Orange Marriage Records

Orange marriage records are maintained by Orange County Clerk-Recorder offices. Cities in California do not issue marriage licenses independently. All marriage licensing and vital records services for Orange residents are handled at the county level. Orange County operates the Clerk-Recorder office in Santa Ana where couples apply for marriage licenses and obtain certified copies of marriage certificates. Orange residents use these county facilities along with other residents throughout Orange County for all marriage-related services and document requests.

Orange County Clerk-Recorder Office

The Orange County Clerk-Recorder handles all marriage services. The office is at 601 North Ross Street in Santa Ana. The old County Courthouse at 211 West Santa Ana Blvd also provides services. Phone is (714) 834-2500. Visit the county website for hours. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Marriage licenses are now available through both walk-in service and by appointment. All customers must complete an online marriage application before visiting any of the offices. Appointments are highly recommended and can be scheduled online. Both parties must appear together in person per California Family Code section 359. Bring valid photo identification when you visit. Acceptable forms of ID include a California driver license, state ID card, passport, or military ID.

Orange County charges $83 for a public marriage license. A confidential license costs $95. Your license is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. You can use it anywhere in California. There are no citizenship or residency requirements. No blood tests are required. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. No waiting period exists under California law. You can marry the same day you receive your license.

Public and Confidential License Types

California offers two types of marriage licenses. Public marriage licenses become part of the public record once registered with the county. Anyone can request certified copies of public marriage certificates. These records are searchable by the general public. Public licenses require at least one witness to sign at the wedding ceremony. A second witness signature is optional.

Confidential marriage licenses stay private under California Family Code sections 500 through 511. Only the married parties can obtain copies of confidential marriage certificates unless a court orders otherwise. No witnesses are required at the ceremony for confidential marriages. These records are not open to public inspection. Employers, family members, and anyone else cannot request copies.

Confidential marriages became available in California in 1971 as an alternative to public licenses. Many couples choose this option for privacy reasons. Your marriage record will not appear in public searches. Only you and your spouse have access to the record. This protection lasts forever under California law. Both license types have the same legal effect. The only difference is privacy.

Obtaining Marriage Certificates

After your wedding, the person who performed your marriage ceremony must return the completed license to Orange County within 10 days. This is required under California law. The county registers your marriage and creates the official certificate. You must request certified copies separately. They are not provided automatically after the ceremony.

Certified copies cost $19 each as of January 2026. This fee increased by $2 under Assembly Bill 64 which took effect at the start of 2026. Contact Orange County to order copies by mail or in person. Visit in person for faster service. Mail requests take longer to process. For public marriage records, anyone can request copies. For confidential marriage records, only the married parties can request copies.

State Records Access

The California Department of Public Health keeps marriage records for select years. The state has public marriage records from 1905 to 2001 and from 2010 to the present. CDPH does not maintain confidential marriage records at all. State processing takes 5 to 7 weeks. Orange County provides much faster service.

Orange residents typically use the county office for quicker results. The county processes requests within days or weeks instead of months. Use the state office only if you cannot visit the county or need records from years when county records are not easily accessible.

Nearby Cities

Orange is in central Orange County. Anaheim is north. Santa Ana is east. Irvine sits south. Fullerton is northwest. All use the same county office.