Orange County Marriage License Access

Orange County marriage license services are provided by the County Recorder office at three locations across the county, serving over three million residents in one of California's most populated areas. You can apply for a marriage license online through the county's wedding portal, then visit the Santa Ana, Anaheim, or Laguna Hills office to complete your application and receive your license. Public marriage licenses cost $61 in Orange County, while confidential licenses cost $66, and civil ceremonies are available for $28 at all three office locations.

Orange County Recorder Offices

The Orange County Recorder operates three offices for marriage services. The main office is at 211 West Santa Ana Boulevard, Room 201, in Santa Ana. The other two offices are in Anaheim and Laguna Hills. All three locations handle marriage license applications and perform civil ceremonies. Most couples pick the office closest to their home or workplace in Orange County.

Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm at all three locations. You need an appointment to apply for a marriage license. Walk-ins are not accepted. The online system at ocweddings.ocrecorder.com lets you book appointments at any of the three offices. You can also call the main office at 714-834-2500 for help with scheduling in Orange County.

Orange County has streamlined its marriage license process over the years. The online application portal saves time and makes it easier to get your marriage license. Most couples complete the whole process in one visit to an Orange County office.

Apply for Your License Online

Orange County lets you start your application online. Go to ocweddings.ocrecorder.com to fill out the form. Both people must complete it together. You will need your full name, birth date, birthplace, and social security number. If either person was married before, you must provide details about when and where that marriage ended.

The online form takes about 10 minutes to complete for most couples. After you submit it, you schedule an appointment at one of the three office locations. Both people must attend the appointment together. The system shows available times at each office. Pick a date and time that works for both of you in Orange County.

Print your confirmation page or write down your confirmation number. Bring it to your appointment. The confirmation helps staff find your application quickly. You must complete your in-person visit within 30 days of submitting the online form in Orange County.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

Both people must appear together at the Orange County Recorder office for your appointment. Bring valid photo ID for each person. Driver licenses, passports, and state ID cards all work. The staff reviews your online application and asks a few questions to verify the information. This process usually takes 10 to 15 minutes in Orange County.

You pay the license fee at the appointment. A public marriage license costs $61. A confidential license costs $66. The office accepts credit cards, debit cards, checks, and cash. After you pay, the staff prints your marriage license. You get the physical document right away. It is valid for 90 days from that date under California Family Code Section 359.

Your wedding ceremony must happen within those 90 days. The license has several copies. One stays with you. Another goes to your officiant, who must file it with the Orange County Recorder within 10 days after the ceremony. Make sure your officiant knows to return the license on time. If it is not filed, your marriage will not become an official record in Orange County.

Marriage Service Fees

Orange County charges $61 for a public marriage license and $66 for a confidential license. These fees are lower than many other California counties. The fee covers the license application and processing in Orange County.

Civil ceremony fees are separate from license fees. If you want the county recorder to perform your wedding, the fee is $28. This is one of the lowest ceremony fees in California. You can pay for the license and ceremony at the same time, or get your license first and schedule the ceremony later in Orange County.

The Orange County Recorder marriage services page shows all current fees and requirements. After your wedding, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate. The first copy costs about $25. Additional copies in the same order cost less. You can order copies in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek in Orange County.

Civil Wedding Ceremonies

The Orange County Recorder performs civil ceremonies at all three office locations. The ceremony fee is $28. Ceremonies are available during regular business hours Monday through Friday. You book your ceremony when you pick up your license or by calling the office afterward in Orange County.

Civil ceremonies last about 5 to 10 minutes. The deputy recorder reads a standard ceremony script. Both people say their vows. You can exchange rings if you want. A small number of guests can attend at most locations. No music, decorations, or special requests are allowed at county office ceremonies in Orange County.

Many couples choose civil ceremonies because they are fast and affordable. The ceremony is legally valid just like any other wedding ceremony in California. After the ceremony, the deputy signs your marriage license and files it with the county recorder. Your marriage becomes official at that moment in Orange County.

Public or Confidential Marriage Licenses

Orange County issues both public and confidential marriage licenses. A public license costs $61 and becomes part of the public record after filing. Anyone can request a copy of a public marriage certificate from the county or from California state vital records.

A confidential marriage license costs $66 in Orange 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 under California Family Code Section 500. No witness is needed for a confidential marriage ceremony.

Some couples prefer confidential licenses for privacy reasons. Others choose public licenses because they are more common. Both types are fully legal in California. You cannot change from one type to the other after the license is issued in Orange County.

Marriage License Requirements

Both people must be at least 18 years old. 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 Orange County or California. People from any state or country can get a marriage license in Orange County.

Both people must apply in person together. You cannot send someone else to apply for you. Each person needs valid photo ID. The staff asks for your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If you were married before, you must state when and where that marriage ended. Divorce decrees are not usually required, but the staff may ask for proof in some cases in Orange County.

Marriage licenses expire 90 days from the date of issue under California law. You must have your wedding ceremony within that time, or you will need to apply for a new license in Orange County.

How to Get Certified Copies

After your wedding, your officiant files the marriage license with the Orange County Recorder office. This happens within 10 days of the ceremony. Once filed, the marriage becomes an official California vital record. You can then order certified copies from the Recorder office in Orange County.

Certified copies are available in person at any of the three office locations or by mail. You can also order online through VitalChek, which charges extra service fees. In-person requests are usually processed the same day or within a few business days. Mail requests take longer. Allow two to three weeks for mail orders in Orange County.

For older marriages, the Recorder office has records going back many decades. Some very old records are in archives and take longer to find. If you need a copy of a marriage certificate from a long time ago, allow extra processing time in Orange County.

Major Cities in Orange County

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

Cities in Orange County with populations over 100,000: Anaheim, Irvine, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Fullerton, Orange, Costa Mesa

Nearby California Counties

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

Los Angeles County, San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County