Imperial County Marriage License Information
Marriage license services in Imperial County are provided by the County Recorder office, which operates one office location in El Centro to serve over 180,000 residents in California's southeastern border region. You can apply for a marriage license in person at the El Centro office, where public licenses cost $87 and civil ceremonies are available for $50, making Imperial County one of the more affordable counties in California for marriage services. VitalChek is the only authorized online vendor for ordering certified copies of marriage certificates in Imperial County.
Imperial County Marriage License Facts
Imperial County Recorder Office
The County Recorder office in Imperial County operates one location at 940 West Main Street, Suite 202, in El Centro. This is the only office where you can apply for a marriage license in Imperial 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. You can call 442-265-1076 to ask questions about marriage services or to check current hours. The county website at recorder.imperialcounty.org has information about marriage licenses and other services in Imperial County.
Imperial County is located on the California-Mexico border. Many residents live in cities like El Centro, Calexico, and Brawley. The one office in El Centro serves all communities across the county.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
Both people must appear in person together at the Imperial County Recorder office in El Centro to apply for a marriage license. You cannot apply online or by mail. Walk-in visits are typically accepted, but you may want to call ahead to confirm hours and avoid long wait times in Imperial 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 Imperial 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 Imperial County.
What to Expect at the Office
Both people must appear together at the Imperial County Recorder 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 Imperial County.
You pay the license fee after the application is complete. A public marriage license costs $87 in Imperial County. This is one of the lower fees in California. The office accepts credit cards, debit cards, checks, and cash. 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 Imperial County Recorder 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 Imperial County.
Marriage License Fees
Imperial County charges $87 for a public marriage license. This is one of the lowest fees in California. The fee covers the full application and processing in Imperial County.
Civil ceremony fees are $50 in Imperial County. This is also lower than most other California counties. You can pay for the license and ceremony at the same time, or get your license first and schedule the ceremony later. Some couples choose to have a private ceremony instead of using the county service in Imperial County.
After your wedding, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate from the Recorder 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 VitalChek online. VitalChek is the only authorized online vendor for Imperial County vital records.
Civil Marriage Ceremonies
The Imperial County Recorder performs civil ceremonies at the El Centro office. The ceremony fee is $50. Ceremonies are available during regular business hours Monday through Friday. You book your ceremony when you pick up your license or by calling the office in Imperial County.
A typical civil ceremony takes 5 to 10 minutes. The deputy recorder 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 Imperial 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 recorder. Your marriage becomes official at that moment in Imperial County.
Public and Confidential Licenses
Imperial County issues public marriage licenses for $87. After the ceremony and filing, the record becomes public. Anyone can request a copy of a public marriage certificate from the county or from California state vital records.
Confidential marriage licenses are also available in Imperial County. These records do not become public. 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 Imperial County.
Who Can Get a Marriage License
Both people must be at least 18 years old to get a marriage license in Imperial 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 Imperial County or California. Anyone from any state or country can get a marriage license in Imperial 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 Imperial 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 Imperial County.
Certified Marriage Certificate Copies
After your wedding ceremony, your officiant files the marriage license with the Imperial County Recorder 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 Recorder office in Imperial County.
Certified copies are available in person at the El Centro office or by mail. You can also order online through VitalChek. VitalChek is the only authorized online vendor for Imperial County. Online orders 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 Imperial County.
For older marriages, the Recorder 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 Imperial County.
Cities in Imperial County
Imperial County includes several cities, though none currently have populations over 100,000. All marriage licenses in the county are issued by the Imperial County Recorder office in El Centro. Cities do not issue marriage licenses in California.
Major cities in Imperial County include El Centro, Calexico, Brawley, and Imperial. Residents of all these cities get their marriage licenses from the County Recorder office in El Centro.
Nearby California Counties
Imperial County borders several other California counties. Each county has its own recorder office with different fees and procedures.