Search California Marriage Records & Licenses For Free

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Free California Marriage Record Search

Access anyone's marital information in California, free of charge.

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Start searching free California marriage records today to learn about your own or someone else’s through official agencies.

Under the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the California Public Records Act (CPRA), everyone has the right to access information concerning California residents’ marital status.

The state has two types of marriage records – public and confidential – making this streamlined resource on obtaining the records very helpful for anyone interested.

This article offers citizens guidance on conducting a free and effective search of marriage records in California and assistance in looking for someone’s past or present marital status.

Can the Public Access Marriage Records & Licenses in California?

In 1968, the California Public Records Act (CPRA) was enacted and signed into law by the governor.¹ According to the law, which is similar to the federal Freedom of Information Act, everyone can access governmental records unless otherwise exempted by law. This includes access to marriage records and licenses.

In California, requesters are issued two types of marriage certificate copies: authorized and informational. Both are certified copies of the original document the respective government agency holds. These documents can be used to do a marriage background check if needed.

Authorized copies establish a registrant’s identity (one of the persons on the marriage certificate) and are only issued to an authorized person, as defined below. On the other hand, informational copies cannot be used to establish a registrant’s identity and simply verify that the event occurred.

California offers two types of marriage licenses – public marriage licenses and confidential marriage licenses. Accordingly, the right to access these records differs depending on their type. Find a brief summary below.

Public marriage records: The public has access to these marriage records in each county across the state. Each county offers access to marriage certificates for marriage licenses issued after the county’s creation or incorporation date. For instance, Sacramento County offers access to marriage certificates issued after 1850.

An authorized copy of a public marriage certificate can be issued to only the following persons:

• The registrant of the marriage (the person named on the marriage certificate), a parent, or a legal guardian of the registrant
• A person entitled to receive the copy as a result of a court order
• A member or representative of a government agency or law enforcement agency who is conducting official business, according to law
• A child, sibling, grandchild, grandparent, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant
• An attorney who is representing the registrant or the registrant’s estate or any person who is appointed by the court to act on behalf of the registrant

Other applicants who cannot claim one of the qualities or relationships mentioned above are only issued an informational copy of the marriage certificate.

Confidential marriage records: These private marital documents were first offered by the state in 1878, and access to the records is limited to the registrant of the confidential marriage or by court order. Moreover, informational copies of confidential California marriage records cannot be issued to the public.

The United States Census Bureau offers information on the marital status of people living in California.² For instance, California has one of the lowest new marriage rates in the country, with 3.2 new marriages per 1,000 people in 2020. However, actual marriage rates remain relatively high, with 47.9 percent of men and 45 percent of women being married in 2021.

The median age of marriage in California is 31.1 for men, while for women it’s 29.4.

Regarding the median duration of marriages in California, opposite-sex married couples remain married for 19.7 years, while male same-sex couples remain married for 7.3 years. Conversely, female same-sex marriages last for 7.4 years. However, same-sex marriage only became legal in the U.S. in 2015, so the data may be skewed given this short time period.

How To Find Marital Information by Searching California Marriage Records

Interested parties who want to look up marriage licenses in California can find marital and nuptial information through various tools and methods offered by several government agencies, both online and offline.

Searchers can look for marital information at California’s Vital Records Office (California Department of Public Health):³

California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – M.S. 5103
Post Office Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

Phone: (916)-445-2684

Individuals can request copies of marriage certificates via the Vital Records Office online form, email, in person, or by mail. The request methods for each are outlined below.

In-person: Visit any of the CDPH locations throughout the state or the respective County Clerk locations (depending on the county). Requesters will be asked to complete an application and provide a valid government-issued photo ID.

By mail: Complete and print the vital record request application. If you want an authorized copy, include the Sworn Statement, notarized by a Notary Public. Mail the application form, together with the Sworn Statement (if applicable) and payment to any of the CDPH physical locations.

Allow 5 to 7 business days to get the copy of the marriage certificate.

By fax: Complete and print the application form. If you want an authorized copy, include the Sworn Statement, notarized by a Notary Public. Fax the application form, together with the Sworn Statement (if applicable) and payment to the fax number 1-800-735-2929.

Online: California outsources its online marital records to VitalChek. There’s an additional processing fee for all online orders. Individuals need to provide their name and the reason why they request the certificate.

Searching the County or City in California Where the Marriage Occurred

While the state-level marriage records research tools available from the California Department of Public Health provide a broad result, interested parties may find further details at the county or municipal levels. This is done by requesting further information at the local County Clerk Offices or local government agencies.

Interested persons may find using these local tools and resources beneficial because they often have more attentive staff and allow in-person requests, phone calls, or better online search tools.

Los Angeles County: The Registrar/Recorder section of the County Clerk’s Office manages marriage records in Los Angeles County.⁴ Citizens can obtain both public and confidential marriage certificates according to state law.

Searchers can request marriage index information via three options as outlined below.

In-person requests: Interested parties must schedule an appointment on the In-Person Request page up to 3 weeks in advance. Once the application is completed, the requester must save the confirmation number. After the application is submitted, the searcher has to make the appointment by completing the required waiver.

Citizens need a valid ID for all in-person requests. Requests for marriages from 1995 to the present will be issued on the appointment day, while requests for marriages from 1852 to 1994 are mailed in up to 20 business days elapsed from the date of the request.

Mail requests: Requesters must complete the Application for Marriage Record and Certificate of Identity or the Application for Confidential Marriage Record on the Marriage Records Mail Request page, depending on the type of record they want. Then, requesters must sign the Application and Certificate of Identity, which must be notarized to avoid further delays. Marriage records are mailed within 20 business days from the date the request is received.

The standard fee for a marriage certificate copy is $17 and payment can be made via check or money order. Requesters should mail the documents to:

Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Birth, Death and Marriage Records Section
PO Box 489
Norwalk, CA 90651-0489

Online requests: Los Angeles County online marriage record requests are handled by VitalChek Network, Inc. The company accepts all major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Requesters must visit the VitalChek website to complete the application form. A notarized Certificate of Identity form may be needed to complete the order.

Orders are processed in 20 business days and the standard fee is $17, with an additional handling fee of $9.

Requesters who have further questions should review the FAQ section on the Los Angeles County Clerk Office website.

Riverside County: The Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder manages marriage records in Riverside County.⁵ Interested persons can obtain public and confidential marriage certificates according to state law. The fee is $17 per copy.

Searchers can request marriage records via four options.

Online requests: Interested persons must complete an online application. For all authorized copies, identity verification is required. Users can pay by credit card and can opt for domestic 2-day delivery at checkout.

In-person requests: Interested persons must complete an online application for a marriage record, then schedule an appointment. Requesters can then plan their visit and bring a government-issued ID (for authorized copies) and payment by credit card, check, money order, or cash.

Mail requests: Interested parties must complete the application for a certified marriage record and have it notarized. Then, requesters must send payment (check or money order) to the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder. Mail the application form and payment to:

Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
P.O. Box 751
Riverside, CA 92502-0751

Dropbox requests: Citizens must complete the application form and have it notarized. Then, payment (check or money order) must be sent to the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder. Requesters must deposit the form and the payment to one of these drop boxes:

Riverside – CAC
4080 Lemon Street
Riverside, CA 92501

Riverside – Gateway
2724 Gateway Dr.
Riverside, CA 92507

Palm Desert
38-686 El Cerrito Road
Palm Desert, CA 92211

Temecula
Temporarily Unavailable

Blythe
270 N. Broadway
Blythe, CA 92225

Orange County: The Clerk-Recorder manages marriage records in Orange County, California.

Searchers in Orange County can request marriage records via two options. The fee is $17 per copy.

In-person: Searchers must complete a vital application form before going to the clerk office. After completing the application, interested persons must visit one of the locations below:

Central Office 
601 N. Ross St.
Santa Ana, CA 92701

North County Branch Office
222 S. Harbor Blvd., Ste. 110A
Anaheim, CA 92805

South County Branch Office
24031 El Toro Rd., Ste. 150
Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Requesters must have a valid government-issued ID. Certificates are issued on the same day.

Mail requests: Interested persons must complete the vital record request form and print it. The forms must be signed and notarized, and payment must be made to the OC Clerk-Recorder. Requesters must send the form and the payment to the following address:

OC Clerk-Recorder
ATTN: Vitals Records
P.O. BOX 238
Santa Ana, CA 92702

San Francisco: California marriage records in San Francisco are handled by the city’s Office of Assessor-Recorder.

Requesters have five ways of finding the marital status information they need; each is described below.

In-person requests: Requesters must go to the main office with their photo ID; the fee is $17 and payment can be made via credit card, check, money order, or cash. The office address is:

Office of Assessor-Recorder – Main Office
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, City Hall, Rm 190
San Francisco, CA 94102-4698

Phone: (415)-554-5596
Fax: (415)-554-7915
Email: [email protected]

Online requests: This service is offered via the Records Manager marriage access tool, available online. Requesters have to complete the application form and the verification process. After the application and verification are complete, your order will be processed.

Dropbox requests: Requesters have to submit the notarized application together with a self-addressed stamped envelope, and the proof of payment to the San Francisco Assessor-Recorder to the drop box located at the following address:

1 Drive 
Carlton B Goodlett Pl.
San Francisco, California 94102

Note: The box is in the window at the Grove Street entrance

Mail requests: Interested persons must download, complete, and notarize the marriage certificate request application; then, the application must be sent with the proof of payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the main office for processing.

Phone or online requests: This additional service is offered via VitalChek and over the phone at (800)-669-8312. There is an additional processing fee of $9.

Sacramento: Marriage records are handled by the Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder Office.¹⁰ The cost is $17 per copy and payment can be done via cash, credit card, debit card, check, and money order. Interested persons have four ways of obtaining the information they want:

In-person requests: Requesters must visit one of the office locations and complete an application that will be provided at the location. For authorized copies, requesters will need a valid, government-issued photo ID; orders are processed in 20 minutes after submission.

Mail requests: Requesters have to download, print, and complete an marriage certificate application form (for more copies, the second page of the form must be also completed); the application, together with the proof of payment, sealed in a self-addressed envelope, must be mailed to the following address:

Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder
5229 Hazel Avenue, Suite B
Fair Oaks, CA 95628

Applications are processed in 5 to 7 business days after receiving the application.

Fax requests: Requesters can print and complete the fax application form for a marriage certificate (for more copies, the second page of the form must be also completed); the form must be sent via fax machine to (916)-874-0947; allow 5 to 7 business days for processing.

Online requests: The online request service is outsourced to the VitalChek Network; additional fees apply when ordering through this approved third party.

Oakland: Marriage records in Oakland are handled by the Alameda Clerk-Recorder’s Office.

Online requests: Interested persons can use the online search and application tool; users have to go through the guide and answer the questions as requested by the application tool.

The fee for a marriage certificate copy is $19 (delivery via regular mail is included in this fee, delivery takes 15 to 20 days after processing is complete); other delivery options are available at extra cost.

The Alameda Clerk-Recorder’s Office also offers an online order status tool which lets requesters check their application. Users have to provide either the confirmation number, their email address, or their last name, as registered on the application form.

For any additional inquiries, questions, or comments about marriage certificates, interested persons should email the Clerk-Recorder’s Vital Records via this email tool or call the office at 888.280.7708. Also, citizens can contact the Alameda Clerk-Recorder’s Office in person at either their locations:

Oakland Office – Full Service Location
1106 Madison St., 
Oakland, CA 94607

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M.

Tri-Valley Office – Select Service Location
7600 Dublin Boulevard, Suite #160
Dublin, CA 94568

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M.

Note: The office entrance can be found in the building’s courtyard.

How To Research Your Family Lineage & Genealogy Through Archived Marriage Records in California

Citizens interested in researching their family lineage and background can use multiple tools and archives to find information about individuals for reasons such as genealogy.

California State Archives: The California State Archives offers an excellent resource for citizens who are curious about their family lineage.¹² The agency handles a large amount of archives about individuals from multiple counties in the state.

The agency also holds family lineage records from as early as 1849, from a variety of sources, like the California National Guard, San Quentin Prisons, California Youth Authority files and records, as well as other various vocational or professional organizations records.

The agency also hosts the vast library of the Root-Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society, that is run by volunteers and open to the anyone interested.

Searchers who need more information about archived marriage records in California should visit the agency’s FAQ section.

California State Archives
1020 O Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Reference Desk: (916) 653–2246
General Information: (916) 653–7715
Fax: (916) 653–7363

Library of Congress: The Library of Congress stores a large number of California marriage records, making it an excellent resource for anyone interested in researching their family history.

Marriage records at the county level are available from 1850 to the present date. At the state level, marriage records are available from 1905 to 1999 and from 2008 to 2020. For more information, requesters should contact the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records.

How To Obtain a California Marriage License (Application Process)

The state of California offers two types of marriage licenses – public and confidential. The confidential marriage license will stay out of the public marriage records in California, so only the bride and groom can request copies of it.

According to state law, couples who want to obtain a marriage license don’t have to reside in California so that anyone can wed in the state. The marriage license is valid for 90 days after the issue date. A new marriage license must be requested if couples fail to engage in matrimony during this period.

Citizens who look up marriage licenses in California can apply both online or offline, depending on the county. Fees, hours of operation, and application systems also vary depending on the county.

Requesters are advised to contact each local county office for more information or visit California’s Department of Public Health website, where a detailed guide is available.¹³

Documents needed when applying for a California marriage license:

• Proof of identity and age — all applicants will need a valid photo ID (driver’s license, passport, naturalization certificate, or military ID); the document must show that the applicants are 18 years old or older; some counties may also request a birth certificate
• Proof of payment — fees vary depending on the county, but applicants should expect to pay $45 to $112 for their marriage license
• Proof of divorce — a copy of the final divorce statement is needed for applicants who were previously married

Additional information about California marriage licenses:

• There is no waiting period; applicants can get married as soon as they get the legal green light
• Witnesses are not required for confidential marriage certificate holders; one witness is needed for public marriage license holders.
• There is no legal requirement to change your name (both for the husband and wife); a prenup is not required.
• The public cannot access California marriage records to get copies of confidential marriage certificates.