Nevada County Marriage License Records
Nevada County marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk-Recorder office at 950 Maidu Avenue, Suite 210, in Nevada City, where couples can apply for marriage licenses to use for weddings anywhere in California. The Nevada County Clerk serves residents from Grass Valley, Truckee, and other Gold Country and Sierra Nevada foothill communities throughout the county. Both people must appear together in person at the Nevada City office to complete the application, show valid photo identification, and receive their marriage license which is then valid for 90 days from the issue date under California Family Code provisions, making Nevada County a popular choice for couples planning mountain weddings or ceremonies in the historic Gold Rush region of Northern California.
Nevada County Marriage License Facts
Nevada County Clerk Office
The Nevada County Clerk-Recorder is at 950 Maidu Avenue, Suite 210, in Nevada City. This is the main county government center. All marriage license services for Nevada County are provided from this location. The office serves people throughout the county, which includes Nevada City, Grass Valley, Truckee, and many smaller mountain communities.
You can visit the office during regular business hours. Call (530) 265-1221 if you have questions before your visit. The clerk staff can answer basic questions about the marriage license process and tell you what documents to bring. The county's website at nevadacountyca.gov has information about marriage licenses and other vital records services available in Nevada County.
Nevada City is in the western part of Nevada County off Highway 49. Parking is available at the county government center. The office is accessible from downtown Nevada City on foot or by car. If you are coming from Truckee or other eastern parts of the county, the drive takes about an hour over mountain roads. Plan your trip carefully in winter when snow can affect travel in Nevada County.
How to Apply for a License
Both people must appear in person at the Nevada County Clerk office in Nevada City. Bring valid photo identification for each person. A driver license, passport, state ID card, or military ID works. The clerk will verify your identities and complete the marriage license application with you. This process takes about 15 to 20 minutes in Nevada County.
The application asks for standard information. You need your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If either person was married before, you must provide the date and place where that marriage ended. The clerk may ask follow-up questions about previous marriages to confirm you are legally able to marry again under California law.
After completing the application, you pay the license fee. Check with the office about current fees and accepted payment methods when you call ahead at (530) 265-1221. Once you pay, the clerk prints your marriage license. You receive the physical document immediately. It is valid for 90 days from that date anywhere in California.
Make sure both people are present when you visit the clerk office. The clerk cannot issue a license if only one person shows up. Both people must appear together under California Family Code Section 350 and related provisions for all marriage licenses in the state.
Marriage License Fees
Contact the Nevada County Clerk office at (530) 265-1221 to ask about current marriage license fees. California counties set their own fees based on state law and local costs. Fees typically range from $50 to $100 for a public license and may vary for confidential licenses. The fee covers processing your application and issuing the license document in Nevada County.
Additional fees may apply if you want the county to perform a civil ceremony. Ask about ceremony fees when you call to inquire about licenses. Some counties charge $50 to $100 or more 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 your wedding, you can order them from the Nevada 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
Nevada County issues both public and confidential marriage licenses. A public license becomes part of the public record after your wedding. Anyone can request a copy of the marriage certificate from the county clerk or the state vital records office once it is filed. This is the most common type of license in California.
A confidential license does not become public. Only the two people who got married can obtain copies later. To qualify for a confidential license, both people must be living together as a married couple when they apply. No witness is required for a confidential ceremony. The officiant signs the license and files it with the county clerk, 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 standard and easier to use when dealing with government agencies or financial institutions. Both types are fully legal in California. You cannot change from one type to the other after the license is issued in Nevada County.
California Marriage Requirements
Both people must be at least 18 years old to get a marriage license in Nevada County. If someone is under 18, a court order is required in California. No blood test is needed. California stopped requiring blood tests in 1995. You do not need to be a resident of Nevada County or California. People from any state or country can apply for a marriage license here.
You must apply in person together at the clerk office in Nevada City. Both people need to be present. You cannot send someone else to apply for you. The clerk will verify your identities and ask questions that only you can answer. 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 the clerk may ask for them in some cases.
Your marriage license is valid for 90 days from the issue date. 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. Make sure you have a ceremony date planned before getting the license to avoid wasting money on an expired license in Nevada County.
After Your Ceremony
The person who performs your wedding ceremony must complete and sign your marriage license. This can be a judge, clergy member, or other authorized officiant in California. The officiant has 10 days after the ceremony to return the completed license to the Nevada County Clerk office in Nevada City. This is a state law requirement.
Once the license is filed, your marriage becomes an official record. The county clerk processes the filed license and adds it to the vital records database. This usually takes a few days to a few weeks depending on how quickly the officiant returns the license and how busy the clerk office is at the time in Nevada County.
After the license is filed, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate. These are the official documents you use to change your name on a driver license, social security card, passport, or other legal records. Order extra copies if you need to update multiple documents. It is easier to get several copies at once than to request them separately later in Nevada County.
Obtaining Marriage Certificates
You can request certified copies of your marriage certificate from the Nevada County Clerk-Recorder at 950 Maidu Avenue, Suite 210, in Nevada City. Call (530) 265-1221 to ask about the current copy fee and how to submit your request. Options may include in-person requests, mail requests, or online requests depending on what services the county offers.
In-person requests are usually processed within a few days. Bring valid photo ID and be ready to pay the copy fee. Mail requests take longer. Allow two to three weeks if you order by mail. Some counties use third-party services like VitalChek for online orders, which may have extra fees but can be faster than mail in some cases for Nevada County records.
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 in Nevada County, contact the clerk office to ask about record availability and processing times for historical records.
California Marriage 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 Nevada 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
Nevada County borders several other California counties in the Sierra Nevada and foothills region. Each county has its own clerk office with different fees and procedures. You can apply for a marriage license in any California county regardless of where you live or plan to have your ceremony.