Find Solano County Marriage Licenses
Solano County marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk office at 675 Texas Street in Fairfield. You pay $95 for a public license or $108 for a confidential marriage license when you apply in person with your partner. Both of you must show valid photo identification and appear together at the office. Civil ceremonies are performed on Thursdays only for a fee of $75 if you want the county to officiate your wedding. Call the office at 707-784-7485 to ask questions or confirm current hours and procedures in Solano County.
Solano County Marriage License Facts
County Clerk Office Location
The Solano County Clerk office is at 675 Texas Street, Suite 1900, in Fairfield. This is the only location that handles marriage licenses for the entire county. Fairfield is the county seat and sits between Vallejo and Vacaville. The office serves residents from cities across Solano County including Vallejo, Fairfield, and Vacaville.
You can call the office at 707-784-7485 during business hours. The main county website is solanocounty.gov. Check the website for current office hours before you visit. Parking is available near the building at the county government center in Fairfield.
Solano County has about 450,000 residents. The county sits between the Bay Area and Sacramento. Many people who live here work in San Francisco, Oakland, or Sacramento. The county clerk office processes several thousand marriage licenses each year for local residents and others who choose to get married in Solano County.
The office staff can answer questions about marriage license requirements, fees, and procedures. If you need a certified copy of a marriage certificate, the clerk office handles those requests too. Most services require you to visit in person or submit a mail request with proper identification and fees.
How to Apply for Your License
Visit the Solano County Clerk office at 675 Texas Street in Fairfield to apply for your marriage license. Both people must appear together. You cannot apply by mail or have someone else pick up your license. California law under Family Code Sections 350-360 requires both parties to appear in person and sign the application at the same time in Solano County.
Bring a valid photo ID for each person. A driver license is the most common form of ID. You can also use 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 provide the date and place where that marriage ended.
The application process takes about 15 to 20 minutes if you have all your documents ready. The clerk will review your information and check your IDs. Then you pay the license fee. Once payment is complete, the clerk prints your marriage license. You get it right away. The license is valid for 90 days from that date in California.
Marriage License Fees
A public marriage license costs $95 in Solano County. A confidential marriage license costs $108. You pay the fee when you apply in person at the clerk office. The office accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. Make sure you bring enough to cover the type of license you want.
If you want a civil ceremony performed by the county, that costs an additional $75. Civil ceremonies in Solano County are only performed on Thursdays. The ceremony is simple and takes about 10 minutes. A deputy clerk officiates. You can bring a small number of guests. Call ahead to schedule your ceremony date and time when you apply for your license.
After your marriage is registered, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate from the Solano County Clerk office. Each copy costs extra. The fee is set by state law under Health and Safety Code Section 103625. Most couples order at least one or two certified copies for legal needs like name changes or insurance updates.
License Validity and Filing
Your marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued in Solano County. You must have your wedding 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 is a statewide rule in California.
After your ceremony, the officiant must sign the license and return it to the Solano County Clerk office within 10 days. The officiant keeps one copy of the license. You keep another copy. The county files the official copy once it is returned. That filing makes your marriage part of the legal record in California.
Make sure your officiant knows how to properly complete and file the license. If they do not return it to the county on time, your marriage will not be registered. You might need to follow up with the county clerk office if your officiant forgets to file the paperwork in Solano County. Most officiants are familiar with the process and file the license without problems.
Public and Confidential Marriage Licenses
Solano County offers two types of marriage licenses. A public license is the standard option. After your ceremony, the marriage becomes part of the public record. Anyone can look up the record or request a certified copy from the county or from the California Department of Public Health.
A confidential license stays private. Only the couple can get certified copies under California law. Confidential marriage licenses were created under Family Code Sections 500-511 for couples who want to keep their marriage out of the public record. To qualify for a confidential license, you must be living together as a married couple at the time you apply 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 ask a friend or family member to be the witness. You do not need to name your witness when you apply in Solano County. You just need to have one present on your wedding day.
The main difference between the two license types is privacy. Public licenses cost less but become public records. Confidential licenses cost more but stay private. Choose the option that fits your needs. Both types of licenses are equally valid under California law.
Civil Ceremonies in Solano County
The Solano County Clerk office performs civil wedding ceremonies on Thursdays. The cost is $75. The ceremony is short and simple. A deputy clerk officiates. The whole thing takes about 10 minutes. You can invite a few guests. Check with the office for current guest limits and scheduling rules.
If you want a civil ceremony, you need to schedule it when you apply for your license. Ceremonies are by appointment only. The office can fill up during busy times of year, so call ahead or ask about available dates when you visit to apply for your license in Solano County.
If you prefer to have your ceremony performed by a private officiant, you can do that 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 signed license to the Solano County Clerk office after your ceremony.
Getting Certified Copies
After your marriage is registered, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate from the Solano County Clerk office. You can request copies in person, by mail, or online through third-party services. VitalChek is an authorized online vendor for California vital records. The VitalChek website charges a service fee on top of the county fee.
If you want to order by mail, send a written request to the Solano County Clerk office at 675 Texas Street, Suite 1900, Fairfield, CA 94533. 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. Go to the office with your ID and request 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 in Solano County.
Major Cities in Solano County
Solano County includes several cities with large populations. Vallejo and Fairfield each have more than 100,000 residents. Vacaville is close to that mark. All residents of these cities apply for marriage licenses through the Solano County Clerk office in Fairfield. There are no separate city offices for marriage licenses in California.
Here are the qualifying cities in Solano County with populations over 100,000:
If you live in a smaller city or town in Solano County, you still use the same county clerk office in Fairfield. The process is the same no matter where you live in the county. Cities like Benicia, Dixon, and Suisun City all fall under the jurisdiction of the Solano County Clerk for marriage licenses.
Nearby Counties
Solano County sits between the Bay Area and the Central Valley. If you live near the edge of the county, you might be close to another county's clerk office. You can apply for a marriage license in any California county. Your marriage is legal throughout the state once it is registered.
Counties adjacent to Solano County include: