do not return it to the county on time, your marriage will not be registered. You might need to follow up with the Fresno County Clerk office if your officiant forgets to file the paperwork. Most officiants are familiar with the process and file the license without problems.
Public and Confidential Licenses
Fresno County offers two types of marriage licenses. A public license is the standard option. After your ceremony, the marriage becomes part of the public record. Anyone can look up the record or request a certified copy from the county or from the California Department of Public Health.
A confidential license stays private. Only the couple can get certified copies under California law. Confidential marriage licenses were created under Family Code Sections 500-511 for couples who want privacy. To qualify for a confidential license, you must be living together as a married couple at the time you apply in California. No witnesses are required at the ceremony for confidential licenses.
Public licenses require at least one witness over age 18 at the ceremony. The witness signs the license along with the officiant. Most couples ask a friend or family member to be the witness. You do not need to name your witness when you apply in Fresno County. You just need to have one present on your wedding day.
The main difference between the two license types is privacy and cost. Public licenses cost less but become public records. Confidential licenses cost more but stay private. Choose the option that fits your needs. Both types of licenses are equally valid under California law.
Civil Ceremonies
The Fresno County Clerk office performs civil wedding ceremonies for just $21. This is the lowest civil ceremony fee among California's large counties. The ceremony is short and simple. A deputy clerk officiates. The whole thing takes about 10 minutes. You can bring a few guests. Check with the office for current guest limits and ceremony scheduling options in Fresno County.
Many couples choose to have their ceremony performed by a private officiant instead. California allows many types of people to officiate weddings, including clergy, judges, and others authorized under California Family Code. Your officiant must be registered or authorized to perform marriages in California.
After the ceremony, your officiant must complete the marriage license and return it to the Fresno County Clerk office within 10 days. The officiant should be familiar with this process. Most professional officiants know how to properly file marriage licenses in California. If your officiant is inexperienced, review the filing instructions with them before your wedding day.
Getting Certified Copies
After your marriage is registered, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate from the Fresno County Clerk office. You can request copies in person, by mail, or through third-party services. VitalChek is an authorized online vendor for California vital records. The VitalChek website charges a service fee on top of the county fee.
If you want to order by mail, send a written request to the Fresno County Clerk at 2221 Kern Street, Fresno, CA 93721. Include your full names, the date of marriage, and a copy of your photo ID. Enclose a check or money order for the fee. Mail orders take longer to process than in-person or online requests.
In-person orders are the fastest way to get certified copies in Fresno County. Go to the office with your ID and request copies at the counter. If your marriage was recently filed, there may be a short wait while the record is processed. Most marriages are fully registered within a few days after the signed license is returned to the county clerk office.
You will need certified copies for many legal purposes after marriage. This includes changing your name on government documents, updating insurance policies, and other official business. Order a few copies when you pick up your certificate or shortly after your marriage is registered in Fresno County.
Additional Resources
The Fresno County website has detailed information about marriage licenses and vital records. Visit the county clerk page for forms, fee schedules, and contact information. The website is a good place to check current hours before you visit or call the office.
California does not require a blood test or waiting period for marriage licenses. You can have your ceremony the same day you get your license if you want. The 90-day validity period gives you plenty of time to plan your wedding, but some couples prefer to marry right away. Both options are fine under California law.
If you need older marriage records from Fresno County, contact the clerk office. For public marriages that occurred before 2000 or after 2007, you can also request copies from the California Department of Public Health. The state website is cdph.ca.gov for state-level vital records requests.
Note: Fees and procedures may change. Always check the Fresno County Clerk website or call the office before you visit to confirm current information.
Major Cities in Fresno County
Fresno County includes two cities with populations over 100,000. Fresno is the county seat and the fifth-largest city in California. Clovis is a large suburban city adjacent to Fresno. All residents of these cities apply for marriage licenses through the Fresno County Clerk office in Fresno. There are no separate city offices for marriage licenses in California.
The qualifying cities in Fresno County with populations over 100,000:
If you live in smaller cities or towns in Fresno County, you still use the same county clerk office in Fresno. The process is the same no matter where you live in the county.
Nearby Counties
Fresno County is in the Central Valley region of California. If you live near the edge of the county, you might be close to another county's clerk office. You can apply for a marriage license in any California county. Your marriage is legal throughout the state once it is registered.
Counties adjacent to Fresno County include: