Riverside County Marriage License Records

Riverside County marriage license services are provided by the County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder office, which operates six branch offices and a dedicated wedding chapel to serve over 2.4 million residents across California's fourth most populous county. You can apply for a marriage license at any of the six branch locations, with public licenses costing $111 and confidential licenses costing $122, and the county offers civil ceremonies for $96 at most offices or $138 at the historic 14th Street Chapel in Riverside. The county provides online application services through its web portal at webselfservice.riversideacr.com, making it easier to start the process before your in-person appointment.

Riverside County Office Locations

The Assessor-Clerk-Recorder office in Riverside County operates six branch offices across the county to make services accessible to all residents. The main office is at 2724 Gateway Drive in Riverside. Additional branch offices serve communities in Indio, Palm Desert, Temecula, Murrieta, and Lake Elsinore. All six locations handle marriage license applications and perform civil ceremonies in Riverside County.

Most couples pick the office closest to their home or work. Office hours are typically Monday through Friday, with some locations open on select Saturdays. You need an appointment to apply for a marriage license at all locations. Call 951-486-7000 to schedule or visit rivcoacr.org/MarriageLicenseCeremonies to learn more. The website shows hours for each branch office in Riverside County.

Riverside County also operates the historic 14th Street Chapel in downtown Riverside. This venue offers a more formal setting for wedding ceremonies. The chapel has been a popular wedding location for many years in Riverside County.

Online Marriage License Application

Riverside County lets you start your marriage license application online. Go to webselfservice.riversideacr.com to fill out the form. Both people must complete it together. The form asks for your full name, birth date, birthplace, and social security number. You must also provide information about any prior marriages and when they ended.

The online form takes most couples about 10 to 15 minutes to complete. After you submit it, you schedule an appointment at one of the six branch offices. Both people must attend the appointment together. The system shows available dates and times at each location. Pick a date and time that works for both of you in Riverside 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 a reasonable time after submitting the online form in Riverside County.

Your In-Person Appointment

Both people must appear together at the Riverside County office for your scheduled 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 takes about 15 to 20 minutes at most locations in Riverside County.

You pay the license fee at the appointment. A public marriage license costs $111 in Riverside County. A confidential license costs $122. 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 as the couple. Another goes to your officiant, who must file it with the Riverside County Recorder within 10 days after the ceremony. Make sure your officiant knows to return the license on time. If it is not filed properly, your marriage will not become an official record in Riverside County.

Note: Some branch offices have limited hours, so confirm before you visit in Riverside County.

Marriage Fees and Costs

Riverside County charges $111 for a public marriage license and $122 for a confidential license. These fees cover the full application and processing in Riverside County.

Civil ceremony fees are $96 at most branch offices in Riverside County. If you want to get married at the 14th Street Chapel, the ceremony fee is $138. This includes use of the historic chapel venue. You can pay for the license and ceremony at the same time, or get your license first and schedule the ceremony later in Riverside County.

The Riverside County public license page lists all current fees and requirements. After your wedding, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate. The first certified copy costs about $27. Additional copies in the same order cost less. You can order copies in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek in Riverside County.

Civil Wedding Ceremonies

The Riverside County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder performs civil ceremonies at all six branch offices and at the 14th Street Chapel. The ceremony fee is $96 at branch offices or $138 at the chapel. 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 later in Riverside County.

Civil ceremonies last about 5 to 10 minutes. The deputy clerk 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. The 14th Street Chapel can accommodate more guests than the branch offices. Check with your specific location about guest limits in Riverside County.

Many couples choose the 14th Street Chapel for its historic setting and beautiful architecture. Others prefer branch office ceremonies for convenience. Both options are legally valid. After the ceremony, the deputy signs your marriage license and files it with the county recorder. Your marriage becomes official at that moment in Riverside County.

Public or Confidential Licenses

Riverside County issues both public and confidential marriage licenses. A public license costs $111 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 $122 in Riverside 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 and easier to use later if you need multiple certified copies. Both types are fully legal in California. You cannot change from one type to the other after the license is issued in Riverside County.

Marriage License Requirements

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

How to Get Certified Copies

After your wedding ceremony, your officiant files the marriage license with the Riverside 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 Riverside County.

Certified copies are available in person at any of the six branch offices 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 Riverside 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 Riverside County.

Major Cities in Riverside County

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

Cities in Riverside County with populations over 100,000: Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona, Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee, Jurupa Valley

Nearby California Counties

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

San Bernardino County, Orange County, San Diego County, Imperial County