California State Marriage Licenses
Feb 17, 2017. Information you need to know before you start filling out the marriage license application: Where each of your parents were born (city and state); The names of your parents including your mother's maiden name. Confidential License in California: If you have lived together as a married couple, you can apply. California is the only state that offers both a regular public marriage license and a confidential marriage license. California Marriage License. If you're getting married in California, you must first apply for a marriage license. It'll cost you $35.00 to $111.00 (based on confidentiality), and you'll have to use it within 90 days.
Genealogy resources for the Counties of California:
California marriage records are a bit different than other states. There are restrictions on getting certified copies but informational copies are open to the public and can be used for verifying family maiden names.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. When did California start recording marriages?
A. California marriage certificates are one of the most valuable sources of California genealogical information. Unlike many other states throughout the country, California has been keeping track of marriages within the state since 1850, and the California Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records maintains these records to this day.
Q. Are there restrictions on getting copies of California marriage records?
A. Yes, there are restrictions on ordering California Marriage Records. Special requirements have to be met to receive a copy of a marriage certificate. If any of these requirements are not met some information on the record will be redacted and it will be marked 'informational only'. Anyone wanting to replace a certificate by mail must have a notarized sworn statement attesting to the fact that they are one of the parties named in the certificate.
Public marriage records may be obtained from the county recorder; confidential marriage records are available only through the county clerk of the county where the license was issued.
![California State Marriage Licenses California State Marriage Licenses](https://www.wikihow.com/images/c/c7/Apply-For-a-Marriage-License-in-California-Step-8.jpg)
Q. How do I verify a marriage took place in California?
A. There are two types of certificate copies-certified and certified informational. The type needed for genealogy research is the informational copy. This is a certified copy with certain information redacted but it can be used for verifying family history information.
Because of the length of time it takes to get a marriage certificate from California Department of Public Health (CDPH) it is better to contact the County Clerk of the county where the license was issued. (County Clerks may be found on the county links.)
You must submit as much of the following information as possible to receive a copy of a marriage record.
- Groom's first and last name
- Bride's first and maiden last name
- Date of marriage
Q. What information is found on an California marriage record?
A. The earliest marriage records have very little extra information beyond the basics:
- Names of bride and groom
- Date of marriage
- Name of officiant
- witness names
Later marriages have more information:
- Grooms name, residence, age, color or race, and occupation
- Brides maiden name, residence, age, color or race, and occupation
- Date of marriage
- Single, widowed or divorced status
- Name of officiant
- Witness names
- Names and birthplace of mother and father
- Mother and father's occupations
Q. Where can I find genealogy records from California?
A. Many California genealogy resources found today include copies of old newspapers, biographies and histories, indexes and county books on microfilm that can be borrowed via interlibrary loans. Check with your local library to see if they can or will ask for a loan of microfilm.
California State Library Genealogy Resources
Other California resources:
- California Genealogy and History Guide California Genealogy guide to free records in census, marriage, birth, death, and other records databases online.
Unlike many other states throughout the country, California has been keeping track of marriages within the state since 1850, and the California Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records as well as the different California County Clerks maintains these records to this day.
![Procedure Procedure](https://marriagelicensesimply.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/wedding_marriagelicense_cabluestamp_14.jpg)
California Marriage Database:
Free public records of Californian marriages.
Calif Marriage License Requirements
California Statehood - 1850. Capital - Sacramento
There were originally 27 counties in 1850: Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Los Angeles, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter, Trinity, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba.
Today there are 58 counties in California: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo and Yuba. For information about these counties and marriage indexes see the county pages.
California State Marriage License Search
California Genealogy Resources:
Use the online form to order official marriage certificates. Order at any time and from anywhere!
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