What is the difference between a Public and a Confidential
marriage license?
If public:
You can get married anywhere in the State of California, you
need at least one witness during your ceremony, and the
marriage record is made available to the public.
To obtain a public marriage license, the couple must appear
together at the County Clerk's office with picture identification
such as a state driver's license, state ID card, or passport. If
either partner does not speak English, someone who can
translate must accompany the couple.
It usually takes 20 to 30 minutes to issue a marriage license, but
you may have to wait longer if there are other couples ahead of
you. Arrive at the office in plenty of time to complete the
paperwork prior to the office closing at 4:00 p.m. You can print
the application, and bring it in with you.
If either party was married before, the couple will need to know
the date the previous marriage ended. If either party was
divorced within the last six months, we ask that a copy of the
final judgment be brought.
The public (regular) marriage license is effective the day it is
issued and may be used anywhere in the State of California
within 90 days of the issue date.
After the public license is issued you may be married by a priest,
rabbi, minister or other authorized person of your choice. The
person who performs the ceremony will return the certificate to
the Marin County Recorder's Office, Room 232. You may obtain
a certified copy from that office.
If confidential:
You must be living together, getting married in the County
where you purchased your license, no witnesses are required,
and the marriage record is only available to the husband and
wife.
Couples who are living together may obtain a confidential
marriage license. A confidential license is purchased in a
County, the marriage ceremony must be performed in the same
County. Confidential marriage licenses are available in all
counties statewide and must be used in the county in which they
are issued.
Confidential marriage licenses cannot be issued to minors.
In order to obtain a confidential license, the couple must appear
together with picture identification at the County Clerk's Office.
The couple will be required to swear or affirm that they are
living together as husband and wife. You can print the
application now, and bring it in with you.
The confidential marriage license is effective the day it is issued
and must be used within the same County within 90 days of the
date issued. You may be married by a priest, rabbi, minister or
other authorized person of your choice.
After the confidential marriage ceremony is performed, the
license will be returned and filed with the County Clerk in the
same county where it was issued. The license cannot be viewed
by anyone except the couple without a court order. Certified
copies may be purchased after filing and the couple may show
them to anyone requiring proof of the marriage.
Visit here for marriage license questions and answers.
marriage license?
If public:
You can get married anywhere in the State of California, you
need at least one witness during your ceremony, and the
marriage record is made available to the public.
To obtain a public marriage license, the couple must appear
together at the County Clerk's office with picture identification
such as a state driver's license, state ID card, or passport. If
either partner does not speak English, someone who can
translate must accompany the couple.
It usually takes 20 to 30 minutes to issue a marriage license, but
you may have to wait longer if there are other couples ahead of
you. Arrive at the office in plenty of time to complete the
paperwork prior to the office closing at 4:00 p.m. You can print
the application, and bring it in with you.
If either party was married before, the couple will need to know
the date the previous marriage ended. If either party was
divorced within the last six months, we ask that a copy of the
final judgment be brought.
The public (regular) marriage license is effective the day it is
issued and may be used anywhere in the State of California
within 90 days of the issue date.
After the public license is issued you may be married by a priest,
rabbi, minister or other authorized person of your choice. The
person who performs the ceremony will return the certificate to
the Marin County Recorder's Office, Room 232. You may obtain
a certified copy from that office.
If confidential:
You must be living together, getting married in the County
where you purchased your license, no witnesses are required,
and the marriage record is only available to the husband and
wife.
Couples who are living together may obtain a confidential
marriage license. A confidential license is purchased in a
County, the marriage ceremony must be performed in the same
County. Confidential marriage licenses are available in all
counties statewide and must be used in the county in which they
are issued.
Confidential marriage licenses cannot be issued to minors.
In order to obtain a confidential license, the couple must appear
together with picture identification at the County Clerk's Office.
The couple will be required to swear or affirm that they are
living together as husband and wife. You can print the
application now, and bring it in with you.
The confidential marriage license is effective the day it is issued
and must be used within the same County within 90 days of the
date issued. You may be married by a priest, rabbi, minister or
other authorized person of your choice.
After the confidential marriage ceremony is performed, the
license will be returned and filed with the County Clerk in the
same county where it was issued. The license cannot be viewed
by anyone except the couple without a court order. Certified
copies may be purchased after filing and the couple may show
them to anyone requiring proof of the marriage.
Visit here for marriage license questions and answers.
| Call: 415-554-4950 For Recorded Marriage License Information for All of California. |
California Marriage
License Information
License Information
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |