Marriage License

Getting a Los Angeles County CA marriage license involves more than completing an online form. Both parties must meet the eligibility requirements, appear together with acceptable identification, purchase the correct type of license, complete a legally recognized ceremony, and return the signed license for recording. This guide explains each stage in practical detail, including how to apply, which documents to bring, how appointments work, the difference between public and confidential licenses, current county fees, civil ceremony options, name-change choices, and what happens after the wedding.

Start the Los Angeles County Marriage License Process Online

Couples planning to marry in Los Angeles County should begin by completing the county’s online marriage license application. The application collects the information the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk needs to prepare the license for issuance. Completing the online application does not create a marriage, reserve a wedding date, or allow a couple to skip the in-person identification process.

Use the official Los Angeles County marriage license application portal to begin. The portal may end an inactive session after 30 minutes for security reasons, so applicants should gather the necessary personal information before starting.

Enter all information carefully. Names, dates, marital history, and name-change selections may become part of the official license. A mistake discovered before the ceremony may require the couple to purchase a new license. Certain information, especially a selected new married name, cannot simply be changed after the County Clerk issues the license.

Save the Application Confirmation Number

After submitting the online application, save or print the confirmation number. The county requires this number when the couple proceeds to appointment scheduling. Losing the number can slow down the process and may require the applicants to restart parts of the application.

The county generally makes appointments available up to three weeks in advance. When no times appear, the available appointments for that period may already be filled. Openings can appear when another couple cancels or reschedules, so applicants with flexible schedules may need to check again.

The official marriage license appointment instructions explain how to move from a completed application to an in-person appointment. Couples should confirm the selected office, date, time, and type of appointment before finalizing the reservation.

Confirm That Both Applicants Meet the Eligibility Rules

Both parties must appear together to obtain a marriage license in Los Angeles County. One person cannot complete the issuance appointment for both applicants, and California does not recognize proxy marriages. Completing the application online does not replace the joint in-person appearance requirement.

Applicants do not have to be residents of Los Angeles County or California. There is also no county residence or United States citizenship requirement. A blood test and health certificate are not required.

Before booking an appointment, review the county’s complete marriage license eligibility requirements. Eligibility issues involving a recent divorce, domestic partnership termination, minor applicant, confidential license, or inmate marriage may require additional documentation or procedures.

Bring Valid Proof of Identity and Age

Each party must present acceptable proof of identity and age. The county identifies a driver’s license and passport as acceptable forms of identification. Documents must be current. Expired identification cards and expired identity documents are not accepted.

All documents must be in English. A document issued in another language must be accompanied by an English translation prepared by a certified translator, and the translation must be notarized. Couples relying on foreign documents should arrange the translation well before the appointment rather than waiting until the final days before the wedding.

Check Every Identification Detail Before the Appointment

Make sure the identification document has not expired.
Confirm that the name is readable and matches the information entered in the application.
Bring the original identification document rather than relying on a photograph stored on a phone.
Prepare certified and notarized English translations when required.
Bring documents related to a recent divorce or domestic partnership termination when applicable.

Prepare Documents for a Previous Marriage

Each applicant must be unmarried when the license is issued. A previous marriage remains legally valid until its final date of dissolution. Applicants should know the exact final dissolution date because the application and County Clerk may require it.

If a divorce or dissolution of a previous marriage became final within the last two years, the applicant must bring a certified copy of the dissolution document. When the dissolution became final more than two years earlier, written proof may not be required, but the applicant must still provide the final date when requesting the license.

This distinction matters because the date a divorce case was filed is not necessarily the date the marriage legally ended. Applicants should use the final dissolution date shown on the court record.

Address a Prior Domestic Partnership

An applicant whose state-registered domestic partnership ended within the previous two years must provide a certified copy of the termination. If the termination occurred more than two years earlier, written proof may not be required, but the termination date must be provided.

Two parties marrying each other after entering into a state-registered domestic partnership with one another must present a copy of their Declaration of Domestic Partnership. Couples in this situation should bring the document even when they believe the county may already have related information.

Follow Additional Steps for Applicants Under 18

A person under 18 cannot obtain a marriage license through the standard adult process alone. The minor must provide a notarized parent or guardian consent statement and an order from the Superior Court granting permission to obtain a marriage license.

Because the court order is a separate legal requirement, an underage applicant should complete the court process before attempting to purchase the license. An online marriage license application does not replace parental or guardian consent and does not replace the required court order.

Ask About the Separate Inmate Marriage Procedure

Inmate marriages follow specific county procedures and may not fit the regular branch-office appointment process. The appropriate steps can depend on the correctional facility, the applicant’s ability to appear, document requirements, and coordination with county personnel. Couples planning an inmate marriage should contact the Recorder/County Clerk before submitting documents or scheduling an ordinary appointment.

Choose Between a Public and Confidential Marriage License

Los Angeles County issues public and confidential marriage licenses. Both can support a legally valid marriage when the applicants meet the applicable requirements, complete a qualified ceremony, and return the properly completed license for recording. However, the licenses differ in eligibility, access, witness requirements, and fees.

Understand the Public Marriage License

A public marriage license becomes part of the public marriage record after the completed license is returned and recorded. A public ceremony generally requires at least one witness to sign the marriage license. Couples selecting a county civil or express ceremony should plan for the witness requirement before the appointment.

When the couple does not have a witness for a county ceremony, the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk may provide one for an additional fee. Friends and family should not assume they can all enter the ceremony area, because room capacity and express ceremony rules may limit attendance.

Review the Confidential License Conditions

A confidential marriage license may be available to parties who live together as spouses and meet the required conditions. A confidential license does not require a ceremony witness. Access to the resulting record is also more restricted than access to a public marriage record.

Applicants should not select a confidential license only because the fee is lower or because they would rather not bring a witness. They must satisfy the eligibility conditions for that license. County staff will determine whether the applicants can receive the requested license based on the applicable requirements.

Plan for Marriage License and Ceremony Fees

Couples should budget separately for the license, ceremony, witness service, and any later certified marriage record copies. Purchasing a marriage license does not automatically include a civil ceremony or a certified copy of the recorded marriage certificate.

The county’s official marriage license and ceremony fee schedule lists the following charges:

Public marriage license: $91
Confidential marriage license: $85
Civil ceremony: $35
Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk-provided ceremony witness: $20
Deputy Commissioner for a Day program: $75

Accepted payment methods include cash, check, money order, qualifying debit or credit cards, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay. Checks and money orders must be payable to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Valid identification of the check signer is required when paying by check.

Credit card and mobile-wallet payments are subject to a $1.75 service fee and a stated maximum transaction limit of $15,000. The office does not accept e-checks, temporary checks, or most foreign checks. Couples should verify the current payment requirements before visiting because fees and payment policies can change.

Attend the Marriage License Appointment Prepared

Both parties should arrive early enough to park, clear any building entry procedures, and locate the correct service window. The county provides only a five-minute grace period for late marriage license appointments. An appointment may be canceled when the couple arrives beyond that period.

Bring the application confirmation number and valid photo identification for both applicants. Also bring any required divorce, dissolution, domestic partnership, translation, consent, or court documents. Do not rely on county staff to supply missing court records during the appointment.

Review the Application Before the License Is Issued

Both applicants should carefully check spelling, dates, identification information, and any new-name entries before accepting the issued license. Correcting a mistake becomes more difficult after issuance and may require purchasing another license.

If an error is discovered before the marriage ceremony, the county may require the couple to buy a new license. If an error is discovered after the couple has married, they should contact the Recorder/County Clerk to determine the available correction procedure.

Handle a Married Name Choice Before Issuance

California’s Name Equality Act allows one or both parties to select certain middle-name or last-name changes when applying for a marriage license. Neither person is required to change a name, and spouses are not required to use the same last name.

Read the county’s marriage license name-change instructions before completing the application. The selected new name cannot be added or changed by the County Clerk after the license has been issued.

Select an Allowed Last Name

Each party may choose certain last-name options, including the current last name of the other spouse, the birth last name of either spouse, a combination of last names, or a single combined name using all or a contiguous segment of an eligible last name.

Applicants considering a combined or segmented last name should pay close attention to the rule that letters used as a segment must be contiguous. The process does not permit applicants to freely create any new last name unrelated to the names allowed under the statute.

Use the Available Middle-Name Choices Carefully

Permitted middle-name choices may include the current last name or birth last name of either spouse, as well as certain combinations involving the applicant’s current middle name and an eligible current or birth last name.

The marriage license process cannot be used to change a first name. An applicant also may not completely drop an existing middle name through this process, and segments are not allowed when constructing the middle name.

Leave the New-Name Fields Blank When No Change Is Desired

A person who does not want to identify a new married name may leave the applicable new-name fields unselected. The license will show dashes in those fields. This does not prevent the marriage from being valid.

The recorded marriage certificate may later be used as evidence of a qualifying name change, but individual government agencies and other institutions establish their own document requirements. The County Clerk cannot provide legal advice about which name an applicant should select or how another agency will process the change.

Schedule a Civil or Express Marriage Ceremony

Submitting an application and purchasing a license do not make a couple legally married. The couple must participate in a qualified civil or religious ceremony while the license remains valid. The person performing the ceremony must complete the required portions of the license, and any required witness must sign it.

Couples who want the county to perform their ceremony can review the official Los Angeles County civil ceremony information. County civil ceremonies are available by appointment only and must be prepaid.

Book a Standard Civil Ceremony

A couple must first purchase a marriage license before receiving a standard civil ceremony appointment. When purchasing the license, the couple may schedule a ceremony at a Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk office.

Standard county ceremonies are scheduled in 15-minute time blocks. The number of guests allowed depends on the room capacity at the selected location. Outside ministers and officiants are not permitted to perform ceremonies inside the county’s chapels.

A civil ceremony appointment may be rescheduled once. A second rescheduling request requires payment of another ceremony fee. Couples should therefore select a time they can realistically attend and account for traffic, parking, and guest arrival.

Combine the License and Ceremony with an Express Appointment

Express marriage ceremonies offer a streamlined option for couples seeking a simple county ceremony. After completing the marriage license application, the applicants can select a “Marriage License and Express Ceremony” appointment when available.

Express appointments are scheduled for approximately 45 minutes and are offered at the county’s branch locations. Both applicants must bring valid identification. A public marriage license ceremony requires one witness at the marriage license window. When the couple has no witness, the county can provide one for the listed fee. A confidential marriage license does not require a witness.

Express ceremony attendance is limited. Family members and friends who are not serving as the required witness may have to wait outside. Couples hoping to celebrate with a larger group should consider whether a standard ceremony or a ceremony at another venue better fits their plans.

Use the Marriage License Within the 90-Day Period

A Los Angeles County marriage license is valid for 90 days. The ceremony must take place during that period. Couples should not apply so early that the license will expire before the planned wedding date.

If the ceremony does not occur before the expiration date, the unused license cannot simply be extended. The couple will need to apply for and purchase a new license before marrying.

Choose a Person Authorized to Perform the Ceremony

The county identifies several categories of people who may perform a marriage ceremony, including:

A priest, minister, or rabbi of a religious denomination who is at least 18 years old
An active or retired California judge, commissioner, or assistant commissioner
A city clerk while holding 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 city or county office

Ministers do not register with the Los Angeles County Clerk merely to perform a ceremony. However, the couple should confirm that the officiant’s ordination or authority is valid and not issued solely for entertainment purposes. The officiant should also understand how to complete and return the marriage license correctly.

Return the Signed License for Official Recording

After the ceremony, the completed marriage license must be returned to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Norwalk office for recording. Until the completed document is returned and accepted for recording, the county will not have a recorded marriage certificate on file.

The county records marriage certificates only when the marriage license was issued in Los Angeles County. A license issued by another California county or another state must be returned to the issuing jurisdiction, even when the ceremony took place in Los Angeles County.

Follow the county’s marriage certificate recording instructions to avoid sending the document to the wrong address or office.

Do Not Expect an Automatic Certified Copy

The county does not automatically mail the couple a certified copy after recording the marriage certificate. A separate marriage record request is required. The couple may submit a request for a certified copy at the same time the completed license is sent for recording.

Requesting a certified copy is particularly useful when either spouse selected a new name. Government agencies, employers, banks, insurers, and other institutions may ask for a certified marriage certificate as evidence of the marriage or name change.

Protect the Original License Before It Is Recorded

The county does not simply reprint a lost marriage license. If the license is lost before the ceremony, the couple may need to purchase a new one. Couples should keep the document flat, dry, secure, and available to the officiant on the wedding day.

After the ceremony, confirm that the officiant and required witness completed their sections. Incomplete signatures, missing dates, altered entries, or unreadable information can delay recording. The license should be returned according to the county’s instructions rather than mailed to a district office that does not accept the relevant mail.

Select a Convenient Marriage License Office

Marriage licenses are issued at multiple Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk locations. Available ceremony days and office hours can differ by branch. Some locations provide ceremonies only on certain weekdays and only by appointment.

Review the official Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk branch office locations before traveling. County offices are closed on weekends and observed holidays. Mailing related to birth, death, and marriage records should be directed to the designated Norwalk mailing address rather than a district office.

Marriage License Offices

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650
(800) 201-8999

Norwalk Main Office
12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650

Beverly Hills Office
9355 Burton Way, 4th Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

East Los Angeles Office
4716 E. Cesar Chavez Boulevard, Building B, Los Angeles, CA 90022

Lancaster Office
44509 16th Street West, Suite 101, Lancaster, CA 93534

LAX/Courthouse Office
11701 S. La Cienega Boulevard, 6th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Van Nuys Office
14340 W. Sylvan Street, Van Nuys, CA 91401

Florence/Firestone Office
7807 Compton Avenue, Room 102, Los Angeles, CA 90001

Birth, Death and Marriage Records Section
P.O. Box 489, Norwalk, CA 90651-0489

Los Angeles County Marriage License FAQs

Is there a marriage license appointment waitlist?

No. The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk does not maintain a waitlist for marriage license appointments. Available times are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and are generally released no more than three weeks in advance. When the appointment calendar shows no openings, all currently released times have been reserved.

Cancellations may return to the scheduling system without advance notice, so check the official marriage license appointment FAQs regularly. Couples with flexible dates should review several branch locations rather than waiting for one preferred office.

Can the County Clerk find my divorce record for the application?

No. The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk does not maintain divorce records and cannot retrieve a divorce judgment for an applicant during a marriage license appointment. Divorce records are handled through the Superior Court. Anyone who needs proof of a previous divorce should obtain the required court document before attending the appointment.

Do not assume that a marriage record office can access a divorce case simply because both records involve marital status. The County Clerk issues and records Los Angeles County marriage documents, while the court maintains divorce case information. Review the county’s marriage license general information before gathering records from the appropriate agency.

Why did the online marriage license application close before I finished?

The online portal expires after 30 minutes of inactivity for security reasons. Information that was not submitted may be lost, requiring the couple to return to the beginning. Before opening the Los Angeles County marriage license portal, gather legal names, birth details, marital-history dates, and any planned married-name selections. Remain active while completing each page and finish the application in one session whenever possible.