Public Information on State of California Marriage Records

Public Marriages

• Most people getting married in California apply for public marriage licenses. Any couple over the age of 18 (or younger with parental consent) can obtain a public marriage license, which allows them to be married in any California county with one or two witnesses. The license is recorded in the county where the license was issued. It is a public record.
  
  

Confidential Marriages

• A couple can only obtain a confidential marriage license in California if they are both at least 18 years old, regardless of parental consent. The two people must be living together like spouses when they apply for the license. No witnesses are required, but both people must sign affidavits swearing that they are cohabiting. The record of a confidential marriage is not a public document.
  
  

Obtaining Copy of Public Marriage Records

• A public marriage license is a public document. Anyone can request a copy by sending an application and the proper fee to the county recorder's office in the county where the couple purchased the license.
  
  

Authorized Versus Informational Copies

• In California, an authorized copy and an informational copy of a marriage record contain the same information. The sole difference is that the latter has a legend stamped across the document specifying that the copy cannot be used to establish identity. Under California law, anyone can obtain an informational copy of a public marriage record. However, only certain people can obtain an authorized copy, including the couple or close family members, or a member of a governmental agency acting on official business.
  
  

Obtaining Copies of Confidential Marriage Records

• In California, only the two parties to a confidential marriage license can readily obtain a copy of this confidential record. Anyone else seeking a copy must obtain a court order allowing them to obtain a copy, and present this order to the county clerk.