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Marriage LicensesRequirements
- No blood tests are required
- You do 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 an unmarried male and an unmarried female may purchase a
license to marry in California
- "Common-Law" marriage and marriage by "Proxy" is not
allowed in California
License Fees
- Public Marriage: $60.00
- Confidential Marriage: $70.00
Public Marriages
- Minimum age 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 County even if the license is
purchased in San Joaquin County.
- If either party was divorced within the last year, a divorce
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 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 within the last year, a divorce
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
husband and wife. The law does not specify a minimum duration of time
living together.
Click here for a marriage
license application |
