Sutter County Marriage License Services
Marriage licenses in Sutter County are issued by the County Clerk-Recorder office at 433 Second Street in Yuba City. Both people must appear together with valid photo ID. Sutter County was the first county in California to use blockchain technology for electronic marriage certificates, which makes the process more secure and modern. The license is valid for 90 days after you get it under California Family Code Section 350. After your wedding ceremony, your officiant has 10 days to return the signed license to Sutter County. That filing makes your marriage official and adds it to California's vital records system per Health and Safety Code Section 102100. You can then order certified copies from the Clerk-Recorder office in Yuba City for name changes, insurance, or other legal needs in California.
Sutter County Marriage License Facts
Sutter County Clerk-Recorder Office
The Clerk-Recorder office is at 433 Second Street in Yuba City. Call them at 530-822-7134. Yuba City is the county seat. The town sits in the Sacramento Valley. Most people here work in farming, especially rice and peaches. The clerk office is downtown in the main county building. Street parking is usually easy to find near the office in Sutter County.
Visit the Sutter County Clerk-Recorder website to learn more. The site has forms, fee schedules, and office hours listed. The staff at the clerk office handle property records, vital records, and business filings. Marriage licenses are one of several services they offer. The office is small, so wait times are usually short. You can walk in without a set time to apply for your license. Just bring your partner and photo ID for both of you in Sutter County.
Sutter County made news as the first county in California to use blockchain technology for electronic marriage certificates. This makes your certificate more secure and harder to fake. The county is proud of this innovation. It shows they care about keeping your records safe in California.
Applying for Your License
Both of you must go to the clerk office together. Bring photo ID for both people. A driver license, state ID, or passport works. California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 requires ID for marriage licenses. The clerk will ask your full name, date of birth, and place of birth. If either person was married before, the clerk needs to know when that marriage ended. You do not usually need divorce papers unless the clerk asks for them in Sutter County.
The clerk fills out the marriage license form based on what you tell them. They print the license right there. You pay the fee. Cash, check, or card all work. Make checks payable to Sutter County Clerk-Recorder. The process takes about 15 to 20 minutes if the office is not busy. You leave with your license in hand the same day. The license is valid for 90 days in California.
After your wedding, your officiant must sign the license and mail it back to Sutter County within 10 days. That filing makes your marriage legal and adds it to the vital records system. Keep the license safe until the wedding. If you lose it before the ceremony, you will need to go back and pay for another one.
Note: No blood test or waiting period is required in California.
Marriage License Fees
Sutter County charges fees for marriage licenses. The county board sets the fees and can change them each year. The fee covers the cost of processing your license and filing it with the state under California Health and Safety Code Section 103625. Part of the money also goes to domestic violence prevention programs in California. Check the Sutter County Clerk-Recorder website for current fee amounts before you visit.
Sutter County does not currently offer civil ceremonies at the clerk office. You will need to hire a private officiant or use clergy to perform your wedding. Many people use a judge, a minister, or a friend who is registered as an officiant in California. The cost of hiring an officiant varies. Some charge a few hundred dollars. Others do it for free if they know you well in Sutter County.
Certified copies of your marriage certificate cost extra after the wedding. The fee is about $15 per copy. That is the state fee under Health and Safety Code Section 103625. You can order copies in person at 433 Second Street or by mail. Some people use online services like VitalChek, but those charge service fees on top of the county cost in California.
Electronic Certificates with Blockchain
Sutter County was the first county in California to offer electronic marriage certificates using blockchain technology. This makes your certificate more secure. Blockchain creates a digital record that cannot be changed or faked. The county still issues paper certificates too. You can choose which type you want in Sutter County.
Electronic certificates are easier to store and share. You can keep a copy on your phone or computer. If you lose the paper version, you still have the electronic one. Some couples like this option because it is modern and convenient. Others prefer paper because they are used to it. Both are legal and work the same way in California.
Public vs Confidential Licenses
Most people in Sutter County get a public marriage license. After the wedding, the license goes into the public record. Anyone can ask for a copy from the county or from the state of California. Public licenses are standard and easy to work with later when you need copies for name changes, insurance, or other legal matters in California.
Sutter County also offers confidential marriage licenses under California Family Code Sections 500 to 511. To get one, both people must be living together as a married couple when they apply. The license does not become part of the public record. Only the two people who got married can get copies later. A court order is needed for anyone else to see the record in California.
Confidential licenses do not need a witness at the wedding. The officiant signs the license and returns it to the county. The record stays sealed. Some couples choose this option for privacy. Others pick a public license because it is more common and easier to use later. Both types are legal and work the same way for taxes, insurance, and other official purposes in California.
Certified Copies
After your ceremony, the officiant files your marriage license with Sutter County. Once filed, you can order certified copies from the Clerk-Recorder office at 433 Second Street. Copies cost about $15 each under state law. You can go in person or mail a request. Online services charge extra fees on top of the county cost in California.
Certified copies prove you are married. You need them to change your name on your driver license, update your insurance, or file joint taxes. The county gives you one free copy after the wedding, but you might need more later. Order extras if you plan to change your name or update many accounts at once in Sutter County.
If you got a confidential license, only you and your spouse can order copies. Bring photo ID to the clerk office. The staff will check your ID against the record. Public licenses are easier because anyone can request them in California.
Marriage License Requirements
Both people must be 18 or older. If someone is younger than 18, a court order is needed under California Family Code Section 302. The clerk cannot issue a license to minors without that court order. No blood test is required. California stopped asking for blood tests in 1995. You do not need to live in Sutter County or California. People from any state or country can get a marriage license here under California law.
You must apply in person together. You cannot mail in a form or apply online for the license itself. The clerk needs to see both of you and check your ID. Bring a driver license, state ID card, or passport. The clerk will ask basic questions about your name, birth date, and birth place. If either of you was married before, the clerk will ask when that marriage ended in Sutter County.
State and Local Resources
The California Department of Public Health keeps marriage records from before 2000 and after 2008. If you need a very old marriage certificate, you might need to contact the state in Sacramento instead of Sutter County. The state charges $19 per copy. State orders take longer because they handle requests from all 58 California counties.
For legal questions about marriage, call a family law attorney in Sutter County. The clerk office can issue your license and provide copies, but they cannot give legal advice. Questions about prenuptial agreements, property rights, or name changes should go to a lawyer in California.
Sutter County has several legal aid organizations that can help with family law matters. If you need low-cost or free legal help, ask the clerk office for a referral list. They keep information about local resources in California.
Cities in Sutter County
Sutter County includes the cities of Yuba City and Live Oak. All marriage licenses for these cities are issued by the Sutter County Clerk-Recorder office in Yuba City. Cities do not issue marriage licenses in California.
Nearby California Counties
Sutter County borders several other California counties. Each county has its own clerk office with different fees and procedures.