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State of California Marriage License, CA

California marriage license fee is $35 - $105. Legal age to marry is 18. No waiting period, blood test or residency requirements. ID required. Apply for a marriage license at one of the 58 County Clerk offices in the state of California.

Local Officiants

State of California
Marriage License Requirements

California Code §§ 300-500 FAM

Marriage License Fees: Varies by county

  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA

Marriage Law Requirements for California Marriage Licenses:

  • To marry in California, the two parties may not be already married to each other or other individuals.
  • Both parties must bring in a valid ID (i.e. driver’s license, military ID, passport, or green card, etc).
  • Legal Age Without Parental Consent: 18.
  • Same Sex Marriage: Yes.
  • Waiting Period: None.
  • Blood Test Requirement: Not Required.
  • Residency: Not Required.
  • License Validity: 90 Days.
  • Witnesses: The public marriage license requires the signature of one witness, and if desired, has a place for an additional witness. No more than two witnesses may sign on the public marriage license. Only one signature per line is allowed. No witnesses may sign on the confidential marriage license.
  • California marriage license fee varies by county and is required at the time of application under CA Marriage License laws Requirements.
  • Who Issues Licenses: The County Clerk’s office is responsible for issuing marriage licenses in the State of California.
  • Where to Apply: A marriage license may be obtained from any county in the State of California (regardless of where you live or where you are getting married), and may be used to be married in any county within California.

 

California Wedding Officiants for your wedding or vow renewal ceremony. Submit one form to top-rated marriage officiants in your locality. You choose the best CA Wedding Officiant.

 

  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA

California Marriage License Laws Requirements:

Alameda Alpine
Amador Butte
Calaveras Colusa
Contra Costa Del Norte
El Dorado Fresno
Glenn Humboldt
Imperial Inyo
Kern Kings
Lake Lassen
Los Angeles Madera
Marin Mariposa
Mendocino Merced
Modoc Mono
Monterey Napa
Nevada Orange
Placer Plumas
Riverside Sacramento
San Benito San Bernardino
San Diego San Francisco
San Joaquin San Luis Obispo
San Mateo Santa Barbara
Santa Clara Santa Cruz
Shasta Sierra
Siskiyou Solano
Sonoma Stanislaus
Sutter Tehama
Trinity Tulare
Tuolumne Ventura
Yolo Yuba

 

California Wedding Officiants for your wedding or vow renewal ceremony. Submit one form to top-rated marriage officiants in your locality. You choose the best CA Wedding Officiant.

Ask a Lawyer Online Now! 24 Lawyers Are Online. Ask a Question, Get an Answer ASAP.

 

  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA

Marriage Application Requirement California: Get Copy Of Birth Certificate

To complete the application for a marriage license, a couple must:

Before a marriage license can be issued, First Person and Second Person must bring in a valid photo I.D. (e.g., drivers license, military I.D., passport, or green card, etc.)

To obtain a Confidential Marriage License, First Person and Second Person must be living together as a married couple. The same I.D. requirements as mentioned above are applicable.

There are two different types of marriage licenses in California, and they can be obtained in two different ways.

Confidential Marriage License and a Public Marriage License:

    • A “public” California marriage license is a marriage license that is available to the public for viewing.

 

  • A “confidential” marriage license allows all the personal information on a marriage license to be protected from public view. Only a court order or a notarized application by either spouses can obtain a copy of the information.

The following information is required on a marriage license application.

For both spouses, or party A and party B, the information needed for marriage license requirements is below.

  • A valid driver’s license or a DMV issued Identification Card. If you do not have either of these, you must provide a certified copy of your birth certificate and another acceptable form of picture I.D.
  • To obtain a Confidential Marriage License, party A and party B must be living together as a married couple. The same I.D. requirements as mentioned above are applicable.

 

Marriage ID Requirement California: Get Copy Of Birth Certificate

A valid photo I.D. with birth date is required (e.g., drivers license, military I.D., passport, or green card, etc.)

 

  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA

Marriage Waiting Period Requirement California:

There is no waiting period. You will receive your marriage license immediately after you submit your application.

 

Marriage Residency Requirement California:

You do not need to be a California resident to marry in California.

 

Previous Marriages: ✔ Search Marriage | Divorce Records

If you have been married before, you will need to know the specific date your last marriage ended, and how it ended (Death, Dissolution, Divorce or Nullity). Some counties may require a copy of the final judgment if your previous marriage ended by dissolution or nullity.

 

  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA

Marriage License Fees California under CA Marriage License laws Requirements:

The cost for a marriage license in California varies from county to county. It will cost you between $35.00+ and $100.00+ to get married in California. Preferred method of payment is by cash. For guidance on additional methods of payment, please call ahead.

 

 

Proxy Marriages California:

Marriage by proxy is NOT allowed in California. Family Code, Section 420(a), requires the two parties, marriage officiant and witness if applicable be physically present together in the same location for the marriage to be performed.

 

Cousin Marriages California:

Yes. First and second cousins may legally marry in California.

 

Common Law Marriages California:

No.

 

  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA

Marriage Blood Test California:

Blood tests are NOT required to obtain a marriage license in California.

 

Name Change California:

Getting a marriage license with your new name on it does not mean your name has automatically changed. If you need to change your last name, you can use an online marriage name change kit.

 

  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA

Marriage Age Requirement California: Get Copy Of Birth Certificate

If either partner is under 18, one parent or legal guardian must be present. If a parent can not be present, due to death, separation, divorce or other circumstances, proper evidence must be presented for verification. You will need a certified copy of your birth certificate. The couple must schedule an appointment with a counselor and then appear before a superior court judge.

 

Marriage Officiants California

California Family Code, Section 400 states the persons authorized to solemnize marriage ceremonies in California are as follows:

400. Marriage may be solemnized by any of the following who is of the age of 18 years or older:

420. A priest, minister, or rabbi of any religious denomination. No particular form for the ceremony of marriage is required for solemnization of the marriage, but the parties shall declare, in the presence of the person solemnizing the marriage and necessary witnesses, that they take each other as husband and wife.

421. Before solemnizing a marriage, the person solemnizing the marriage shall require the presentation of the marriage license. If the person solemnizing the marriage has reason to doubt the correctness of the statement of facts in the marriage license, the person must be satisfied as to the correctness of the statement of facts before solemnizing the marriage. For this purpose, the person may administer oaths and examine the parties and witnesses in the same manner as the county clerk does before issuing the license.

422. The person solemnizing a marriage shall make, sign, and endorse upon or attach to the marriage license a statement, in the form prescribed by the State Department of Health Services, showing all of the following: (a) The fact, date (month, day, year), and place (city and county) of solemnization. (b) The names and places of residence of one or more witnesses to the ceremony. (c) The official position of the person solemnizing the marriage, or of the denomination of which that person is a priest, minister, rabbi, or member of the clergy. (d) The person solemnizing the marriage shall also type or print the person’s name and address.

423. The person solemnizing the marriage shall return the marriage license, endorsed as required in Section 422, to the county recorder of the county in which the license was issued within 10 days after the ceremony.

424. At the request of, and for, either party to a marriage, the person solemnizing the marriage shall issue a marriage certificate showing the facts specified in Section 422.

You will NOT receive a copy of your marriage license after you have been married unless you request and pay for a certified copy from the County Clerk or County Recorder as applicable.

ALL information on the marriage license MUST be legible, unambiguous and reproducible. DO NOT change any information on the license, cross out information, use white out, etc., as that will require the payment for and issuance of a duplicate marriage license. Contact the County Clerk’s Office if you have questions about completing the marriage license and/or incorrect information contained on the marriage license.


California Wedding Officiants for your wedding or vow renewal ceremony. Submit one form to top-rated marriage officiants in your locality. You choose the best CA Wedding Officiant.

 

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  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA
  • California Marriage License, State of California Marriage License, CA

Marriage Witnesses California:

The public marriage license requires the signature of one witness,
and if desired, has a place for an additional witness. No more than two
witnesses may sign on the public marriage license. Only one signature
per line is allowed. No witnesses may sign on the confidential marriage
license.



 

Expiration Date of Marriage License California:

  • Marriage licenses are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. If you do
    not get married within 90 days, the license will no longer be valid. You must
    purchase a new license.

 

    • Public Marriage License can be used throughout the state of California.

 

  • Confidential Marriage License can be used throughout the state of California (Effective January 1, 2015).

 

Copy of Certificate of Marriage License

California birth, death, fetal death, still birth, marriage and divorce records are maintained by the California Department of Public Health Vital Records.

 

Please Note: State and county marriage license requirements often change. The above information is for guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice. For more information regarding California marriage license laws please visit www.cdph.ca.gov.

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