Tulare County Marriage Licenses
Marriage licenses in Tulare County are issued through the County Clerk-Recorder office at 221 S. Mooney Blvd., Room 105, in Visalia. Both people must show up to get the license. The office sits in the heart of California's Central Valley. The fee is $93 for a public license or $95 for a confidential one. You walk out with the license the same day you apply. It stays valid for 90 days under California Family Code Section 350. After your wedding, the person who performs your ceremony must file the license with the county within 10 days. That makes your marriage part of Tulare County's vital records system.
Tulare County Marriage License Facts
Tulare County Clerk Office
The Tulare County Clerk-Recorder operates from one main office in Visalia. The address is 221 S. Mooney Blvd., Room 105, Visalia, CA 93291. You can reach them by phone at 559-636-5051. The office serves the whole county, from farm towns to foothill areas near Sequoia National Park. Most people who live here work in farming or related jobs. The county clerk staff knows local families well.
You do not need to set up a time to come in. The office takes walk-ins for marriage licenses. Show up with your partner and bring photo ID for both of you. A driver license or passport works fine. The clerk will ask you some questions and fill out the form. Then you pay the fee. You get your license right away. The whole thing takes about 20 to 30 minutes if the office is not busy. Check the county website for current hours before you go.
The Clerk-Recorder office handles many tasks. They record property deeds, file birth and death records, and manage voter registration in Tulare County. Marriage licenses are just one service. The staff works hard to keep wait times short. Some days are busier than others, so plan ahead if you can.
Getting Your License
Both of you must go to the clerk office together. You cannot send someone in your place. Bring a valid photo ID. The state of California requires ID under Health and Safety Code Section 103526. The clerk needs to see your full legal name, birth date, and a photo of you. A driver license, state ID card, or passport all work fine in Tulare County.
The clerk will ask where you were born and if you were married before. If either of you had a prior marriage, you must say when it ended. You do not need to bring divorce papers or a death certificate unless the clerk asks for them. Most of the time they just write down what you tell them. The clerk then prints out your marriage license. It has spaces for your officiant to sign after the ceremony. Make sure you give it to the person who will marry you in California.
Note: California does not require a blood test or waiting period for marriage licenses.
Marriage License Costs
Tulare County charges $93 for a public marriage license. A confidential license is $95. These fees are set by the county board. They can change from year to year. The fee covers the cost of processing and filing your license with the state. Tulare County uses part of the money to keep its vital records system running under California Health and Safety Code Section 103625.
You pay when you pick up your license. The clerk office takes cash, checks, and credit cards. Some counties in California only take certain payment types, but Tulare County is flexible. If you pay by check, make it out to Tulare County Clerk-Recorder. Keep your receipt in case you need proof of payment later.
Civil ceremony fees are separate from the license fee. The Tulare County Clerk-Recorder office does not perform civil ceremonies at this time. You need to hire an officiant or ask a friend who is registered to perform marriages in California. Many couples use clergy or a judge for their ceremony in Tulare County.
Public or Confidential License Options
Most people in Tulare County get a public marriage license. The fee is $93. After the wedding, the license becomes part of the public record. Anyone can ask for a copy from the county recorder office or from the state. Public licenses are the standard choice. They work for all types of weddings in California.
A confidential marriage license costs $95 in Tulare County. It does not go into the public record. Only the two people who got married can get copies later under California Family Code Sections 500 to 511. To get a confidential license, you must be living together as a married couple when you apply. The law says you need to declare that you are already living as spouses. This type of license gives you more privacy in California.
Confidential licenses do not need a witness at the wedding ceremony. The officiant signs the license and sends it to the county clerk. The record stays sealed. Other people cannot see it unless they get a court order. Both license types are legal and recognized the same way by the state of California.
Certified Copies After the Wedding
After your ceremony, the officiant files your marriage license with the Tulare County Clerk-Recorder office. Once it is filed, your marriage becomes an official record. You can order certified copies from the same office in Visalia. The copies prove you are married when you need to change your name, update your insurance, or file taxes in California.
Certified copies cost about $15 each in Tulare County. That is the state fee under Health and Safety Code Section 103625. You can ask for copies in person at 221 S. Mooney Blvd. or you can mail in a request. Some people use VitalChek to order online, but that service charges extra fees on top of the county cost. Allow a few days for processing if you go in person and a few weeks if you mail your request to Tulare County.
If you got a confidential license, only you and your spouse can order copies. Bring photo ID when you go to the clerk office. The staff will check your ID against the record to make sure you are one of the two people who got married. Public marriage certificates are easier to get because anyone can request them in California.
Who Can Get Married in Tulare County
You must be at least 18 years old. If you are younger, you need a court order under California Family Code Section 302. The county clerk will not issue a license to minors without a judge's approval. There is no blood test. California got rid of that rule in 1995. You do not need to live in Tulare County or even in California to get a license here.
Both of you must show up together. You cannot apply by mail or online. The clerk needs to see you both in person to verify your identity. Bring photo ID for each person. 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. You do not need divorce papers in most cases, but the clerk might ask for them if there is a question about the date in Tulare County.
State and County Resources
The California Department of Public Health keeps copies of marriage records from before 2000 and after 2008. If you need a very old marriage certificate, you might need to contact the state instead of the county. The state charges $19 per copy. Orders take longer because the state office in Sacramento handles requests from all over California.
Tulare County also keeps records going back many years. Older records are stored in paper files and take longer to find. If you need a marriage record from the 1950s or earlier, call the clerk office first at 559-636-5051. They can tell you if they have the record or if you need to ask the state for it in California.
For legal questions about marriage, you can call the Tulare County Bar Association or a family law attorney. The clerk office can issue licenses and provide copies, but they cannot give legal advice. If you have a question about changing your name, dividing property, or other legal matters, talk to a lawyer in Tulare County.
Major Cities in Tulare County
Tulare County includes several cities, with Visalia as the county seat and largest city. All marriage licenses for these cities are issued by the Tulare County Clerk-Recorder office. Cities do not issue marriage licenses in California.
Cities in Tulare County with populations over 100,000: Visalia
Nearby California Counties
Tulare County borders several other California counties. Each county has its own clerk office with different fees and procedures.