Requirements for a Marriage License in California

In order to obtain a marriage license in the state of California, you must meet the following requirements:

• Marriage licenses will only be granted to an unmarried man and an unmarried woman.

• Show proof of your age.  This can be done with a valid California driver’s license, U.S. passport, military identification card, or alien resident card.  A certified birth certificate or baptismal record and a picture form of identification issued by a government agency will also be accepted, however, these documents must be in English.  If the documents are in a foreign language, they must be accompanied by a certified English translation.  Any document that is expired will not be accepted.

If the person wishing to marry is under 18 years of age, he or she must provide a notarized parent or guardian consent statement and a Superior Court order granting permission to marry.

• Proof of divorce, dissolution, or death.  If either you or your fiancé was previously married, you must present a copy of the divorce or annulment papers if the divorce or annulment took place within the last two years.  If either you or your fiancé have been widowed for two years or less, you must provide a copy of your spouse’s death certificate. 

• Pay a Marriage License Fee.  The fee for a marriage license is $70.  

• Marriage License Application.  To apply for a marriage license in Riverside, both you and your spouse must appear together at the office of the Riverside Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder.   To apply for a marriage license in San Bernardino, you and your spouse must appear together at the County of San Bernardino Auditor/Controller-Recorder’s office.

To learn more about applying for a marriage license in Riverside, San Bernardino, or the Inland Empire, please do not hesitate to contact the office of Riverside family law attorney Michael R. Young today!