Additional
Information on California Marriage Licenses
You do not need to be a California
resident to marry in California.
Only an unmarried male and an unmarried
female may marry in California.
Marriage by proxy is NOT allowed in
California. Family Code, Section 420(a) requires the bride, groom,
marriage officiant and witness if applicable, be physically present
together in the same location for the marriage to be performed.
Blood tests are NOT required to obtain
a marriage license in California.
Both parties must appear in person and
bring valid picture identification to the County Clerk’s Office to
apply for a marriage license in California. Valid picture
identification is one that contains a photograph, date of birth, and
an issue and expiration date, such as a state issued identification
card, drivers license, passport, military identification, etc. Some
counties may also require a copy of your birth certificate.
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.
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.
Many County Clerks in California
perform civil marriage ceremonies in their offices. For further
information regarding civil marriage ceremonies, please contact the
County Clerk’s Office directly to see if they provide this service.
California Family Code, Section 400
states the persons authorized to solemnize marriage ceremonies in
California are as follows:
- A priest, minister, or rabbi of any
religious denomination.
- A judge or retired judge,
commissioner of civil marriages or retired commissioner of civil
marriages, commissioner or retired commissioner, or assistant
commissioner of a court of record in this state.
- A judge or magistrate who has
resigned from office.
- Any of the following judges or
magistrates of the United States.
- A justice or retired justice of the
United States Supreme Court.
- A judge or retired judge of a court
of appeals, a district court, or a court created by an act of
Congress the judges of which are entitled to hold office during good
behavior.
- A judge or retired judge of a
bankruptcy court or a tax court.
- A United States magistrate or retired
magistrate.
- A legislator or constitutional
officer of this state or a member of Congress who represents a
district within this state, while that person holds office.
All fees and hours of issuance for a
marriage license may vary by county.
The person solemnizing the marriage
must return the original marriage license to the County Clerk or
County Recorder as applicable within 10 days of the date of the
ceremony. Addresses should be on the county site.
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.
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