Public and Confidential Licenses
Local Officiants
Types of California Marriage Licenses:
There are two types of marriage licenses commonly issued in California. The public marriage license and confidential marriage license. In addition to the general requirements, there are additional requirements for each of the licenses listed below.
Public Marriage License:
You must be at least 18 years old. Persons under 18 with written consent from at least one parent (or legal guardian) AND permission from a California Superior Court Judge may marry. Emancipated minors are NOT exempt from this process. Contact the County Clerk’s Office in your county for further information regarding these requirements.
The marriage license may be obtained from any county in California. You are not required to get married in the county where you purchase the public marriage license; however, you must be married in California. You must file the license in the county where it was purchased.
You must have at least one witness present at your ceremony. The license contains a place for two witnesses if you prefer. You may NOT have more than two witnesses sign the official marriage license. Licenses received with more than two witnesses signatures will be returned to the officiant and a duplicate marriage license will need to be purchased.
There is no age requirement in California for witnesses, however, they must be old enough to know that they are witnessing a marriage ceremony, AND be able to sign their name on the official marriage license.
The marriage license is registered at the County Recorder’s Office in the county where the license was purchased, and is a public record. Anyone may request copies of the marriage license by submitting the required fee to the County Recorder. Download a copy of the Application for Certified Copy of Marriage or Divorce Record. (PDF). Only one officiant may sign the marriage certificate as solemnized.
Confidential Marriage License:
The participating parties must be at least 18 years old to apply for a confidential marriage license. Minors may NOT purchase a confidential marriage license.
The participating parties must be living together as spouses at the time they apply for the marriage license, and must sign an affidavit on the license attesting to those facts.
The couple MUST be married in the county where the license is issued.
No witnesses are required to be at the ceremony, AND no witnesses sign on the marriage license.
The marriage license is a confidential record and is registered at the County Clerk’s Office in the county where it was purchased. Only the couple may purchase copies of the marriage license and must present valid picture identification together with the required fee to the County Clerk in order to do so. Persons other than the married couple requesting copies of a confidential marriage license may only do so by presenting a court order to the County Clerk in the county where the license is registered.
Copies of confidential marriages are not available from the state office.
Alameda County Recorder Oakland, CA 510.272.6363 |
Alpine County Recorder Markleeville, CA 530.694.2281 |
Amador County Recorder Jackson, CA 209.223.6469 |
Butte County Recorder Oroville, CA 530.538.7691 |
Calaveras County Recorder San Andreas, CA 209.754.6375 |
Colusa County Recorder Colusa, CA 530.458.0500 |
Contra Costa Recorder Martinez, CA 925.646.2360 |
County Of Orange Recorder Santa Ana, CA 714.834.2500 |
Del Norte County Recorder Crescent City, CA 707.464.7216 |
El Dorado County Recorder Placerville, CA 530.621.5490 |
Fresno County Recorder Fresno, CA 559.600.2575 |
Glenn County Clerk Willows, CA 530.934.6407 |
Humboldt County Recorder Eureka, CA 707.445.7593 |
Imperial County Recorder El Centro, CA 760.339.4427 |
Inyo County Records Independence, CA 760.878.0410 |
Kern County Clerk Bakersfield, CA 805.868.3588 |
Kings County Clerk Hanford, CA 559.582.3211 |
Lake County Clerk Lakeport, CA 707.263.2293 |
Lassen County Recorder Susanville, CA 530.251.8217 |
Los Angeles County Clerk Norwalk, CA 562.462.2137 |
Madera County Clerk Madera, CA 209.675.7724 |
Marin County Recorder San Rafael, CA 415.499.6092 |
Mariposa County Recorder Mariposa, CA 209.966.2007 |
Mendocino County Clerk Ukiah, CA 707.463.4370 |
Merced County Recorder Merced, CA 209.385.7501 |
Modoc County Clerk Alturas, CA 530.233.2512 |
Mono County Recorder Bridgeport, CA 760.932.5241 |
Monterey County Salinas, CA 831.647.7906 |
Napa County Clerk Napa, CA 707.253.4246 |
Nevada County Clerk Nevada City, CA 530.265.1221 |
Placer County Clerk Auborn, CA 530.889.7948 |
Plumas County Recorder Quincy, CA 530.283.6305 |
Riverside County Clerk Riverside, CA 909.486.7000 |
Sacramento County Clerk Sacramento, CA 916.874.5522 |
San Benito County Clerk Hollister, CA 831.636.4029 |
San Bernardino Recorder San Bernardino, CA 909.387.8314 |
San Diego County San Diego, CA 619.237.0502 |
San Francisco County San Francisco, CA 415.554.4176 |
Orleans Town Clerk Albion, NY 716.589.5100 |
San Joaquin Clerk Stockton, CA 209.468.2362 |
San Luis Obispo County San Luis Obispo, CA 805.781.5088 |
San Mateo County Clerk Redwood City, CA 650.363.4711 |
Santa Barbara County Clerk Santa Barbara, CA 805.568.2250 |
Santa Clara County Recorder San Jose, CA 408.299.2481 |
Santa Cruz County Recorder Santa Cruz, CA 831.454.2800 |
Shasta County Clerk Redding, CA 530.225.5378 |
Sierra County Recorder Downieville, CA 530.289.3295 |
Siskiyou County Clerk Ureka, CA 916.842.8084 |
Solano County Recorder Fairfield, CA 707.421.6319 |
Sonoma County Clerk Santa Rosa, CA 707.527.3800 |
Stanislaus County Clerk Modesto, CA 209.525.5265 |
Sutter County Recorder Yuba City, CA 530.822.7120 |
Tehama County Recorder Red Bluff, CA 916.527.3350 |
Trinity County Recorder Weaverville, CA 916.623.1222 |
Tulare County Clerk Visalia, CA 559.733.6518 |
Tuolumne County Clerk Sonora, CA 209.533.5573 |
Ventura County Recorder Ventura, CA 805.654.2263 |
Yolo County Clerk Woodland, CA 530.666.8130 |
Yuba County Clerk Marysville, CA 530.741.6341 |