California Marriage Records

California marriage records are official documents that provide details on marriages consummated in the state. Recent data shows California's marriage rate is lower than the national average by 8%. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that California has a marriage rate of 5.7 marriages per 1,000 residents compared to the national average of 6.2 per 1,000 people.

California began keeping statewide marriage records in 1905. Before this, marriage records were recorded at the county level, with some counties having records dating back to the mid-1800s. Centralizing the marriage record keeping of the state ensured access to marriage documents. California maintains two types of marriage records, including:

• Marriage Licenses: Marriage licenses are legal documents issued by a county clerk authorizing a couple to get married. Marriage licenses are obtained before the marriage and signed by both parties, the officiating minister, and at least one witness. Marriage licenses contain information such as the couple's names, the date and place of issue, the county where the license was issued, the expiration date, the witness signature, and the license number. California has two types of marriage licenses: The public marriage license and the confidential marriage license.
• Marriage Certificates: A marriage certificate is a government-issued document that serves as proof that a legal marriage has taken place. It is usually issued after the marriage license is signed and recorded by the county clerk's office. Marriage certificates contain information, including the full names of both spouses, the date and location of the marriage ceremony, the county where the marriage was recorded, the name of the officiant, and the registration number assigned to the marriage.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in California?

California marriage records are accessible at the state and county levels.

• Marriage records are maintained by the California Department of Public Health Vital Records (CDPH-VR). The CDPH-VR provides certified copies of certificates for public marriages that occurred between 1905 through 1999 and 2008 to 2023.
• Marriage records are also accessible at the County Recorder's Offices, where the marriage was recorded. Marriage certificates from 2000 to 2007 are available at the County Recorder's Office, where the marriage license was issued.

Record seekers may order a marriage record in the state by completing the Application for Certified Copy of Marriage Record form. Provide all relevant information to support the application, such as marriage date, full names of the couple, county where the marriage was recorded, and valid identification. The CDPH-VR accepts email and mail requests for marriage records. Submit the application form and fees to:

Also, marriages consummated between 2000 and 2007, confidential marriages, and marriages less than six months old may access their marriage records at the various County Registrar and Recorder Offices where the event occurred. Interested persons may request the record by fax, in person, or by mail.

Are Marriage Records Public in California?

California considers marriage records public, meaning they are generally accessible by anyone in the state. The California Public Records Act ensures that documents created by government agencies, including marriage records, are available for inspection. However, not all information on the marriage document is public.

Typically, Informational Copies that contain basic information such as the couple's names, date, and county of marriage are open to the public. However, informational copies are not available for confidential marriage records.

Nonetheless, access to certified copies of marriage records is usually restricted to the following persons:

• The parties named on the marriage documents
• Their parent or legal guardian
• A person with a court order
• Law enforcement agencies
• Immediate family members such as child, grandparent, sibling, or spouse
• Their legal representatives

Similarly, certified copies of confidential marriage records are accessible to only the persons named on the records or with a court order.

How Much Do California Marriage Records Cost?

The cost for a certified copy of a marriage certificate through the CDPH-VR is $17 per copy. Expedited services are available for an additional $2 fee. The cost to obtain marriage records from the County Recorder's Office varies and may typically range between $17 and $20 per copy. Similarly, most counties offer expedited services for an extra fee of around $19 to $20.

The CDPH-VR standard processing times for marriage records is 7 to 9 weeks. Expedited processing can reduce the processing times to around 5 weeks. Marriage record processing times from the County Recorders Offices vary depending on the method of submitting the requests. Generally, in-person requests receive their record within a short waiting period of the same day. It takes about 5-7 business days to process standard mail requests and 2 business days for expedited requests.

Is It Possible to Make Your Marriage Records Confidential in California?

Yes. It is possible to keep your marriage records confidential in California, but only if you have been living together for a certain period and choose a confidential marriage license at the time you apply for a marriage license. Both parties may come together at the County Clerk's Office to obtain a confidential marriage license. They may complete a confidential marriage license application and sign the affidavit on the license. Once issued, the resulting marriage record is maintained confidentiality.

How Do I Verify the Authenticity of California Marriage Records?

Verifying the authenticity of a California marriage record is crucial for legal and personal reasons. Whether applying for a visa or citizenship, checking your genealogy, getting tax benefits, including your spouse as beneficiary for insurance benefits, claiming an inheritance, or getting Social Security benefits, it becomes necessary to verify the authenticity of your marriage record.

In California, you may verify the authenticity of your California marriage records at the County Recorder's Office in the county where you filed your marriage license. Similarly, eligible requesters, such as the record holder or authorized individuals, may verify the authenticity of their California marriage records at the CDPH Office of Vital Records. Certified marriage records have several features to prevent fraud and ensure their authenticity. They include state or county seal, watermarks, unique serial number, and the signature of the county recorder. Also, certified copies are typically printed on a special security paper to prevent unauthorized duplication and may contain micro printing, tiny printed text viewed only with a magnifying glass.

Can I Find California Marriage Records Online for Free?

Yes. You can sometimes find California marriage records online for free. Non-governmental sources, such as Familysearch.org and PublicRecords.us,provide marriage record information for free. These sites allow free searches to see basic marriage information such as names and dates. However, these third-party platforms may only provide accurate information for older marriages, as some recent records may be unavailable due to privacy laws.

Nonetheless, you may search marriage records for free online using the California State Archives. The California State Archives holds historical marriage records, including early marriage records from select counties, mostly pre-1900s, and marriage licenses and certificates in old government records.

What Is Required to Get a California Marriage License?

To apply for a California marriage license, both parties must meet the following requirements:

• Both parties must be at least 18 years old.
• Come to the courthouse together.
• Provide valid picture identification containing your date of birth and issue and expiry date.
• Copy of your birth certificates (selected counties).
• Copy of the final judgment if previously married.
• Pay the required fees.

There is no waiting period to get your marriage license. Nonetheless, the marriage license is valid for 90 days after issuance. If the couple does not get married within the period, the license becomes void and you must re-apply to get a new license.

Can You Amend Marriage Records in California?

Yes. Marriage licenses in California may be amended, but only for certain errors. Generally, you may apply to have your marriage records amended under the following circumstances

• To correct typographical or spelling errors
• Include information in blank fields
• One or both spouses legally change their name after marriage to reflect a court-ordered name change
• To reflect their gender identity

Amending California Marriage License

Marriage licenses are issued at the county level, and corrections may be made at the courthouse that originally issued the license. Generally, a marriage license before the marriage cannot be amended once issued. Instead, the court clerk voids the incorrect license and requests the couple apply for a new license.

Just as in a first-time marriage license application, both parties to the marriage must appear in person to submit the new application to correct the error. They may also bring their identification documents, additional proof to effect the incorrect information, and the marriage license fee of $82 to $106, depending on the county.

Amending California Marriage Certificate

You may amend your marriage certificate by completing the Application to Amend a Marriage Record form. Provide a copy of the current marriage certificate and any other supporting document, such as a certified copy of the court-ordered name change or photocopy of the individual's birth certificate if correcting errors in personal data. Include the fees of $26. Mail the complete application to the CDPH. Confidential marriage certificates may only be amended at the County Clerk's Office in the county where the marriage license was issued.