Marriage License Services in Yolo County

Marriage licenses in Yolo County are processed by the Assessor-Clerk-Recorder office in Woodland at 625 Court Street, Room B01. Both people must come in together with valid photo ID. The fee is $99 for a public license or $90 for a confidential one. Civil ceremonies cost $66 if you want the county to perform your wedding. The license is valid for 90 days after issuance under California Family Code Section 350. Once you have your ceremony, the officiant must file the signed license with Yolo County within 10 days. That step makes your marriage official and enters it into California's vital records system per Health and Safety Code Section 102100. You can then get certified copies from the clerk office in Woodland.

Yolo County Clerk Office

The Assessor-Clerk-Recorder office sits at 625 Court Street, Room B01, in Woodland. Call them at 530-666-8130. Woodland is the county seat. The town is close to Davis and Sacramento. Many people here work for the university in Davis or commute to state jobs in Sacramento. The clerk office is in the county administration building downtown. Street parking is free in Woodland.

Visit the Yolo County marriage page 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 elections. Marriage licenses are one of several services they offer. The office sees a steady flow of people each day. Wait times are usually short if you come early in the morning or just after lunch in Yolo County.

Yolo County keeps marriage records going back many years. If you need a copy of an old marriage certificate, this is the place to ask. Very old records are stored on paper and take longer to find. Call ahead if your record is from before 1980 in Yolo County.

Applying for Your License

Both people must go to the clerk office together. Bring photo ID for both of you. 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 need to bring divorce papers unless the clerk asks for them in Yolo County.

The clerk fills out the marriage license based on what you tell them. They print it right there. You pay the $99 fee for a public license or $90 for a confidential one. Cash, check, or card all work. Make checks payable to Yolo County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder. The process takes about 20 minutes if the office is not busy. You walk out with your license the same day in California.

After your wedding, your officiant must sign the license and mail it back to Yolo 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 pay for another one.

Note: California does not require a blood test or waiting period for marriage licenses.

Civil Marriage Ceremonies

The Yolo County Clerk offers civil ceremonies for $66. That is in addition to the license fee. Call ahead to book a time. Ceremonies happen at the clerk office during regular business hours. They last about 10 to 15 minutes. The deputy clerk reads the standard vows. You say yes. You can exchange rings if you want. A few guests can attend, but space is limited in Yolo County.

Some couples like the clerk office ceremony because it is simple and affordable. You can get your license and have your ceremony on the same day if you plan ahead. Others hire a private officiant or use clergy for a bigger wedding. Both ways work fine. The marriage is legal either way in California. The clerk signs your license after the ceremony and files it with the county right away.

Marriage License Costs

Yolo County charges $99 for a public marriage license and $90 for a confidential one. These fees are set by the county board. They can change from year to 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.

Civil ceremony fees are separate from the license fee. If you want the Yolo County Clerk to perform your ceremony, that costs $66. Not all counties in California offer ceremonies. Yolo County does, and the fee is reasonable. The ceremony is short and simple. The deputy clerk reads the vows and signs your license. Many couples choose this option because it is quick and affordable in Yolo 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 625 Court Street or by mail. Some people use online services like VitalChek, but those charge service fees on top of the county cost in California.

Public vs Confidential Licenses

Most people in Yolo County get a public marriage license. The fee is $99. 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.

Yolo County also offers confidential marriage licenses under California Family Code Sections 500 to 511. The fee is $90. 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 Yolo County. Once filed, you can order certified copies from the Assessor-Clerk-Recorder office at 625 Court 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 Yolo 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 Yolo 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 Yolo 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 Yolo 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 Yolo 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.

Yolo 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 Yolo County

Yolo County includes the cities of Woodland, Davis, West Sacramento, and Winters. All marriage licenses for these cities are issued by the Yolo County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder office in Woodland. Cities do not issue marriage licenses in California.

Nearby California Counties

Yolo County borders several other California counties. Each county has its own clerk office with different fees and procedures.

Sacramento County, Solano County, Napa County, Colusa County