George Boyle
Getting married in a courthouse in California is a straightforward process. You will need to obtain a marriage license, which is valid for 90 days and requires no extensions. Both parties must present valid government-issued photo IDs, and if either party was previously married, they must provide a copy of the final judgement if the dissolution was within the past 90 days. A witness is required for a public marriage license, but not for a confidential one. The ceremony can be performed by a judge, justice of the peace, or an officiant, and there is usually a small fee for this service. After the ceremony, the marriage license must be signed and returned for registration, and you may then purchase a copy of your marriage certificate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marriage License | Valid for 90 days, must be signed by officiant and returned to the office for registration |
| Marriage Certificate | Must be purchased after the license is registered |
| Ceremony | Must take place within 90 days of license issuance and within the State of California |
| Witnesses | At least one witness must be present for a Public Marriage License, no witnesses are required for a Confidential Marriage License |
| ID | Both parties must present valid and current government-issued photo ID |
| Appointment | Required, can be booked up to 7 weeks in advance |
| Fees | License fees are non-refundable |
| Residency | No residency requirement |
| Dissolution of Previous Marriage | If dissolution was final within the past 90 days, provide a copy of the final judgement |
| State Registered Domestic Partnership | May not enter into a marriage with someone other than your registered domestic partner |
| Name Change | Must be decided and included on the marriage license when completing the application |
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Marriage license requirements
To get married in California, you must obtain a marriage license. This can be done at your local county clerk's office, and you can find out the specific requirements on their website. Both parties must be present with valid, government-issued photo ID. There is no residency requirement to obtain a marriage license in California.
The marriage license is valid for 90 days, and the ceremony must take place within this time and within the state. The license must then be signed by the officiant and returned to the office for registration. This can take up to 10 business days. After this, you may purchase a copy of your marriage certificate, which will not be sent automatically.
There are two types of marriage licenses: public and confidential. For a public marriage license, you must have at least one witness present at the ceremony, and the marriage record is made available to the public. For a confidential marriage license, no witnesses are required, and the marriage record is only available to the named parties on the document. Applicants must be living together as spouses and sign under penalty of perjury attesting to this fact.
If you are in a State Registered Domestic Partnership (SRDP), you may not enter into a marriage or be issued a license with someone other than your registered domestic partner unless the partnership has been terminated or a final judgment of dissolution or nullity has been entered. If either party was previously married, and the dissolution was final within the past 90 days, you must provide a copy of the final judgment.
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Valid ID
To get married at a California courthouse, you will need to bring a valid and current government-issued photo ID. Both parties must present their IDs when appearing together at their appointment.
A marriage license is valid for 90 days, and a ceremony must take place within this timeframe and within the State of California. The license is just permission to get married, and you will need someone official to sign your wedding license. This could be a judge, justice of the peace, or an officiant.
If you are in a State Registered Domestic Partnership (SRDP), you may not enter into a marriage or be issued a license with someone other than your registered domestic partner, unless the most recent domestic partnership has been terminated or a final judgment of dissolution or nullity has been entered.
If either party was previously married, and the dissolution is not yet final, even if it will be final before the wedding date, you will not be issued a marriage license. If the dissolution was finalized within the past 90 days, you will need to provide a copy of the final judgment.
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Witnesses
A courthouse wedding in California requires at least one witness to be present at the ceremony. No more than two witnesses may sign the marriage license after the ceremony. There is no age requirement for witnesses, but they must be old enough to understand that they are witnessing a marriage ceremony and must be able to sign their name without assistance. Witnesses should bring their IDs to the courthouse.
If you are having a civil marriage ceremony performed by the County Clerk, you may bring your own witness. If you are unable to bring your own witness, the office may provide one for an additional fee.
For a Public Marriage License, at least one witness must be present at the ceremony, and the marriage record is made available to the public. For a Confidential Marriage License, no witnesses are required to be at the ceremony, and no witnesses sign the marriage license.
In addition to witnesses, there are a few other requirements for a courthouse wedding in California. Both parties must appear together with valid and current government-issued photo IDs. There is no residency requirement, and you do not have to be a California resident or a citizen of the United States to get married in California. The marriage license is valid for 90 days, and the ceremony must take place within this time frame and within the state. After the ceremony, the marriage license must be signed by the officiant and returned to the office for registration, which can take up to 10 business days. You will not automatically receive a copy of your marriage certificate; you must submit a separate request and payment for it.
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Officiant
An officiant is required for a courthouse wedding in California. This could be a judge, justice of the peace, or someone with an officiant license. The latter could be a friend, for example, but they would need to pay for a license. Alternatively, the courthouse can provide an officiant for a small fee, typically around $28.
The officiant will sign the marriage license, which is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. The license must be returned to the appropriate office for registration, and this may take up to 10 business days. After the license is registered, you may purchase a copy of your marriage certificate, which is your proof of marriage.
If you are having a civil ceremony, you will need to bring a witness, and possibly an officiant, depending on your preferences and the specific requirements of the courthouse. Some courthouses may provide a witness for an additional fee. It is worth noting that there is a difference between a public and a confidential marriage license. For a public license, at least one witness must be present, and the marriage record is made available to the public. For a confidential license, no witnesses are required, and the marriage record is only available to the named parties on the document.
It is important to check the specific requirements of your chosen courthouse, as the procedure may vary slightly between locations.
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Marriage certificate
To obtain a marriage certificate in California, you must first apply for a marriage license. Marriage licenses are available through the county clerk or recorder's office and can be obtained either by walk-in or by appointment. Both parties must appear together in person and present valid, non-expired government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license or passport. If either party was previously married and the dissolution occurred within the last 90 days, a copy of the final judgment or divorce decree must be provided. If a spouse was deceased within the previous 90 days, a certified copy of the death certificate is required.
The cost of a public marriage license in California is $61, and it is valid for 90 days with no extensions. A ceremony must take place within this timeframe and within the state. The license must then be signed by the officiant and returned to the issuing office for registration. After the license is registered, you may purchase a copy of your marriage certificate, which serves as proof of marriage.
It is important to note that the marriage license is not the same as a marriage certificate. The license is permission to marry, while the certificate is proof that the marriage has been solemnized and filed with the county. A certified copy of a marriage certificate can be used as proof of marriage for legal purposes and to obtain identification for the persons named on the certificate.
There are two types of marriage licenses in California: public and confidential. A public marriage license becomes a public record, and anyone can request an informational copy. A confidential marriage license, on the other hand, is a confidential record, and only the couple can obtain information about it unless a special court order is issued. For a confidential license, the couple must be living together prior to the marriage.
Additionally, the Name Equality Act of 2007 allows couples to choose and list their new names on the marriage license. This is the name they will use after marriage, and it must be listed on the marriage certificate. Couples are not required to change their names, but if they decide to do so, it must be done at the time of signing the license. Once the license is signed, only a court order can change the names.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a marriage license, which is valid for 90 days and costs $28. You will also need a witness and valid government-issued photo ID.
You should get your marriage license at least two weeks before your wedding.
If the dissolution of the previous marriage is not yet final, you will not be issued a marriage license. If the dissolution was finalised within the past 90 days, you will need to provide a copy of the final judgement.
Yes, you will need to bring at least one witness. For a public marriage license, no more than two witnesses may sign the marriage license. For a confidential marriage license, no witnesses are required, nor do any witnesses sign the license.
No, there is no exchange of rings unless you want to get legally married that day.
