Mendocino County Marriage Licenses

Mendocino County marriage license records are issued by the County Clerk office in Ukiah, which serves residents throughout the county with a unique requirement that applicants must be county residents. The office is at 501 Low Gap Road, Room 1020, in Ukiah, and you must call (707) 234-6819 to make an appointment before applying since walk-ins are not accepted in Mendocino County. Public marriage licenses cost $95 and confidential licenses cost $97, with both types requiring that couples appear together at their scheduled appointment time to complete the application and pick up their license for use anywhere in California.

County Clerk Office Location

The Mendocino County Clerk office operates from a single location at 501 Low Gap Road, Room 1020, in Ukiah. This is where all marriage license services are handled for the entire county. The office serves couples from Fort Bragg, Willits, Point Arena, and other communities across Mendocino County.

You must schedule an appointment to apply for a marriage license. Call (707) 234-6819 during business hours to book your appointment time. Walk-in service is not available. The county clerk staff will ask basic questions about your situation when you call and tell you what to bring to your appointment. Plan to schedule at least a few days or weeks in advance during busy wedding seasons in Mendocino County.

The county clerk's website is at mendocinocounty.gov where you can find additional information about marriage licenses, office hours, and other county clerk services. Make sure to confirm current office hours before traveling to Ukiah since county offices sometimes adjust schedules for holidays or staff availability in Mendocino County.

For general information about California marriage license procedures, you can also visit the California Department of Public Health website which provides statewide guidance on marriage licenses and vital records. The state site has resources that apply to all California counties including Mendocino County.

Mendocino County Residency Rule

Mendocino County has a special requirement. You must be a resident of Mendocino County to get a marriage license from this office. This is different from most California counties, which issue licenses to anyone regardless of where they live. The residency rule applies to at least one person in the couple. If you live in another county or state, you need to apply in a different California county that does not have this restriction.

The clerk will verify your residency when you apply. Bring proof such as a driver license, utility bill, or lease agreement showing a Mendocino County address. The residency requirement exists because county resources are intended primarily for local residents. If you are planning a wedding in Mendocino County but live elsewhere, you can still get married here. Just obtain your marriage license from another California county like Sonoma, Humboldt, or Lake County first.

Once you have a valid California marriage license from any county, you can have your ceremony performed anywhere in the state. The license works in all California counties even if it was issued somewhere else. So couples from outside Mendocino County can hold their wedding here as long as they bring a license from their home county.

How to Apply for Your License

Both people must appear together at the appointment. Bring a valid photo ID for each person. A California driver license, state ID card, passport, or military ID works fine. The clerk will review your documents and ask questions to complete the application form. This takes about 15 to 20 minutes in Mendocino County.

You pay the license fee at the appointment. Public licenses cost $95 and confidential licenses cost $97. Check with the office about accepted payment methods when you make your appointment. Some county offices accept credit cards while others require cash or checks. Once you pay, the clerk prints your marriage license. You get the physical document right then. It is valid for 90 days from the issue date under California law.

The marriage license is a multi-part form. You keep one copy. The person who performs your ceremony keeps another copy and must return it to the county clerk within 10 days after the wedding. Make sure your officiant knows to file the completed license. If it does not get filed, your marriage will not be recorded in Mendocino County.

Marriage License Fees

Mendocino County charges $95 for a public marriage license and $97 for a confidential marriage license. These fees are set by the county based on state law and local costs. The fee covers processing your application and issuing the license document.

Additional fees may apply if you want the county to perform your civil ceremony. Ask about ceremony fees when you call to make your license appointment. Some counties charge $50 to $100 for a basic civil ceremony. The ceremony fee is separate from the license fee in California counties.

If you need certified copies of your marriage certificate after the wedding, you can request them from the Mendocino County Clerk office. Certified copy fees vary by county but typically cost $15 to $25 per copy. You can also order copies from the California Department of Public Health for marriages that occurred before 2000 or after 2007 under state vital records rules.

Public or Confidential Licenses

Mendocino County issues both public and confidential marriage licenses. A public license costs $95. After your wedding, the license becomes part of the public record. Anyone can request a copy from the county clerk or the state vital records office in California.

A confidential license costs $97 in Mendocino County. The record does not become public. Only the two people who got married can get copies later. To qualify, both people must be living together as a married couple at the time you apply. No witness is required for a confidential marriage ceremony. The officiant signs and files the license, but the record stays private under California Family Code Section 509. Other people cannot access it unless they have a court order.

Many couples choose confidential licenses for privacy. Others prefer public licenses because they are more common and easier to use if you need certified copies from the state. Both types are fully legal. You cannot switch from one type to the other after the license is issued in Mendocino County.

Note: Confidential licenses cost slightly more in Mendocino County, which is unusual since most counties charge less for confidential licenses or the same price.

California Marriage Requirements

Both people must be at least 18 years old. If someone is under 18, a court order is required in California. No blood test is needed. The state stopped requiring blood tests in 1995. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen, but at least one person must be a Mendocino County resident to apply here.

You must appear in person together. You cannot send someone else to apply for you. The clerk needs to verify your identities and ask questions. If either person was married before, be ready to provide the date and place where that marriage ended. Divorce decrees are not usually required, but have the information available in case the clerk asks.

Your marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued. You must have your wedding ceremony within those 90 days. If the license expires before your ceremony, you need to apply again and pay another fee. Plan your wedding date carefully to avoid wasting money on an expired license in Mendocino County.

Obtaining Marriage Certificates

After your ceremony, the officiant files your completed marriage license with the Mendocino County Clerk. Once filed, the marriage becomes an official record. You can order certified copies from the county clerk office in Ukiah. Call (707) 234-6819 to ask about the current copy fee and how to submit your request.

You can request copies in person at the clerk office, by mail, or sometimes online depending on what services the county offers. In-person requests are usually processed within a few days. Mail requests take longer. Allow two to three weeks if you order by mail in Mendocino County.

For older marriage records, the county clerk maintains archives going back many decades. Very old records may require staff to search paper files. This can add time to your request. If you need a marriage certificate for a marriage that occurred many years ago, contact the clerk office to ask about record availability and processing times for historical records in Mendocino County.

Related California Resources

The California Department of Public Health maintains statewide vital records. You can learn more at cdph.ca.gov about ordering copies of marriage certificates for marriages that occurred in certain years. The state does not have records for all years, so county clerks are your main source for most marriage records in California.

If you need legal advice about marriage, divorce, or family law, contact the Mendocino County Superior Court or consult with a family law attorney. The county clerk can issue marriage licenses but cannot give legal advice. For questions about name changes, property rights, or other legal matters related to marriage, speak with a lawyer licensed in California.

Nearby California Counties

Mendocino County borders several other California counties. If you do not meet the residency requirement for Mendocino County, you can apply in one of these neighboring counties instead. Each has its own fees and procedures.

Humboldt County, Trinity County, Tehama County, Glenn County, Lake County, Sonoma County