How To Get a Marriage License in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is one of the easiest cities in which to get married. As in most towns, the process starts online, and ends with a simple signing of documents at the County Clerk’s office. In today’s blog post, I’ll take you step-by-step through the process and tell you everything you need to know about how to get a marriage license in Los Angeles. From where to go to what you need to have in hand when you turn in your license, this is the guide that’s got it all before you say ‘I do.’

The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office: A Summary

The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office is the beginning and end of your marriage journey. The office provides marriage licenses to couples, performs civil marriage ceremonies, and records the final marriage certificates.

Please note that the Los Angeles County Clerk’s office does not record marriage licenses for any marriages recorded in other California counties or for any other state.

What You Need to Obtain a Marriage License in Los Angeles

This might seem obvious, but both members of the couple need to not be married. You laugh, but we live in polyamorous times.

If one or both of the spouses has been divorced within two years, then the previously married spouse(s) must provide a certified copy of the dissolution of marriage papers. In case there are any questions, the previous marriage is valid until the final date of dissolution. In the circumstance of a state registered domestic partnership that has been dissolved within two years, the spouse must provide certified copies of termination if the termination occurred within the last two years or less. If the divorce or domestic partnership termination happened after two years, then you will simply have to provide the date of the divorce or the termination of the domestic partnership.

You will need to bring with you a valid ID proving that you are over 18 years of age. This can be a driver’s license or passport, both of which must be in English. Please note that expired documents will not be accepted, so check the expiration date of your passport.

These items are not required to obtain a marriage license in Los Angeles:

Blood test
Health certificate
Having the same last name as your spouse
Any change of name
Proof of residence or citizenship status

Marriage License Fees

When you submit your marriage license application, you must pay a public marriage license fee of $91 — or a confidential marriage license fee of $85, if applicable. If you will be receiving a civil ceremony, there is an additional $35 fee.

Acceptable forms of payment:

Cash
Personal check with valid ID, made payable to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Money order, made payable to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Credit and debit card: American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa with a $1.75 service fee and maximum limit of $15,000
Apple Pay and Samsung pay: $1.75 service fee and maximum limit of 15,000

E-checks, temporary checks, and foreign checks, with the exception of Canada and Mexico, are not acceptable forms of payment

Special Situations

Parties marrying the same partner, who each entered into a State Registered Domestic Partnership, must present a copy of the Declaration of Domestic Partnership. (Couples who were living together as domestic partners, but now wish to become officially married, in other words.)

Proxy marriages – that is, marriages where one or both of the individuals are united, but are not physically present – are not legal. Special exceptions may be allowed in the case of military, but please call the County Clerk’s office to confirm: 1-800-201-8999.

Anyone wishing to marry, who is under the age of 18 must provide a notarized parent or guardian consent statement, and an order from the Superior Court granting the minor permission to obtain a marriage license.

Inmates require specific procedures to marry. (Here is a link to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office with more information.) If you are an inmate wishing to get married or you wish to marry an inmate, then please call 1-800-201-8999 for additional information.

Public vs. Confidential Marriage Licenses in California – The Pros and Cons

The difference between public and confidential marriage licenses, simply has to do with the way the records are handled. In the case of a public marriage license, the record is open to the public, and anyone can request a copy of the marriage certificate. Your marriage certificate includes your name, date, and the location of your marriage. This license requires witnesses; however, you do not need to live together prior to requesting the license.

A confidential marriage license on the other hand, is a sealed record, and the information in the license cannot be obtained without a court order. No witnesses are required, though you must be living together as a couple when applying. This is still a valid legal document and does provide protection for those who value privacy. Note that California is the only state to offer this type of marriage license.

The disadvantage of a confidential marriage license, however, is that it may be difficult to prove your marital status if you move out of state since no one is able to access your records – not even the couple listed on the document. So, while this is a solid choice if privacy is your main concern and you are planning to remain in California, if you plan to relocate outside of California in the near future, perhaps a public license for the sake of public documentation is the easier option.

How To Submit a Marriage License Application in Los Angeles

At this point, you have determined that you are indeed eligible to apply to get married in Los Angeles and know what type of license you want to purchase. With all your documents ready, here’s what you do:

Go to the website, LAVote.gov
Click on the County Clerk section on the right hand side of the page.
Scroll down to the ‘Marriage Licenses and Ceremonies’ section in the middle, left-hand section. Click on ‘Apply For a Marriage License.’
Click on the line that says once the marriage license application is completed. This will take you to the actual application itself.
Review and submit your application.
Print your confirmation page and write down your confirmation number.

In-Person Marriage Application Appointment

Once you have submitted your marriage license application, now you have to make an appointment at one of the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s offices to purchase your marriage license in person. Once your license is purchased, you can then schedule a ceremony of your own choosing, then file your license, and finally receive your final marriage certificate. Licenses must be purchased in person, and can only be scheduled up to three weeks in advance. At your appointment, you must bring with you a valid photo ID and the confirmation number you received after submitting your marriage license application.

For those of you who are chronically late, note that the County Clerk’s Office offers only a five-minute grace period for your appointment. After that, your appointment is canceled and you’ll have to reschedule.

Exterior of Beverly Hills Courthouse for an article on how to get a marriage license in Los Angeles — Beverly Hills Courthouse

Marriage License Appointment Locations

You have seven options when it comes to your in-person appointment. The closest locations to central Los Angeles are Beverly Hills and the LAX courthouse.

Beverly Hills – 9355 Burton Way 4th Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
East Los Angeles – 4716 East Cesar E Chavez Avenue Building B, Los Angeles, CA 90022
Florence/Firestone – 7807 Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90001
Lancaster – 44509 16th St W Suite 101, Lancaster, CA 93534
LAX Courthouse – 11701 S La Cienega Blvd 6th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Norwalk – 12400 Imperial Hwy, Norwalk, CA 90650
Van Nuys – 14340 Sylvan St, Van Nuys, CA 91401

A Few Things to Note About Your Marriage License

Your marriage license must be used in the state of California. In other words, your ceremony must be held within the state lines. Although you purchased your license in Los Angeles County, you can have your ceremony in another (California) city – but why would you???

You do not have to be a California resident or a citizen of the United States to marry in California. Yes, you can be a tourist and simply want to get married in Los Angeles.

If you notice any errors on your marriage license, call the County Clerk’s Office at 1-800–2 01–8999 to see how they can remedy the situation. If you have not gotten married yet, you will need to purchase a new license.

A marriage license is valid for 90 days from the state of issuance. Once you get married, you must have an official ceremony performed, and then the license must be recorded with the County Clerk’s Office. If the ceremony is not performed and the license is not recorded, then the license becomes invalid and you must reapply for a new license.

Submitting a marriage license application or purchasing a marriage license alone does not mean that you are legally married. Rather, you must partake in a civil or religious ceremony and then ensure that you your completed marriage license is recorded in the County Clerk’s Office in order for your certificate to be official. Otherwise, it’s just a piece of paper.

Express Marriage Ceremonies

For those of you looking to marry Vegas style, the Los Angeles County Clerk’s Office is now offering express marriage ceremonies by appointment only. In short (get it?) you’re basically getting married at the time of your marriage license purchase payment appointment. While most people are simply paying for their license at this time, you would be paying for your license and then stepping off to the side and having a justice of the peace perform a quick ceremony for an additional $35 fee. If you do not have a witness, the County Clerk’s Office can provide one for you for an additional $20. Note that family and friends will need to wait outside.

Who Can Officially Marry Someone in Los Angeles County?

Once you have your marriage license in hand, you have 90 days in which to have a ceremony performed. This can either be a civil or religious ceremony, but it must be officiated by one of the following:

A priest, minister or rabbi of any religious denomination who is 18 years of age or older
An active or retired Judge, Commissioner, or Assistant Commissioner of a court in this State
A City Clerk, while that person holds office
A Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages
A member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
A person who holds or formerly held an elected office of a city or county

Please check that you’re officiant, if it is a friend who was ordained online, received their ordination from an official faith. The County Clerk’s Office will be checking to make sure that the ordination papers are not marked ’for entertainment use only.’

Deputy Commissioner for a Day Program

If you want to have a friend of family member officially officiate your wedding, then Los Angeles has the coolest program ever: the Deputy Commissioner for a Day program. Yes, you read that correctly. You will become a ‘commissioner’ for a day for the low price of just $75.

Sure, you could go the way of the Universal Life Church, but this sounds more fun (and is definitely more sanctioned by the county). Basically, you mail in an application with a check or money order for $75 to the following address:

Deputy Commissioner For a Day
Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
P.O. Box 389
Norwalk, CA 90651-0389

Submit your application no less than one month prior to the ceremony date. (If you are submitting your application less than one month prior, you’ll need to include a $13 expediting fee.)

Once your application has been processed, then you must attend a virtual class and be deputized. All deputizing ceremonies happen on Thursdays.

To start your application, click on this link.

By the way, the Deputy Commissioner for a Day Program works in other California counties.

How To Record Your Marriage Certificate

Once you are officially married, you must return your marriage license to the County Clerk’s Norwalk office in order to be recorded.

Norwalk – 12400 Imperial Hwy, Norwalk, CA 90650

Please note that the County Clerk does not automatically send you a copy of your marriage certificate. Instead, to receive a copy of your marriage certificate, you must submit a records request at the same time that you send your marriage certificate to be recorded.

It is highly recommended that if you changed your name in the marriage process, you should request a copy of your marriage certificate so that you can use this as proof of your name change.

Exterior of LAX Courthouse with clouds overhead for an article on how to get a marriage license in Los Angeles — LAX Courthouse

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it: everything you need to know before you become officially married in Los Angeles. The process starts by gathering your documents. Once you have your ID and you have determined whether you would like a public or confidential wedding license, then it’s time to apply online. A few clicks later you’ll be ready to pay in person at one of the seven County Clerk’s offices. In no time at all, you’ll be ready for your ceremony. And if time is truly of the essence, the County Clerk’s office has you covered with one of their express ceremonies for a low fee of just $35. Vegas has nothing on LA.

Enjoy the photos from some of my most memorable city weddings over the years, and I’ll have more photo adventures for you next week!

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If you found this article on the how to obtain a marriage license in Los Angeles useful, then check out these related posts:

Looking to elope in Glendale, Los Angeles, or Orange County? Drop me a line and let’s chat about how I can help you. How about a fun photo shoot after you say ‘I do’? Let’s see how we can collaborate.

To view more images from my wedding portfolio, please visit my website – KellyWilliamsPhotographer.com