Tehama County Marriage License Services

Marriage licenses in Tehama County are issued through the Clerk and Recorder office at 633 Washington Street, Room 11, in Red Bluff. Public marriage licenses cost $70 and confidential licenses are $72, making Tehama County one of the most affordable options in Northern California. Civil ceremony services are available for $53 at the clerk office, and both individuals must appear in person together with valid identification to complete their application. The office phone number is 530-527-3350 for questions about requirements or to check on current office hours. All California marriage licenses remain valid for 90 days from the date they are issued.

Tehama County Clerk and Recorder Office

The office is at 633 Washington Street, Room 11, in Red Bluff. This is the only location that issues marriage licenses for all of Tehama County. Red Bluff is the county seat. The office is open during regular business hours on weekdays. Phone is 530-527-3350.

The Tehama County Clerk and Recorder marriage services page provides information about what to bring and how to apply. The office serves all cities and communities in Tehama County including Red Bluff, Corning, Los Molinos, Gerber, and Tehama. You must visit this office in person to apply for a marriage license.

Both people need to come at the same time. Online applications and mail applications are not available for marriage licenses in Tehama County. The process takes about 20 to 30 minutes once you arrive. Staff guide couples through the application and answer questions about requirements.

How to Apply for a Marriage License

Both people must appear together at the clerk and recorder office. 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 verifies your identity and age during the application.

The clerk provides forms at the office. You do not fill them out ahead of time. Staff will ask for your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If either person was married before, you state when and where that prior marriage ended. No documents proving a divorce are usually needed at the time of application in Tehama County.

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 the issue date. Your wedding ceremony must take place within that 90-day period. After 90 days, the license expires and you must apply again with a new fee in Tehama County.

Marriage License Fees in Tehama County

A public marriage license costs $70 in Tehama County. This is one of the lowest fees in California. A confidential marriage license costs $72. These fees cover license issuance and filing after your ceremony. Payment methods include cash, checks, and credit cards at the clerk and recorder office.

Civil ceremony fees are separate from license fees. The clerk office charges $53 for a civil wedding ceremony. This is also one of the most affordable ceremony fees in California. Many couples choose Tehama County for its low costs compared to larger counties like Los Angeles or San Francisco.

Marriage License Requirements

Both people must be at least 18 years old to marry without a court order. Minors under 18 need a court order to get a marriage license in California. No blood test is needed. No residency requirement exists. You do not have to live in Tehama County or California to apply 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 and place where that marriage ended. The clerk may ask for divorce papers in some situations, but this is not always required at the time of application in Tehama County.

Note: Both people must apply in person together at the clerk office.

Public Marriage License Records

Most couples in Tehama County choose a public marriage license for $70. After the ceremony, the marriage becomes a public record. Anyone can request a certified copy from the county clerk 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 Tehama County Clerk and Recorder office within 10 days. This filing makes your marriage official in California.

Confidential Marriage Option

Tehama County also issues confidential marriage licenses for $72. 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 Tehama County.

The confidential license costs only $2 more than a public license. Both types have full legal validity in California. You cannot change from one type to another after the license is issued. Some couples pick confidential licenses for personal reasons. Others prefer public licenses because they are easier to use when ordering copies from the state later.

Civil Wedding Ceremonies

The Tehama County Clerk and Recorder office performs civil ceremonies. The fee is $53 per ceremony. This is one of the lowest ceremony fees in California. 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 530-527-3350.

Civil ceremonies in Tehama 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.

If you want a more elaborate wedding, you can hire a private officiant and hold the ceremony at another location. Many officiants operate in Tehama County and Northern California. Make sure your officiant is registered with the state and knows how to file the marriage license properly after the ceremony in California.

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 Tehama County Clerk and 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 office receives and processes the signed license, the marriage becomes part of the county's vital records system in Tehama County.

Certified Marriage Certificate Copies

After your marriage is filed, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate from the Tehama County Clerk and Recorder office. Certified copies are needed for name changes, insurance benefits, tax purposes, and other legal matters. You can apply in person at the office or by mail.

The office charges a fee for each certified copy. Processing time depends on whether you apply in person or by mail. In-person requests are usually completed the same day. Mail requests take longer. Allow one to two weeks for mail orders in Tehama County.

For older marriage records, 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.

California Marriage License Laws

Marriage license requirements are set by California state law. County clerks follow these laws when processing applications in Tehama County. The California Family Code governs how licenses are issued, how long they remain valid, and who can marry.

California Family Code Sections 350 through 360 cover marriage license issuance requirements. These sections explain ID requirements, license validity periods, and return procedures. California Health and Safety Code Section 103525 addresses certified copy issuance for vital records including marriage certificates.

Confidential marriages are authorized under California Family Code Sections 500 through 511. These provisions allow couples who live together to marry without witnesses and without creating a public record. Access to confidential marriage records is restricted by California Family Code Section 511 in Tehama County and throughout California.

Additional Resources

The California Department of Public Health maintains marriage records at the state level. You can contact CDPH Vital Records for information about ordering state copies of marriage certificates. The state office can provide certified copies for marriages that are more than a year old in most cases.

For questions about California marriage laws, you can consult with a family law attorney. Local legal aid organizations may offer free or low-cost advice for couples with specific questions about marriage requirements in Tehama County.

Nearby California Counties

Tehama County is located in Northern California. It borders other counties with their own clerk offices and fee schedules for marriage licenses.

Shasta County, Butte County, Glenn County, Mendocino County, Trinity County, Plumas County