Access Los Angeles Marriage Records

Los Angeles marriage records are processed through Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk offices. As the largest city in California with nearly four million residents, Los Angeles maintains no independent marriage license services. The city of Los Angeles is part of Los Angeles County which handles all marriage licensing and vital records for the region. The county operates seven branch offices throughout the area where residents can apply for marriage licenses, schedule civil ceremonies, and obtain certified copies of marriage certificates. Los Angeles residents use these county services along with all other cities in the county.

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk

The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk office is the only agency authorized to issue marriage licenses for Los Angeles residents. The county website provides information about marriage services. Seven branch offices serve the entire county in Norwalk, Beverly Hills, Compton, Lancaster, Van Nuys, Pomona, and Alhambra. Los Angeles city residents can visit any of these locations.

The main office is at 12400 Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Other branches have slightly different hours ranging from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM or 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM depending on location. All offices provide the same marriage license services. You do not need to visit a specific office based on your address. Choose the most convenient location for you.

Both parties must appear together in person to apply for a marriage license. You cannot send someone in your place or apply by mail. California law requires joint personal appearance under Family Code section 359. You must complete an online application before your visit. The application stays on file for 90 days. Bring valid photo ID such as a driver license, passport, state ID card, or military ID.

How to Apply for a Marriage License

Start with the Los Angeles County online marriage application. The form asks for basic information about both parties. You need full names, addresses, birth dates, birth places, and parents' names. If either party was married before, provide the date the previous marriage ended and whether it ended by death, divorce, dissolution, or annulment. The county may ask for your divorce decree or death certificate if the marriage ended within two years.

After submitting the online application, visit a county office. Both of you must go together. The clerk will review your application and issue the license. Processing takes about one hour at the window. For same-day service at the Norwalk office, arrive by 3:00 PM. At district offices arrive by 3:30 PM. Applications submitted after these times will be ready for pickup the next business day.

Your marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. You can use it anywhere in California. No residency requirement exists. You do not need to live in Los Angeles County or California. Any county in the state can issue your license. There is no waiting period. You can marry the same day you receive your license if you choose.

Public and Confidential Marriage Licenses

California offers two types of marriage licenses. Public marriage licenses are the standard option used by most couples. These become public records after the county recorder registers them. Anyone can request certified copies. The license requires at least one witness at the ceremony. You may have up to two witnesses sign. The county recorder maintains public marriage records and issues copies to anyone who requests them.

Confidential marriage licenses provide complete privacy under California Family Code sections 500 through 511. Both parties must be at least 18 years old and living together as spouses when they apply. You sign an affidavit stating this. No witnesses are required at the ceremony. The record is not open to public inspection. Only the married parties can obtain copies unless a court orders otherwise. The county clerk maintains confidential records permanently in separate files.

Public licenses cost $91 in Los Angeles County. Confidential licenses cost $85. Once you choose a license type, that choice is permanent. You cannot convert a confidential marriage to a public record later. Consider your privacy needs before deciding which type to use.

Civil Marriage Ceremonies

Los Angeles County offers express civil ceremonies at all seven branch offices. The ceremony fee is $25. You can schedule an express ceremony appointment when you apply for your license. The appointment is set for 45 minutes which includes time to process the license and perform the ceremony. The county can provide a witness for an additional $20 fee if you do not bring one. Public licenses require at least one witness. Confidential licenses do not need witnesses.

You may arrange a private ceremony with any officiant authorized by California law. This includes priests, ministers, rabbis, judges, retired judges, court commissioners, and anyone authorized by a religious denomination under Family Code sections 400 through 402. The officiant does not need to register with the county in advance. Out-of-state clergy may perform California marriages if they meet the legal requirements.

After your ceremony, the officiant must return the completed license to the county recorder within 10 days. Once the county records the license, it becomes a marriage certificate. You can then request certified copies. The officiant will not provide you with a copy. You must order copies from the county yourself.

Requesting Marriage Certificates

Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $19 each as of January 2026. This fee increased by $2 under Assembly Bill 64. You can order copies in person at any county office, by mail, or online through VitalChek. In-person requests often receive same-day service. Mail orders take 2 to 3 weeks to process plus delivery time. VitalChek online orders include additional service fees but may process faster than mail requests.

For public marriage records, anyone can request an informational copy. These are marked "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY." You cannot use them for legal purposes. To get an authorized certified copy suitable for name changes and other legal uses, you must be a party to the marriage, a close family member, or have a court order under Health and Safety Code section 103526. Authorized copy requests require a notarized sworn statement.

Confidential marriage certificates are available only to the married parties. Even close family members cannot obtain them. A court order is the only exception. The county clerk maintains these records separately. The privacy protection is permanent and absolute under California law.

Additional Marriage Record Services

The Los Angeles County marriage FAQs page answers common questions about license requirements and ceremony procedures. You can call the county at (800) 201-8999 for assistance. Customer service representatives are available during business hours to answer questions about applications, fees, and required documents.

If you need to amend a marriage record due to an error, contact the California Department of Public Health Vital Records division. Los Angeles County cannot amend public marriage certificates. The state handles all amendments. Forms and fees are available on the CDPH Vital Records website. Amendments within the first year are free to file but you pay for certified copies. After one year, the amendment fee is $26 which includes one amended copy.

Los Angeles County maintains records only for marriages where the license was purchased in Los Angeles County. If you married in another county, contact that county's recorder office. The state has limited marriage records for certain year ranges but county offices usually provide faster service. Only the Norwalk office has marriage records available for in-person viewing. Branch offices can issue licenses but do not have records on site for searching.

Los Angeles and Surrounding Cities

Los Angeles is the largest city in California and the second largest in the United States. The city proper covers 469 square miles with diverse neighborhoods from downtown to the Pacific coast. Despite being a major metropolitan center with extensive city services, marriage licensing remains a county function. No city in California issues marriage licenses. All such services are provided at the county level by law.

Other major cities in Los Angeles County include Long Beach, Glendale, Pasadena, Santa Clarita, Pomona, Torrance, Lancaster, Palmdale, Norwalk, and Inglewood. All these cities use the same county offices for marriage licenses and certificates.