Stanislaus County Marriage License Records
Marriage licenses in Stanislaus County are issued by the County Clerk-Recorder office at 1021 I Street in Modesto. You pay $76 for a public license or $81 for a confidential one when you apply in person with your partner. Both people must show up together and bring valid photo IDs. Civil ceremonies are available for $45 if you want the county to perform your wedding. Call 209-525-5250 with questions about the application process or to confirm office hours in Stanislaus County.
Stanislaus County Marriage License Facts
Clerk-Recorder Office Location
The Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder office is at 1021 I Street, Suite 101, in Modesto. This office handles all marriage license applications for the county. Modesto is the county seat and largest city in Stanislaus County. The office serves residents from cities across the county including Modesto, Turlock, Ceres, and Riverbank.
Call 209-525-5250 during business hours to ask questions or confirm current office hours. The main website is stancounty.com/clerkrecorder. Check the website before you visit to see hours and any special instructions for marriage license applications in Stanislaus County.
Stanislaus County has about 560,000 residents. The county sits in the Central Valley east of the Bay Area. The office processes several thousand marriage licenses each year for local residents and others who choose to get married in Stanislaus County.
How to Apply for Your License
Visit the Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder office at 1021 I Street in Modesto to apply for your marriage license. Both people must appear together in person. 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 and sign the application at the same time in Stanislaus 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 say when and how that marriage ended.
The application process takes about 15 to 20 minutes if you have all your documents ready. The clerk reviews your information and checks 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 Costs
A public marriage license costs $76 in Stanislaus County. A confidential marriage license costs $81. 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 $45. This is one of the lower ceremony fees among California counties. The ceremony is simple and takes about 10 minutes. A deputy clerk officiates. You can bring a small number of guests. Ask about ceremony scheduling and guest limits when you apply for your license in Stanislaus County.
After your marriage is registered, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Each copy costs extra. The fee is set by California law under Health and Safety Code Section 103625. Most couples order at least one or two certified copies for legal purposes like name changes or updating insurance.
Using Your Marriage License
Your marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued in Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder 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 Stanislaus County Clerk office if your officiant forgets to file the paperwork. Most officiants are familiar with the process and file the license without problems.
Note: The license does not become a marriage certificate until after the ceremony and filing are complete.
Public and Confidential Licenses
Stanislaus 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 privacy. 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 Stanislaus County. You just need to have one present on your wedding day.
Civil Ceremonies
The Stanislaus County Clerk office performs civil wedding ceremonies for $45. These are short and simple ceremonies officiated by a deputy clerk. The ceremony takes about 10 minutes. You can bring a few guests. Check with the office for current guest limits and ceremony scheduling options in Stanislaus 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.
After the ceremony, your officiant must complete the marriage license and return it to the Stanislaus County Clerk office within 10 days. The officiant should be familiar with this process. Most professional officiants know how to properly file marriage licenses in California. If your officiant is inexperienced, review the filing instructions with them before your wedding day.
Getting Certified Copies
After your marriage is registered, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate from the Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder office. You can request copies in person, by mail, or 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 Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder at 1021 I Street, Suite 101, Modesto, CA 95354. 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 Stanislaus County. 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.
More Information
The Stanislaus County website has detailed information about marriage licenses and vital records. Visit the clerk-recorder page for forms, fee schedules, and contact information. The website is a good place to check current hours before you visit or call the office.
California does not require a blood test or waiting period for marriage licenses. You can have your ceremony the same day you get your license if you want. The 90-day validity period gives you plenty of time to plan your wedding, but some couples prefer to marry right away. Both options are fine under California law.
If you need older marriage records from Stanislaus County, contact the clerk office. For public marriages that occurred before 2000 or after 2007, you can also request copies from the California Department of Public Health. The state website is cdph.ca.gov for state-level vital records requests.
Note: Fees and procedures may change. Always check the Stanislaus County Clerk website or call the office before you visit to confirm current information.
Major Cities in Stanislaus County
Stanislaus County includes one city with population over 100,000. Modesto is the county seat and largest city. All residents of Stanislaus County cities apply for marriage licenses through the Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder office in Modesto. There are no separate city offices for marriage licenses in California.
The qualifying city in Stanislaus County with population over 100,000:
If you live in smaller cities like Turlock, Ceres, Riverbank, or Oakdale, you still use the same county clerk office in Modesto. The process is the same no matter where you live in Stanislaus County.
Nearby Counties
Stanislaus County is in the Central Valley region of California. 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 Stanislaus County include: