Santa Barbara County Marriage License Applications
Marriage licenses in Santa Barbara County are issued through the Clerk-Recorder office, which maintains two convenient locations for couples to apply. The main office sits at 1100 Anacapa Street in Santa Barbara, while the north county branch serves residents in Santa Maria and surrounding areas. Public marriage licenses cost $100 and confidential licenses run $111, with civil ceremony services available for $104 at either location. Both people must appear together in person to complete the application process, and the license remains valid for 90 days from the date of issuance throughout California.
Santa Barbara County Marriage License Facts
Two Office Locations
Santa Barbara County operates two full-service clerk-recorder offices. The main office is at 1100 Anacapa Street in downtown Santa Barbara. The north county office is in Santa Maria. Both locations process marriage license applications and perform civil ceremonies. You can pick the office that is most convenient for you.
Phone is 805-568-2250 for both locations. Staff can tell you office hours and answer questions about the application process. Most people call ahead to check current wait times or to ask what documents to bring. The Santa Barbara office serves the southern part of the county including Goleta, Carpinteria, and Montecito. The Santa Maria office covers the northern area including Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Buellton.
Both offices have the same fees and follow the same procedures. You must apply in person at one of these two locations. Online applications and mail applications are not available for marriage licenses in Santa Barbara County. The process takes about 20 to 30 minutes once you arrive.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
Both people must go to the clerk-recorder office together. You cannot apply alone or send someone else. Bring valid photo ID for each person such as a driver license, passport, or state ID card. The clerk will verify your identity and age during the application.
Staff provide forms at the office. You do not fill them out ahead of time. The clerk will ask for your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If either person was married before, you must state when and where that prior marriage ended. No documents proving a divorce are usually needed, but the clerk may request them in some cases in Santa Barbara County.
The Santa Barbara County marriages page has more information about requirements and procedures. California does not require blood tests or waiting periods. You get your license the same day you apply. The license is valid for 90 days from issue. Your wedding ceremony must happen within those 90 days or the license expires.
Note: Both people must be at least 18 years old to marry without a court order in California.
Marriage License Costs
A public marriage license costs $100 in Santa Barbara County. A confidential marriage license costs $111. These fees are higher than many other California counties. The fees cover license issuance and filing after your ceremony. Payment can be made with cash, check, or credit card at both office locations.
Civil ceremony fees are separate from license fees. The clerk-recorder charges $104 for a civil wedding ceremony. This includes the officiant service and filing of the marriage license afterward. Some couples choose to have their ceremony at the clerk office for convenience. Others hire private officiants and hold ceremonies at other locations in Santa Barbara County.
Public Marriage License Records
Most couples get a public marriage license. These cost $100. After your ceremony, the marriage becomes a public record. Anyone can request a certified copy from the county clerk-recorder office or from the state vital records office later. Public records are the standard type in California.
You need one witness at your wedding ceremony if you get a public license. The witness must be at least 18 years old. The witness signs the license along with the officiant after the ceremony. The officiant then returns the signed license to the Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder office within 10 days. This filing makes your marriage official.
Confidential Marriage License Option
Santa Barbara County also issues confidential marriage licenses for $111. These licenses do not become public records. Only the two people who 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 marriage ceremony under California Family Code Section 500. The officiant signs and files the license, but it stays sealed from public access. Other people cannot get copies unless they have a court order. Confidential licenses offer privacy for couples who want it in Santa Barbara County.
The confidential license costs $11 more than a public license. Some couples find the extra privacy worth the additional fee. Both types of licenses have full legal validity in California. You cannot switch from one type to another after the license is issued.
Civil Wedding Ceremonies
The Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder performs civil ceremonies at both office locations. The fee is $104 per ceremony. Ceremonies are available during regular business hours by appointment. You can schedule your ceremony when you pick up your marriage license or by calling the office later at 805-568-2250.
Civil ceremonies in Santa Barbara County are short and formal. A deputy clerk officiates and reads a standard ceremony script. Both people exchange vows. You can invite a small number of guests to watch. The ceremony lasts about 10 minutes. No music, flowers, or decorations are provided. Many couples prefer civil ceremonies for their simplicity and low cost compared to traditional weddings.
Filing Your Marriage License
Your officiant must sign the marriage license immediately after the ceremony. The officiant then has 10 days to return the signed license to the Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder office. This filing creates the permanent marriage record. Without proper filing, your marriage is not legally recorded in California.
Most officiants know the filing requirements and handle this step without problems. Some couples follow up with their officiant a few days after the wedding to confirm 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 in Santa Barbara County.
Certified Marriage Certificate Copies
After your marriage is filed, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate from the Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder office. Certified copies are needed for name changes, insurance benefits, tax purposes, and other legal matters. You can apply in person at either office location or by mail.
Certified copies cost a fee set by the county. Processing time depends on the method you use. In-person requests are usually completed the same day. Mail requests take longer. Allow one to two weeks for mail orders in Santa Barbara County.
For older marriages, you can also order copies from the California Department of Public Health. State copies cost $19 each through CDPH Vital Records. The state maintains marriage records for most years. Orders can be placed by mail or online through VitalChek for California marriages.
Marriage Requirements in California
Both people must be at least 18 years old to marry without a court order. No blood test is required in California. No residency requirement exists. You do not have to live in Santa Barbara County or California to get a marriage license 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 your prior marriage ended. Divorce papers are not usually required at the time of application, but the clerk may ask for them in certain cases in Santa Barbara County.
Cities in Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County includes several cities and towns. All marriage licenses for these areas are issued by the Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder office. Cities do not issue marriage licenses in California.
The city of Santa Maria has a population over 100,000. Other communities in the county include Santa Barbara, Goleta, Lompoc, Carpinteria, Buellton, Solvang, Guadalupe, and Montecito.
Nearby California Counties
Santa Barbara County is located on the Central Coast. It borders other California counties with their own clerk-recorder offices and fee schedules for marriage licenses.