Los Angeles County Marriage Records and Certificate Copies

The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) provides copies of marriage records dating from 1852 for licenses issued in Los Angeles County. Confirm the issuing county, record type, and copy you need before submitting a request.

Start with the official service: Use the marriage records request page to review eligibility and choose an in-person, mail, or online request.

Telephone assistance: Call 800-201-8999, Option 1, for records information. The County does not accept marriage record orders by telephone.

Independent, non-government information: This website is not affiliated with RR/CC. We do not accept record applications, identity documents, notarized statements, or payments.

To apply for a new license or arrange a ceremony, visit our Marriage License page.

Records the County Holds

The County maintains marriage records for licenses issued by its office. The ceremony may have taken place elsewhere in California, but the issuing county determines where the completed license is registered.

A ceremony held in Los Angeles County does not necessarily create a Los Angeles County record if another county issued the license. Check the original license, prior correspondence, or information from the couple before paying for a search.

For a recent marriage, the completed license must first be returned and registered before a certificate copy can be issued. If the record is not yet available, confirm its return and registration status with the issuing office.

Choose the Correct Copy

Public marriage records and confidential marriage records have different access rules. Public records also distinguish authorized certified copies from informational certified copies.

Marriage record copy types and access requirements
Copy type	Who may request it	Purpose and limitations
Authorized Certified Copy of a public marriage record	A person or representative in one of the legally authorized categories described below.	Used for identity-related transactions, such as marriage-related name changes. Confirm the receiving agency's requirements.
Informational Certified Copy of a public marriage record	Requesters who are not eligible for an authorized copy, or who select the informational option.	Marked “INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY.” It cannot replace an authorized copy for identity-related transactions.
Certified copy of a confidential marriage record	The parties to the marriage, or access through a court order.	Not open to routine public inspection. Informational copies are not issued.

Who Qualifies for an Authorized Public Copy?

The County's eligibility page lists these categories:

Either party to the marriage, or a parent or legal guardian of either party.
A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of either party.
A law enforcement agency member or other governmental agency representative conducting official business as provided by law.
An attorney representing either party or that party's estate.
A person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of either party or that party's estate.

Identify your qualifying relationship or authority accurately. Having a notarized signature does not create eligibility that you otherwise lack.

Confidential Records

The broader family eligibility categories for public records do not apply to confidential records. A parent, child, or sibling does not qualify solely through that relationship.

If you are seeking access under a court order, contact RR/CC for the required submission instructions before using a standard application.

Choose a Request Method

The County publishes the following fees and service timeframes. Confirm current instructions before ordering; processing or mailing time is not a guaranteed delivery date.

Marriage record request methods, fees, and published timeframes
Method	Requirements and cost	Published timeframe
In person	Complete the application, book an appointment, and bring valid photo identification. Published copy fee: $19. Some payment methods carry an additional service fee.	Authorized copies of registered records from 1995 onward: available at the scheduled appointment, subject to completed requirements and record availability. Records from 1852–1994 and all informational copies: mailed within 20 business days from receipt.
By mail	Use the correct application and pay by accepted check or money order. Authorized public copies and confidential copies require a notarized Certificate of Identity. Published copy fee: $19.	Record mailed within 20 business days from receipt of the request.
Online through VitalChek	Follow the County's link to VitalChek and complete its identity requirements. Published copy fee: $19, plus a handling fee and any selected delivery charges.	Orders processed within 20 working days from receipt.

For a recent marriage, issuance depends on registration of the record. Ask RR/CC about availability before relying on an appointment to obtain a newly recorded certificate.

Prepare Your Information

Use the current application and enter the names and details it requests. Paper forms should be completed legibly.

Marriage date, including month, day, and year.
Each party's first, middle, and last name at birth, as requested on the form.
County where the license was issued.
Number of copies and the copy type requested.
Your relationship to the parties or other qualifying authority.
Your name, mailing address, and telephone number.
Identification information required for the selected request method.

Review the copy selection before signing. Sections marked for Recorder use are for staff.

Identity Requirements by Method

In person: Bring valid photo identification and follow the appointment's identity verification and declaration requirements.
Mail request for an authorized public copy: Include the notarized Certificate of Identity required by the application.
Mail request for a confidential copy: Use the confidential application and its notarized Certificate of Identity.
Online: Follow VitalChek's verification instructions. A notarized Certificate of Identity may be requested.
Informational public copy: Follow the informational-copy instructions; the authorized-copy notarization requirement does not apply to that selection.

Submit identity documents only through the designated official process. Do not send them to this independent website.

In-Person Requests

Start with the official in-person request page.

Complete the marriage records application.
Save the confirmation number.
Use the confirmation number to book an appointment and complete the required waiver.
Check the appointment location and instructions.
Bring valid photo identification, required documents, and payment.

The County offers appointments up to three weeks in advance. If you cannot book after completing the application, keep the confirmation number and return through the official page to check openings.

An appointment does not mean every copy is issued during the visit. Check the record year and copy type against the published timeframes above.

Payment and Building Entry

The County lists cash, checks, money orders, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay for in-person payment.

Checks and money orders must be payable to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Valid identification of the person signing a check is required. The published service fee for card payments, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay is $1.75.

Visitors entering Norwalk Headquarters through public entrances pass through a metal detector and have bags screened. Check current office arrangements and observed holidays before traveling.

Mail Requests

Follow the official mail request instructions and use the application for the correct record type:

Before completing a downloaded form, check the official mail-request page for the current version and submission instructions.

Complete and sign the application. When notarization is required, sign the identity statement in the notary's presence. Do not substitute the public record statement for the confidential record statement.

Pay by check or money order payable to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Do not mail cash. The County excludes e-checks, temporary checks, and foreign checks other than those from Canada and Mexico.

Marriage record copy request mailing address:
Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Birth, Death and Marriage Records Section
P.O. Box 489
Norwalk, CA 90651-0489

Keep copies of the submitted materials and any mailing confirmation. The published 20-business-day timeframe concerns mailing the record after receipt of the request, not its arrival at your address.

Notarization Outside California

The County's records FAQ states that the notary may replace “California” on the Certificate of Identity with the state or country where notarization occurs. Follow the current form and County instructions if completing the request outside California.

Online Requests Through VitalChek

Online marriage record orders are processed through VitalChek Network, Inc., the service linked from the County's official online request page.

Begin from that County page, follow its designated ordering link, and complete all required information. VitalChek accepts the credit cards listed in the official instructions and adds a handling fee to the copy charge.

Complete any requested identity verification or notarized statement. Review the total cost, delivery selection, and order details before paying, and retain the confirmation for follow-up.

Online ordering does not expand eligibility. Confidential records remain restricted, and an informational public copy cannot replace an authorized copy for identity purposes.

The County publishes processing within 20 working days from receipt. Allow separately for delivery and follow any instructions about incomplete applications or additional documentation.

Fees and Unsuccessful Searches

The published County fee is $19 per certified public or confidential marriage record copy. Online handling charges, payment service fees, and delivery selections may add to the total.

If the requested record is not found, the County issues a “No Record Statement.” Its in-person and mail pages state that the fee for the first copy of each record is nonrefundable; the online page states that its fee is nonrefundable.

Confirm the issuing county, marriage date, and names before paying. A No Record Statement documents an unsuccessful request; it does not establish that a person has never married.

RR/CC states that it does not provide Single Status Letters or Certificates of Search confirming that an individual has not married.

Public Inspection

Examining records and ordering a certified copy are separate services. The County's viewing rules describe public inspection of marriage indexes from 1852 onward. Confidential marriage records are excluded.

The County states that certificates and indexes may be examined without charge unless an employee is asked to search for or retrieve more than five records.

Random searches are not allowed. Provide enough information to identify each requested record, complete the required application for each search, and bring identification.

Use the official viewing page to arrange an appointment and confirm the location and current access requirements.

Copies for Veterans' Benefits

The County's applications include an affidavit for a possible free certified copy used to apply for a veteran's pension or certain other veterans' benefits.

Qualifying requests identify the receiving federal or state agency and the benefit claimed, and the County mails the certificate to the benefit agency. This provision does not cover Social Security or other civilian benefits solely because the applicant is a veteran.

Read the affidavit on the current application and contact RR/CC if you need help confirming whether the request qualifies.

Contacts and Addresses

Marriage records assistance, office location, and mailing destination
Service	Contact or address	Purpose
RR/CC records assistance	800-201-8999, Option 1 Official contact page	Records information and routing assistance. Marriage record orders are not accepted by telephone.
Norwalk Headquarters	12400 Imperial Highway Norwalk, CA 90650 Office locations and services	Physical office location. Confirm the appointment location and current service arrangements before visiting.
Marriage record copy requests by mail	Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Birth, Death and Marriage Records Section P.O. Box 489 Norwalk, CA 90651-0489	Mail applications for marriage certificate copies. Returning an original completed license may have different instructions.
Online orders	County online request instructions and VitalChek link	Authorized online ordering route, identity requirements, and published processing information.
Divorce and court-ordered name change records	Los Angeles Superior Court Court Case Search information	Court records services. RR/CC does not maintain divorce decrees or separate court-ordered name change records.

Use the mailing destination for your particular transaction rather than assuming an office's street address is the correct mail address. Confirm current hours, observed holidays, and appointment requirements before traveling.

Questions and Related Guides

What if I do not know where the license was issued?

Check an existing certificate, license paperwork, or information from the couple or officiant. The ceremony location and the spouses' residence do not necessarily identify the issuing county. Contact RR/CC for guidance before paying for a Los Angeles County search if you remain uncertain.

I recently married. Why is my certificate not available?

The completed license must be returned and registered before a copy can be issued. Confirm with the officiant that it was returned, then ask the issuing county about registration and copy availability. A records order does not replace returning the original document.

Related Guides

Information on this page is drawn from the official resources linked above. Fees, processing estimates, forms, and service arrangements may change; confirm current instructions with RR/CC.

For record applications, identity verification, payments, order questions, or corrections, use the designated official service. Messages and documents submitted to this website do not reach the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.