What is the difference between a Public and a Confidential marriage license?
If public:
You can get married anywhere in the State of California, you need at least one witness during
your ceremony, and the marriage record is made available to the public.
To obtain a public marriage license, the couple must appear together at the County Clerk's office
with picture identification such as a state driver's license, state ID card, or passport. If either
partner does not speak English, someone who can translate must accompany the couple.
It usually takes 20 to 30 minutes to issue a marriage license, but you may have to wait longer if
there are other couples ahead of you. Arrive at the office in plenty of time to complete the
paperwork prior to the office closing at 4:00 p.m. You can print the application, and bring it in
with you.
If either party was married before, the couple will need to know the date the previous marriage
ended. If either party was divorced within the last six months, we ask that a copy of the final
judgment be brought.
The public (regular) marriage license is effective the day it is issued and may be used anywhere in
the State of California within 90 days of the issue date.
After the public license is issued you may be married by a priest, rabbi, minister or other
authorized person of your choice. The person who performs the ceremony will return the
certificate to the Marin County Recorder's Office, Room 232. You may obtain a certified copy
from that office.
If confidential:
You must be living together, getting married in the County where you purchased your license, no
witnesses are required, and the marriage record is only available to the husband and wife.
Couples who are living together may obtain a confidential marriage license. A confidential
license is purchased in a County, the marriage ceremony must be performed in the same County.
Confidential marriage licenses are available in all counties statewide and must be used in the
county in which they are issued.
Confidential marriage licenses cannot be issued to minors.
In order to obtain a confidential license, the couple must appear together with picture
identification at the County Clerk's Office. The couple will be required to swear or affirm that
they are living together as husband and wife. You can print the application now, and bring it in
with you.
The confidential marriage license is effective the day it is issued and must be used within the
same County within 90 days of the date issued. You may be married by a priest, rabbi, minister
or other authorized person of your choice.
After the confidential marriage ceremony is performed, the license will be returned and filed
with the County Clerk in the same county where it was issued. The license cannot be viewed by
anyone except the couple without a court order. Certified copies may be purchased after filing
and the couple may show them to anyone requiring proof of the marriage.
If public:
You can get married anywhere in the State of California, you need at least one witness during
your ceremony, and the marriage record is made available to the public.
To obtain a public marriage license, the couple must appear together at the County Clerk's office
with picture identification such as a state driver's license, state ID card, or passport. If either
partner does not speak English, someone who can translate must accompany the couple.
It usually takes 20 to 30 minutes to issue a marriage license, but you may have to wait longer if
there are other couples ahead of you. Arrive at the office in plenty of time to complete the
paperwork prior to the office closing at 4:00 p.m. You can print the application, and bring it in
with you.
If either party was married before, the couple will need to know the date the previous marriage
ended. If either party was divorced within the last six months, we ask that a copy of the final
judgment be brought.
The public (regular) marriage license is effective the day it is issued and may be used anywhere in
the State of California within 90 days of the issue date.
After the public license is issued you may be married by a priest, rabbi, minister or other
authorized person of your choice. The person who performs the ceremony will return the
certificate to the Marin County Recorder's Office, Room 232. You may obtain a certified copy
from that office.
If confidential:
You must be living together, getting married in the County where you purchased your license, no
witnesses are required, and the marriage record is only available to the husband and wife.
Couples who are living together may obtain a confidential marriage license. A confidential
license is purchased in a County, the marriage ceremony must be performed in the same County.
Confidential marriage licenses are available in all counties statewide and must be used in the
county in which they are issued.
Confidential marriage licenses cannot be issued to minors.
In order to obtain a confidential license, the couple must appear together with picture
identification at the County Clerk's Office. The couple will be required to swear or affirm that
they are living together as husband and wife. You can print the application now, and bring it in
with you.
The confidential marriage license is effective the day it is issued and must be used within the
same County within 90 days of the date issued. You may be married by a priest, rabbi, minister
or other authorized person of your choice.
After the confidential marriage ceremony is performed, the license will be returned and filed
with the County Clerk in the same county where it was issued. The license cannot be viewed by
anyone except the couple without a court order. Certified copies may be purchased after filing
and the couple may show them to anyone requiring proof of the marriage.
| Call 415-554-4950 for recorded Marriage License Information good for anywhere in California. |
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| Marriage License Information |
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