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Marriage LicensesRequirements
- No blood tests are required
- One does
not have to be a California resident to marry in
California
- There is no waiting period between receipt of a marriage license and
the ceremony
- No particular format for a marriage ceremony is required
- First cousins may marry in California
- Only unmarried
persons may purchase a license to marry in California
- If in a State
Registered Domestic Partnership and marriage will be to someone other
than the registered domestic partner, the domestic partnership must
first be terminated.
- "Common-Law" marriage and marriage by "Proxy" are
not allowed in California
License Fees
- Public Marriage: $64.00
- Confidential Marriage: $73.00
Public Marriages
- Minimum age is
18 years. Persons under 18 years of age
with written consent of at least one parent (or guardian) AND
permission from a California Superior Court may marry.
- Marriage License is required. The public marriage
license may be purchased from any County Clerk's
office in California. The license is valid for 90 days from the date of
issue.
- Marriage may be solemnized by any judge or retired
judge; commissioner or retired commissioner of civil marriages;
commissioner, retired commissioner, or assistant commissioner of a court
of record or a justice court in this state; by any judge or magistrate
of the United States; by a priest, minister, or rabbi of any religious
denomination of the age 18 years or over.* A marriage may also be
solemnized by a judge or magistrate who has resigned from office.
- One witness is required.
- Anyone may purchase from the County Clerk in the
county in which the license was issued a certified copy of the marriage
certificate. The cost is $13.00 as of October 2001, and is subject to
change.
- Marriage can take place in any California county
even if the license is purchased in San Joaquin County.
- If either party was divorced or
terminated a State Registered Domestic Partnership within
the last year, a divorce or
domestic partnership termination certificate
must be presented when applying for a license.
- To purchase a license, both parties must come in
together with valid identifications.
Confidential Marriages
- Minimum age is 18
years. Minors may not purchase a confidential marriage
license.
- Marriage License is required. The confidential marriage license
must be purchased from the County Clerk's office in the county in
which the ceremony is to take place. The license is valid for 90 days
from the date of issue.
- Marriage may be solemnized by any judge or retired judge;
commissioner or retired commissioner of civil marriages; commissioner,
retired commissioner or assistant commissioner of a court of record or a
justice court in this state; by any judge or magistrate of the United
States; by a priest, minister, or rabbi of any religious denomination of
the age 18 years or over.* A marriage may also be solemnized by a judge
or magistrate who has resigned from office.
- No witnesses are required.
- Only the parties to the marriage may purchase copies of the marriage
certificate from the County Clerk in the county in which the license was
issued. The cost is $13.00 as of October 2001, and the fee is subject
to change.
- Marriage must take place in the county
in which the license was purchased.
- If either party was divorced or
terminated a State Registered Domestic Partnership within
the last year, a divorce or
domestic partnership termination certificate must be
presented when applying for a license.
- To purchase a license, both parties must come in together with valid
identifications.
*
Members of a religious society or denomination not having clergy for the
purpose of solemnizing the marriage must purchase a "License and
Certificate of Marriage for Denominations Not Having Clergy" (VS 115)
NOTE: Applicants for a confidential marriage license must sign a
statement attesting to the fact that they have been living together as
spouses. The law does not specify a minimum duration of time
living together.
Click
here
for a marriage
license application
Click
here
for information regarding the Name Equality Act of 2007, which allows the
applicant to change the middle and/or last name. |
