Moreno Valley Marriage Records

Moreno Valley marriage records are processed by Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder offices. Moreno Valley is a rapidly growing city in western Riverside County with about 210,000 residents. The city does not maintain marriage records or issue licenses. All marriage services for Moreno Valley couples go through Riverside County offices in Riverside, Hemet, Murrieta, and Palm Desert. Residents can visit any of these four county locations to apply for marriage licenses, schedule civil ceremonies, and request certified copies of marriage certificates. The Riverside main office is closest to Moreno Valley.

Riverside County Marriage License Services

Moreno Valley residents use Riverside County for all marriage needs. The Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder is the only agency authorized to issue marriage licenses in the county. Four office locations serve residents throughout Riverside County. The main office is at 2720 Gateway Drive in Riverside. Branch offices operate in Hemet, Murrieta, and Palm Desert.

The Riverside main office is the closest location for Moreno Valley residents. It is just a short drive west from the city. Office hours are Monday through Friday during standard business hours. Check the county website for exact hours and any holiday closures. Riverside County strongly recommends making an appointment before you visit. Walk-in service may be available but appointments receive priority.

Both parties must appear together in person to apply for a marriage license. This is required by California law under Family Code section 359. You cannot send a representative or apply by mail. Bring valid photo ID such as a driver license, passport, state ID card, or military ID. Your ID must show your photograph, birth date, and valid issue and expiration dates.

Applying for a Marriage License

Check if Riverside County offers an online application to begin the process. Many counties provide online forms that stay on file for a period of time. The application collects basic information about both parties including names, addresses, birth dates, birth places, and parents' information. If either party was married before, you must provide the date the previous marriage ended and how it ended.

Schedule an appointment through the county website if appointments are required or recommended. Both of you must visit the office together. The clerk will review your application and issue the license. Processing typically takes less than an hour. Some offices provide same-day service while others may require next-day pickup. Ask about processing times when you call.

Your marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. You can use it anywhere in California. No residency requirement exists in California. You do not need to live in Riverside County or even California to get married here. Any county can issue your license. There is no waiting period. You can marry the same day you receive your license. Marriage license fees vary by county so check the Riverside County fee schedule before you visit.

Public and Confidential Marriage Licenses

California offers two types of marriage licenses. Public marriage licenses are the most common choice. 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. Both parties must be at least 18 years old. Minors cannot use confidential licenses. The couple must be living together as spouses when they apply. You sign an affidavit stating this under California Family Code sections 500 through 511. 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 marriage records permanently in separate files. 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 carefully before deciding. Many couples who value privacy choose confidential licenses.

Marriage Ceremony Services

Riverside County may offer civil marriage ceremonies at its office locations. Contact the county to ask about ceremony availability, scheduling, and fees. Civil ceremonies are brief legal proceedings performed by a county official. They satisfy the legal requirement for marriage solemnization but are not elaborate events. You can bring a small number of guests if allowed.

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

After the ceremony, the officiant signs and returns the license to the county recorder. The officiant has 10 days to do this. Once the county records the license, it becomes a marriage certificate. You can then request certified copies. Do not expect the officiant to give you a copy. You must order copies from the county yourself.

Getting 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 request copies in person at any Riverside County office, by mail, or online through VitalChek. In-person requests may receive same-day service if the record is available. Mail requests take 2 to 3 weeks to process plus delivery time.

For public marriage records, anyone can request an informational copy marked "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY." These cannot be used 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. This requirement comes from Health and Safety Code section 103526. Authorized copy requests require a notarized sworn statement.

Confidential marriage certificates are available only to the married parties regardless of copy type. Family members cannot get them. A court order is the only exception. The county clerk maintains these records separately. The privacy protection is permanent.

Other Marriage Record Services

If you need to amend a marriage record, contact the California Department of Public Health Vital Records division. Riverside County cannot amend public marriage certificates. The state handles all amendments. Forms and fees are 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 fee is $26 which includes one amended copy.

Riverside County maintains records only for marriages where the license was purchased in Riverside County. If you married in another county, contact that county's recorder office. The California Department of Public Health has limited marriage records for certain years. For most requests, the county where you bought the license is your fastest source.

VitalChek provides online ordering for Riverside County marriage certificates. The service charges additional handling fees beyond the county's $19 certificate fee. Processing through VitalChek may be faster than mail orders but slower than in-person requests. Visit vitalchek.com and select Riverside County to place an order.

Moreno Valley and Riverside County Cities

Moreno Valley grew rapidly starting in the 1980s as housing developments attracted families from Los Angeles and Orange counties. The city incorporated in 1984. Most residents commute to jobs in other parts of the region. Despite being a large modern city, Moreno Valley does not operate independent vital records services. State law assigns marriage functions to counties.

Other Riverside County cities include Riverside, Corona, Murrieta, Temecula, Jurupa Valley, Menifee, Hemet, and Indio. All these cities use the same Riverside County offices for marriage licenses and certificates. The process is identical regardless of which city you live in within the county.