Santa Clara County Marriage Records
Santa Clara County marriage license applications are processed through the County Clerk-Recorder office at 110 West Tasman Drive in San Jose. You pay $80 for a public license or $83 for a confidential one. Both people must show up together with valid photo ID. The office is open on weekdays and handles thousands of marriage licenses each year for residents across Santa Clara County and others who want to marry in the Bay Area. Civil ceremonies range from $80 to $120 depending on the venue you pick.
Santa Clara County Marriage License Facts
Clerk-Recorder Office Location
The Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder office is at 110 West Tasman Drive in San Jose. This office handles all marriage license work for the county. You can reach them by phone at 408-299-5688 during business hours. The main office processes applications and issues licenses for the entire county, from San Jose and Sunnyvale to smaller towns like Los Gatos and Gilroy.
The office serves one of California's most populous counties. Over 1.9 million people live in Santa Clara County. The county sits in the heart of Silicon Valley and includes major cities like San Jose, the third-largest city in California. Many couples from around the Bay Area and beyond choose to get married in Santa Clara County because of its location and ease of access to the county clerk office.
Parking is available near the building at 110 West Tasman Drive. The office is in North San Jose, not far from the San Jose airport. If you use public transit, you can take VTA buses that stop near the county offices. Check the clerkrecorder.santaclaracounty.gov website for current hours before you visit.
Most marriage license applications in Santa Clara County require an appointment. Walk-ins may be accepted if there is space, but you should not count on it. Call ahead or check the website to book your appointment time. The office tries to keep wait times short by using the appointment system.
How to Get Your License
You start by visiting the Santa Clara County website at clerkrecorder.santaclaracounty.gov/marriage-birth-and-death/apply-marriage-license. The site has forms and instructions for applying for your marriage license. Both people must appear in person at the same time. You cannot apply by mail or have someone else pick up your license in Santa Clara County.
Bring a valid photo ID for each person. A driver license works. So does a passport or state ID card. 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 say how that marriage ended and when. California law under Family Code Sections 350-360 sets out these basic requirements for all marriage licenses in the state.
The clerk may ask a few other questions. Most of the process is simple. You fill out a short form at the office. The clerk checks your ID and reviews what you wrote. Then you pay the fee. The whole visit takes about 15 to 20 minutes if you have all your documents ready.
Marriage License Costs
A public marriage license in Santa Clara County costs $80. A confidential license costs $83. Public licenses become part of the public record after the ceremony. Anyone can request a certified copy later. Confidential licenses are kept private under Family Code Sections 500-511. Only the couple and certain authorized people can get copies of confidential marriage records in California.
You pay the fee when you apply in person. The Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder office accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. Bring enough to cover the full fee. There is no refund if you do not use the license within 90 days. If you want a civil ceremony performed by the county, that costs extra. Ceremony fees range from $80 to $120 in Santa Clara County depending on where and when you want the ceremony to take place.
The cost of certified copies of your marriage certificate is separate. After the ceremony, you can order copies from the county clerk office. Most couples order at least one or two certified copies for name changes, insurance updates, or other legal needs. The fee per copy is set by California law under Health and Safety Code Section 103625.
Using Your License
Your marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued in Santa Clara County. You must have your ceremony within that time. If you do not, the license expires. You would need to apply again and pay the fee again if you miss the 90-day window. This rule applies to all California marriage licenses under state law.
After your ceremony, the officiant must sign the license and return it to the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder within 10 days. The officiant keeps one copy. You keep another. The county files the official copy once it is returned. That filing makes your marriage part of the legal record. If the officiant does not return the signed license, your marriage will not be registered in California.
Once the license is filed, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Most people need these copies for legal purposes like changing a name on a driver license or updating insurance policies. The Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder office can provide certified copies by mail, in person, or through third-party services like VitalChek. Processing times vary depending on how you order.
Public and Confidential Licenses
Santa Clara County offers two types of marriage licenses. A public license is the standard option. The information on a public license becomes part of the public record after the ceremony. Anyone can look up the marriage record or request a certified copy from the county or from the California Department of Public Health.
A confidential license is different. It is not part of the public record. Only the couple can request certified copies under California law. Confidential licenses were created under Family Code Section 511 for couples who want to keep their marriage private. You must be living together as a married couple to qualify for a confidential license in California. No witnesses are required at the ceremony for confidential licenses.
Public licenses require at least one witness over age 18 at the ceremony. The witness signs the license along with the officiant. Most couples use a friend or family member as the witness. You do not need to tell the county clerk who your witness will be when you apply in Santa Clara County. You just need to have one present at the ceremony.
County-Performed Ceremonies
The Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder offers civil ceremony services. These are simple wedding ceremonies performed by a deputy clerk. The cost ranges from $80 to $120 depending on the venue and time. Most ceremonies last about 10 to 15 minutes. You can invite a small number of guests. Check with the office for current guest limits and scheduling options in Santa Clara County.
Civil ceremonies are popular for couples who want a quick and affordable wedding. You get legally married without the expense of a big event. The county provides the officiant. You bring your witnesses if you have a public license. The ceremony usually takes place at the county clerk office, though some locations may offer other venues for an additional fee.
If you prefer, you can have your ceremony performed by a private officiant instead. California allows many types of people to officiate weddings, including clergy, judges, and others authorized under California Family Code. Your officiant must be registered or authorized to perform marriages in California. Make sure they know how to properly complete and return the marriage license to Santa Clara County after your ceremony.
Getting Certified Copies
After your marriage is registered, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate from the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder. You can request copies in person, by mail, or online through third-party services. VitalChek is the authorized online vendor for California vital records, including marriage certificates from Santa Clara County. The VitalChek website charges a service fee on top of the county fee.
If you want to order by mail, you can send a written request to the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder at 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. Include your full names, the date of marriage, and a copy of your photo ID. Enclose a check or money order for the fee. Mail orders take longer to process than in-person or online requests.
In-person orders are the fastest way to get certified copies in Santa Clara County. Go to the office with your ID and request the copies at the counter. If your marriage was recently filed, there may be a short wait while the record is processed. Most marriages are fully registered within a few days after the signed license is returned to the county clerk office.
Major Cities in Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County includes several large cities. San Jose is the county seat and the largest city in Northern California. Other major cities include Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. All residents of these cities apply for marriage licenses through the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder office in San Jose. There are no separate city offices for marriage licenses in California.
Here are the qualifying cities in Santa Clara County with populations over 100,000:
If you live in a smaller city or town in Santa Clara County, you still use the same county clerk office. The process is the same no matter where you live in the county. Cities like Palo Alto, Mountain View, Milpitas, and Cupertino all fall under the jurisdiction of the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder for marriage licenses.
Nearby Counties
If you live near the edge of Santa Clara County, you might be close to another county's clerk office. You can apply for a marriage license in any California county, no matter where you live. Your marriage is legal throughout the state once it is registered. Some people choose to apply in a neighboring county if it is more convenient for them.
Counties adjacent to Santa Clara County include: