Find Marriage Licenses in Madera County
Marriage licenses in Madera County come from the County Clerk-Recorder office at 200 W. 4th Street in downtown Madera. The office has some of the lowest fees in California. A public license costs $50 and a confidential one is $55. Civil ceremonies are $50 if you want the county to perform your wedding. Both people must show up at the same time with valid photo ID. The license stays good for 90 days under California Family Code Section 350. Your officiant must return the signed license to Madera County within 10 days of the ceremony. That filing step makes your marriage official and adds it to California's vital records system, which is managed under Health and Safety Code Section 102100.
Madera County Marriage License Facts
Madera County Clerk Office Location
The Clerk-Recorder office sits at 200 W. 4th Street in Madera. Call them at 559-675-7721. Madera is the county seat. The town sits between Fresno and Yosemite. Lots of folks here work in farming, especially grapes and almonds. The clerk office is downtown in the old county building. Street parking is usually easy to find near the office in Madera County.
Staff at the office handle many tasks. They record property deeds, keep vital records, and run elections. Marriage licenses are one of several services they provide. The office is small, so wait times are usually short. You can walk in without a set time to apply for your license. Just bring your partner and photo ID for both of you. Check the Madera County website for office hours before you go.
Madera 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 Madera County.
Applying for Your License
Both of you must go to the clerk office together. You cannot send someone else in your place. Bring valid photo ID for each person. 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 of you 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 Madera County.
The clerk fills out the marriage license based on what you tell them. They print it right there. You pay the $50 fee for a public license or $55 for a confidential one. Cash, check, or card all work. Make checks payable to Madera County Clerk-Recorder. The whole process takes about 15 to 20 minutes if the office is not busy. You walk out with your license the same day in California.
After your wedding, your officiant must sign the license and mail it back to the Madera County Clerk within 10 days. That filing makes your marriage legal and puts it into the county's vital records system. Keep the license safe until the wedding. If you lose it, you will need to pay for another one.
Note: California does not require a blood test or waiting period for marriage licenses.
Marriage License Costs
Madera County has some of the lowest marriage license fees in California. A public license is $50. A confidential license is $55. These fees are set by the county board of supervisors. They can change from year to year, but Madera County has kept fees low for a long time. The fee covers the cost of processing your license and filing it with the state under California Health and Safety Code Section 103625.
If you want the county to perform your wedding ceremony, that costs $50 extra. Not all counties in California offer ceremonies. Madera County does, and the fee is reasonable. The ceremony is short and simple. The deputy clerk reads the vows and signs your license. You can have a few guests, but there is not much room at the clerk office. Many couples choose this option because it is quick and affordable in Madera 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 200 W. 4th Street or by mail. Some people use online services like VitalChek, but those charge service fees on top of the county cost in California.
Civil Marriage Ceremonies
The Madera County Clerk-Recorder offers civil ceremonies for $50. That is on top of the license fee. Call ahead to book a time. Ceremonies happen at the clerk office during regular business hours. They last about 10 minutes. The deputy clerk reads the standard vows. You say yes. You can exchange rings if you want. Up to a few guests can attend in Madera County.
Some couples like the clerk office ceremony because it is simple and cheap. 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.
Public vs Confidential Licenses
Most people in Madera County get a public marriage license for $50. 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.
Madera County also offers confidential marriage licenses under California Family Code Sections 500 to 511. The fee is $55. 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 Wedding
After your ceremony, the officiant files your marriage license with Madera County. Once filed, you can order certified copies from the Clerk-Recorder office at 200 W. 4th Street. Copies cost about $15 each. 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 Madera 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.
Who Can Get Married
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 will not issue a license to minors without that court order. No blood test is required. California got rid of that rule in 1995. You do not need to live in Madera County or California. Anyone from any state or country can get a marriage license here under California law.
You must apply in person together. You cannot mail in a form or apply online. The clerk needs to see both of you and check your ID. 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 Madera County.
State and County Resources
The California Department of Public Health keeps copies of marriage records from before 2000 and after 2008. If you need a very old certificate, you might need to contact the state in Sacramento instead of Madera County. The state charges $19 per copy. State orders take longer because they handle requests from all over California.
For legal questions about marriage, call a family law attorney in Madera 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.
Cities in Madera County
Madera County includes the cities of Madera and Chowchilla. All marriage licenses for these cities are issued by the Madera County Clerk-Recorder office. Cities do not issue marriage licenses in California.
Nearby California Counties
Madera County borders several other California counties. Each county has its own clerk office with different fees and procedures.