Marriage License Records in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County marriage license records are handled by the Los Angeles County Clerk office, which serves more than 10 million residents and issues tens of thousands of marriage licenses each year. You can apply for a marriage license online through the county's website, then visit one of seven office locations to complete the process and pick up your license, with public licenses starting at $91 and confidential licenses at $85. The Los Angeles County Clerk offers both public and confidential marriage licenses, performs civil ceremonies for $35, and maintains marriage records that become part of California's vital records system once filed with the county recorder.

Los Angeles County Clerk Locations

The Los Angeles County Clerk operates seven branch offices across the county. The main office is located at 12400 Imperial Highway, Room 1002, in Norwalk. This is the largest county clerk operation in California. You can visit any of the seven locations to apply for your marriage license. Most people find it easier to pick a location close to where they live or work in Los Angeles County.

All seven offices handle marriage license applications and civil ceremony bookings. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm at most locations. Some offices close for lunch or have slightly different hours, so check the website before you visit. The county clerk website is lavote.gov and it shows current hours for each branch. You can call the main phone number at 800-201-8999 to ask questions or confirm office hours in Los Angeles County.

The Los Angeles County Clerk has worked to make the marriage license process more convenient over the years. The county was one of the first in California to offer online appointment scheduling and online application forms. Most of the paperwork can now be done from home before you visit an office in Los Angeles County.

How to Apply Online

Los Angeles County lets you start your marriage license application online. The online system is at marriage.lavote.net/MLS. Both people must fill out the form together. You will need basic information like your full name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If either person was married before, you must say when and where that marriage ended.

The online form takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete. After you submit it, the system will show you available appointment times at each of the seven office locations. Pick a time and place that works for both of you. The appointment is required. You cannot just walk in without an appointment at any Los Angeles County Clerk office. Print out your confirmation page or write down your confirmation number. You will need it when you arrive for your appointment in Los Angeles County.

Note: The online form must be completed within 60 days before your appointment date in Los Angeles County.

What Happens at Your Appointment

Both people must appear together at the Los Angeles County Clerk office for the appointment. Bring valid photo identification for each person. A driver license, passport, or state ID works. The clerk will review your information and ask a few questions to verify what you entered on the online form. This process takes about 15 minutes in Los Angeles County.

You pay the license fee at the appointment. The fee is $91 for a public marriage license or $85 for a confidential license in Los Angeles County. The office accepts credit cards, debit cards, checks, and cash. Once payment is complete, the clerk prints your marriage license. You get the physical license document right then. It is valid for 90 days from that date. You must have your wedding ceremony within those 90 days in California.

The license is a multi-page document. One copy goes to the couple. The officiant keeps another copy and must return it to the county clerk within 10 days after the ceremony. Make sure your officiant knows to file the license properly. If it is not filed, your marriage will not become a legal record in Los Angeles County.

Marriage License Fees

Los Angeles County charges different fees depending on which type of license you want. A public marriage license costs $91. A confidential marriage license costs $85. These fees are set by the county and can change from year to year in California.

The Los Angeles County Clerk fees page lists all current fees for marriage services. Civil ceremony fees are separate from license fees. A basic ceremony at a clerk office costs $35. Some couples also buy a commemorative marriage certificate for $20. This is optional. The legal certificate you get after the ceremony is free in Los Angeles County.

If you need a certified copy of your marriage certificate after the wedding, you can order it from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder office. That office handles vital records after the marriage is filed. Certified copies cost $24 for the first copy and $18 for each additional copy in the same order. You can request copies in person, by mail, or through VitalChek online in Los Angeles County.

Civil Marriage Ceremonies

The Los Angeles County Clerk performs civil ceremonies at all seven office locations. The ceremony fee is $35. This is one of the lowest ceremony fees in California. Ceremonies are available during regular business hours Monday through Friday. You must book your ceremony when you pick up your marriage license or by calling the office later in Los Angeles County.

Civil ceremonies in Los Angeles County are short and simple. They last about 5 to 10 minutes. The deputy clerk reads a standard ceremony script. Both people say their vows. You exchange rings if you want. Up to six guests can attend. No music, flowers, or decorations are allowed at clerk office ceremonies. If you want a more elaborate wedding, you need to hire a private officiant and hold the ceremony at another location in Los Angeles County.

Some couples choose civil ceremonies for convenience or cost. Others prefer them because they are quick and do not require planning. The ceremony is legally binding just like any other wedding ceremony in California. After the ceremony, the clerk signs the marriage license and files it with the county recorder. Your marriage becomes official at that point in Los Angeles County.

Public or Confidential Marriage Licenses

Los Angeles County issues both public and confidential marriage licenses. Most couples get a public license. It costs $91. The license becomes part of the public record after it is filed. Anyone can request a copy of a public marriage certificate from the county recorder or the state vital records office in California.

A confidential marriage license costs $85 in Los Angeles County. It does not become a public record. Only the two people who got married can get copies later. To qualify for a confidential license, both people must be living together as a married couple when they apply. No witness is needed for a confidential marriage ceremony. The officiant signs the license and returns it to the Los Angeles County Clerk, but the record stays confidential. Other people cannot access it unless they have a court order under California Family Code Section 509.

Confidential licenses are slightly cheaper in Los Angeles County. Some couples pick them for privacy. Others choose public licenses because they are more common and easier to use later if you need certified copies from the state. Both types are fully legal in California. You cannot change from one type to the other after the license is issued in Los Angeles County.

Marriage License Requirements

Both people must be at least 18 years old to get a marriage license in Los Angeles County. If someone is under 18, a court order is required. No blood test is needed. California stopped requiring blood tests in 1995. You do not need to be a resident of Los Angeles County or California. People from any state or country can get a marriage license here.

You must apply in person together at a county clerk office. You cannot send someone else to apply for you. Both people need valid photo ID. The clerk will ask for your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If you were married before, you must provide the date and place where that marriage ended. Divorce decrees or death certificates are not usually required, but the clerk may ask for them in some cases in Los Angeles County.

How to Get Marriage Certificate Copies

After your wedding ceremony, the officiant files your marriage license with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder office. Once filed, the marriage becomes an official record. You can order certified copies from the Registrar-Recorder office at 12400 Imperial Highway in Norwalk or from any of their branch locations in Los Angeles County.

Certified copies cost $24 for the first copy and $18 for each extra copy. You can order in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek. Online orders have extra service fees. The Registrar-Recorder office usually processes requests within a few days if you apply in person. Mail requests take longer. Allow two to three weeks for mail orders in Los Angeles County.

For marriages that happened many years ago, the Registrar-Recorder office has records going back over 100 years. Older records may take longer to find. Some very old marriage records are only available in paper form and require staff to search archived files in Los Angeles County.

Major Cities in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County includes many large cities. All marriage licenses for these cities are issued by the Los Angeles County Clerk. Cities do not issue marriage licenses in California.

Cities in Los Angeles County with populations over 100,000: Los Angeles, Long Beach, Glendale, Santa Clarita, Lancaster, Palmdale, Pomona, Torrance, Pasadena, El Monte, Downey, Inglewood, West Covina, Burbank

Nearby California Counties

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

Orange County, Ventura County, Kern County, San Bernardino County