San Benito County Marriage License Records

Marriage license applications in San Benito County are processed at the County Clerk-Recorder office located at 1601 Lana Way in Hollister. Couples must appear together in person to apply, with public marriage licenses priced at $75 and confidential licenses at $85. The office serves all communities in San Benito County including Hollister, San Juan Bautista, and surrounding areas. Call 831-636-4029 for questions about requirements, fees, or office hours, and remember that California marriage licenses remain valid for 90 days from the issue date.

San Benito County Clerk-Recorder Office

The office is at 1601 Lana Way in Hollister. This is the only location that issues marriage licenses for San Benito County. The office is open during regular business hours on weekdays. You must visit in person to apply. Both people need to come at the same time. Phone is 831-636-4029.

San Benito County is a small county with a population under 70,000 people. The county seat is Hollister. Other communities include San Juan Bautista, Tres Pinos, and Paicines. All marriage licenses for these areas come from the clerk-recorder office in Hollister. The office handles vital records including birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage licenses for the entire county.

Staff guide couples through the application process. You fill out forms at the office. The clerk asks questions to verify your information. Then you pay the fee and receive your marriage license. Most applications are completed in about 20 to 30 minutes in San Benito County.

Applying for a Marriage License

Both people must appear together at the clerk-recorder office. You cannot apply alone or send someone else. Bring valid photo ID for each person. A driver license, passport, or state ID card works. The clerk verifies your identity and age during the application.

The clerk provides forms at the office. You do not need to fill them out ahead of time. Staff will ask for your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If either person was married before, you state when and where that prior marriage ended. No proof of divorce is usually required at the time of application in San Benito County.

California does not require blood tests or waiting periods. You get your license the same day you apply in most cases. The license is valid for 90 days from the issue date. Your wedding ceremony must take place within that 90-day period. After 90 days, the license expires and you must apply again with a new fee.

Marriage License Requirements

Both people must be at least 18 years old to marry without a court order. Minors under 18 need a court order to get a marriage license in California. No blood test is needed. No residency requirement exists. You do not have to live in San Benito County or California to apply here.

Valid government-issued photo ID is required for each person. Social security numbers are needed but you do not have to bring the physical cards. If you were married before, you must know the date and place where that marriage ended. The clerk may ask for divorce papers in some situations, but this is not usually required at the time of application in San Benito County.

San Benito County Marriage License Fees

A public marriage license costs $75 in San Benito County. This is one of the lower fees in California. A confidential marriage license costs $85. These fees cover license issuance and filing after the ceremony. Payment methods include cash, check, and credit cards at the clerk-recorder office.

The fees can change from year to year based on county policy and state law. Contact the office at 831-636-4029 to confirm current fees before you visit. Some counties charge extra for civil ceremony services if they offer them. Ask the San Benito County office about ceremony fees and availability.

Public and Confidential Marriage Licenses

San Benito County issues both types of licenses. Most couples choose a public marriage license for $75. After the ceremony, the marriage becomes a public record. Anyone can request a certified copy from the county clerk or from the state vital records office later. Public licenses require one witness at the wedding ceremony in California.

Confidential marriage licenses cost $85 and do not become public records. Only the two people who married can get copies later. To qualify for a confidential license, both people must be living together as a married couple when they apply. No witness is needed at the ceremony for a confidential marriage under California Family Code Section 500.

The officiant signs and files the license after the ceremony, but it stays sealed from public view. Other people cannot access the record unless they get a court order. Some couples pick confidential licenses for privacy. Both types have full legal validity in San Benito County and California.

After Your Wedding Ceremony

Your officiant must sign the marriage license after the ceremony. The officiant then returns the signed license to the San Benito County Clerk-Recorder office within 10 days. This filing makes your marriage official and creates the permanent record in California.

Most officiants know the filing requirements. Some couples check with their officiant a few days after the wedding to make sure the license was filed. Once the clerk-recorder office receives and processes the signed license, the marriage becomes part of the county's vital records system in San Benito County.

Note: Without proper filing, your marriage is not legally recorded even if the ceremony took place.

How to Get Certified Copies

After your marriage is filed, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate from the San Benito County Clerk-Recorder office. Certified copies are needed for legal purposes like name changes, insurance benefits, and tax filings. You can apply in person at the office or by mail.

The office charges a fee for each certified copy. Processing time depends on whether you apply in person or by mail. In-person requests are usually completed the same day. Mail requests take longer. Allow one to two weeks for mail orders in San Benito County.

For older marriage records, you can also order copies from the California Department of Public Health. State copies cost $19 each. You can apply through CDPH Vital Records or use VitalChek online. The state maintains marriage records for most years. County copies may process faster if you need them soon.

Civil Wedding Ceremonies

Check with the San Benito County Clerk-Recorder office to see if they perform civil ceremonies. Some county clerk offices offer this service while others do not. If available, civil ceremonies are short and formal. A deputy clerk officiates and reads a standard script. The ceremony lasts about 10 to 15 minutes.

If the clerk office does not perform ceremonies, you need to hire a private officiant. Many officiants operate in San Benito County and surrounding areas. You can find them through online searches or referrals. Make sure your officiant is registered with the state and knows how to file the marriage license properly after the ceremony in California.

California Marriage License Laws

Marriage license requirements are set by California state law. County clerks follow these laws when processing applications in San Benito County. The California Family Code governs how licenses are issued, how long they remain valid, and who can marry.

California Family Code Sections 350 through 360 cover marriage license issuance requirements. These sections explain ID requirements, license validity periods, and return procedures. California Health and Safety Code Section 103525 addresses certified copy issuance for vital records including marriage certificates.

Confidential marriages are authorized under California Family Code Sections 500 through 511. These provisions allow couples who live together to marry without witnesses and without creating a public record. Access to confidential marriage records is restricted by California Family Code Section 511 in San Benito County and throughout California.

Additional Resources

The California Department of Public Health maintains marriage records at the state level. You can contact CDPH Vital Records for information about ordering state copies of marriage certificates. The state office can provide certified copies for marriages that are more than a year old in most cases.

For questions about California marriage laws, you can contact the California Secretary of State's office or consult with a family law attorney. Local legal aid organizations may offer free or low-cost advice for couples with specific questions about marriage requirements in San Benito County.

Nearby California Counties

San Benito County borders several other California counties. Each county clerk sets its own fees and may have different procedures for marriage licenses.

Santa Clara County, Monterey County, San Luis Obispo County, Merced County, Fresno County