Kern County Marriage License Applications
Marriage licenses in Kern County are issued by the County Clerk office at 1115 Truxtun Avenue in Bakersfield. A public license costs $101 and a confidential license runs $123 when you apply in person with your partner. Both people must show up together with valid photo IDs and the office accepts walk-ins only with no appointment system. The office does not perform civil ceremonies so you will need to arrange your own officiant for Kern County. Call 661-868-3743 with questions about the application process or to confirm office hours.
Kern County Marriage License Facts
County Clerk Office Location
The Kern County Clerk office is at 1115 Truxtun Avenue on the first floor in Bakersfield. This office handles all marriage license applications for the county. Bakersfield is the county seat and the largest city in Kern County. The office serves residents from across the county including Bakersfield and surrounding communities in the southern Central Valley.
Call 661-868-3743 during business hours to ask questions or confirm current office hours. The main website is kerncountyclerk.com. Check the website before you visit to see hours and any special instructions for marriage license applications in Kern County.
Kern County has about 920,000 residents. The county is a major center for agriculture and oil production in California. The clerk office processes several thousand marriage licenses each year for local residents and others who choose to get married in Kern County.
Walk-In Service Only
Kern County operates on a walk-in basis for marriage licenses. There is no appointment system. You and your partner go to the office during business hours and wait your turn. 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 Kern County.
Wait times vary depending on how busy the office is. Mornings and Mondays tend to be busier. If you want to minimize your wait, try visiting during the middle of the week or later in the day. Bring something to do while you wait. The clerk will call you when it is your turn to apply for your marriage license in Kern 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.
Applying for Your License
The application process takes about 15 to 20 minutes once you reach the counter. 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 Kern County.
You do not need to be a California resident to get married here. Couples from other states or countries can apply for a marriage license in Kern County. Your marriage will be legal in California and recognized in other states once it is properly registered. The county clerk office handles applications from residents and non-residents the same way.
Marriage License Fees
A public marriage license costs $101 in Kern County. A confidential marriage license costs $123. 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.
Kern County does not perform civil ceremonies. You will need to arrange your own officiant for your wedding ceremony. 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 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 Kern 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 Kern 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 Kern County Clerk office if your officiant forgets to file the paperwork. Most officiants are familiar with the process and file the license without problems.
Note: The license does not become a marriage certificate until after the ceremony and filing are complete.
Public and Confidential Licenses
Kern 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 Kern 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.
Finding an Officiant
Since Kern County does not perform civil ceremonies, you need to arrange your own officiant for your wedding. 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.
Many couples hire a professional wedding officiant or ask a religious leader to perform their ceremony. Some couples have a friend or family member get ordained online through organizations that offer minister credentials. Make sure your officiant understands how to properly complete and file the marriage license after your ceremony in Kern County.
After the ceremony, your officiant must complete the marriage license and return it to the Kern 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 Kern 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 Kern County Clerk at 1115 Truxtun Avenue, First Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93301. 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 Kern 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.
Additional Resources
The Kern 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 Kern 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 Kern County Clerk website or call the office before you visit to confirm current information.
Major Cities in Kern County
Kern County includes one city with population over 100,000. Bakersfield is the county seat and the ninth-largest city in California. All residents of Kern County cities apply for marriage licenses through the Kern County Clerk office in Bakersfield. There are no separate city offices for marriage licenses in California.
The qualifying city in Kern County with population over 100,000:
If you live in smaller cities or unincorporated areas of Kern County, you still use the same county clerk office in Bakersfield. The process is the same no matter where you live in the county.
Nearby Counties
Kern County is in the southern 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 Kern County include: