Monterey County Marriage Licenses

Marriage licenses in Monterey County are processed by the County Clerk office at 168 West Alisal Street, 1st Floor, in Salinas. Both people must appear together with valid photo ID. The fee ranges from $76 to $85 depending on the type of license and services you need. The office serves the entire county, from Salinas and Monterey to Carmel and Big Sur. The license is valid for 90 days after issuance under California Family Code Section 350. After your wedding ceremony, your officiant has 10 days to return the signed license to Monterey County. That filing makes your marriage official and adds it to California's vital records system per Health and Safety Code Section 102100. You can then order certified copies from the clerk office in Salinas for name changes, insurance, or other legal needs in California.

Monterey County Clerk Office

The County Clerk office is at 168 West Alisal Street, 1st Floor, in Salinas. Call them at 831-755-5450. Salinas is the county seat. The town sits in the Salinas Valley, known as the Salad Bowl of the World. Most people here work in farming or food processing. The clerk office is in the main county building downtown. Parking is available nearby. Visit the Monterey County marriage license page to learn more about the process and requirements.

Monterey County is a large and diverse area. It includes farm towns like Salinas, coastal cities like Monterey and Carmel, and rural areas in the Big Sur region. The clerk office staff are used to serving people from all parts of the county. They understand that couples come from different backgrounds and have different needs. You can walk in without a set time to apply for your license. Just bring your partner and photo ID for both of you in Monterey County.

The clerk office handles many tasks. Staff record property deeds, keep vital records, and help with business filings. Marriage licenses are one of several services they provide. Wait times vary depending on the day and time. Come early in the morning or right after lunch for shorter waits in Monterey County.

How to Apply

Both of you must go to the clerk office together. Bring photo ID for both people. 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 person was married before, the clerk needs to know when that marriage ended. You do not usually need divorce papers unless the clerk asks for them in Monterey County.

The clerk fills out the marriage license form based on what you tell them. They print the license right there. You pay the fee. Cash, check, or card all work. Make checks payable to Monterey County Clerk. The process takes about 20 to 30 minutes if the office is not busy. You leave with your license in hand the same day. The license is valid for 90 days in California.

After your wedding, your officiant must sign the license and mail it back to Monterey County within 10 days. That filing makes your marriage legal and adds it to the vital records system. Keep the license safe until the wedding. If you lose it before the ceremony, you will need to go back and pay for another one.

Note: No blood test or waiting period is required in California.

Marriage License Fees

Monterey County charges between $76 and $85 for marriage licenses. The exact fee depends on the type of license you want. The county board sets the fees and can change them each year. The fee covers the cost of processing your license and filing it with the state under California Health and Safety Code Section 103625. Part of the money also goes to domestic violence prevention programs in California.

Monterey County does not currently offer civil ceremonies at the clerk office. You will need to hire a private officiant or use clergy to perform your wedding. Many people use a judge, a minister, or a friend who is registered as an officiant in California. The cost of hiring an officiant varies. Some charge a few hundred dollars. Others do it for free if they know you well in Monterey 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 168 West Alisal Street or by mail. Some people use online services like VitalChek, but those charge service fees on top of the county cost in California.

Public vs Confidential Licenses

Most people in Monterey County get a public marriage license. 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.

Monterey County also offers confidential marriage licenses under California Family Code Sections 500 to 511. 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 ceremony, the officiant files your marriage license with Monterey County. Once filed, you can order certified copies from the County Clerk office at 168 West Alisal Street. Copies cost about $15 each under state law. 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 Monterey 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.

Marriage License Requirements

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 cannot issue a license to minors without that court order. No blood test is required. California stopped asking for blood tests in 1995. You do not need to live in Monterey County or California. People 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 for the license itself. 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 Monterey County.

State and Local Resources

The California Department of Public Health keeps marriage records from before 2000 and after 2008. If you need a very old marriage certificate, you might need to contact the state in Sacramento instead of Monterey County. The state charges $19 per copy. State orders take longer because they handle requests from all 58 California counties.

For legal questions about marriage, call a family law attorney in Monterey 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.

Monterey County has several legal aid organizations that can help with family law matters. If you need low-cost or free legal help, ask the clerk office for a referral list. They keep information about local resources in California.

Major Cities in Monterey County

Monterey County includes several cities along the coast and in the Salinas Valley. All marriage licenses for these cities are issued by the Monterey County Clerk office in Salinas. Cities do not issue marriage licenses in California.

Cities in Monterey County with populations over 100,000: Salinas

Nearby California Counties

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

San Benito County, San Luis Obispo County, Kings County, Santa Cruz County