Riverside Marriage Records

Riverside marriage records go through Riverside County. The city is the county seat and has a main clerk office right in town. Couples apply for marriage licenses in person at the county office. Both people must show up with ID. After the wedding ceremony, the county records the license and you can order copies. Public marriages are open to anyone. Confidential marriages stay private between the married couple.

Riverside County Clerk Office

The Riverside County Clerk-Recorder office is at 2720 Gateway Drive in Riverside. This is the main office for the entire county. Riverside also has offices in Hemet, Murrieta, and Palm Desert if one of those is closer to you. All offices provide the same services. You can visit any one that works for your schedule.

Both people must appear in person with a photo ID. Driver licenses and passports work. If you have been married before, know when it ended. Some offices ask for proof like divorce papers. Call ahead at (951) 486-7000 to confirm what you need before you go. This saves a trip if you forget something.

The county accepts credit cards, checks, and money orders. Do not send cash by mail. Make checks payable to Riverside County Clerk-Recorder. You can start an application online at the county clerk services page before you visit. This speeds up the process when you get there.

Public and Confidential Licenses

Riverside County offers two types of marriage licenses. A public license becomes a public record once you marry. Anyone can look it up or order a copy. This is the standard type. A confidential license stays private. Only the two people who married can get copies. No one else has access.

Confidential licenses require you to live together as a couple when you apply. This rule comes from California Family Code sections 500 to 511. You must sign a statement saying you meet this requirement. If you do not live together, you cannot get a confidential license.

Both types of licenses are valid for 90 days from the date you get them. You can use them anywhere in California. After 90 days, they expire. There is no waiting period. You can marry the same day you get the license if you want. Most people wait a bit to plan the ceremony, but you do not have to.

Your officiant has 10 days to return the signed license to the county after the wedding. This is required under California Family Code section 359. Once the county receives it, they record your marriage. Then you can order a certificate.

Who Can Get Married

You must be 18 years old to marry in California without permission. Family Code section 301 sets this rule. Minors under 18 need a court order and parental consent. This is not common and requires a hearing in front of a judge.

California has no residency requirement. You do not need to live in the state to marry here. People from other states and countries can come to Riverside to get married. The license works the same for everyone no matter where you are from. This makes California a popular place for weddings.

You cannot be married to someone else when you apply. If you were married before, that marriage must be over before you can get a new license. Tell the clerk when your last marriage ended. They may ask for proof with divorce papers or a death certificate if your spouse died.

Blood tests are not required in California. Some states ask for them, but this state does not. You just need your ID and the facts about your past marriages if any. That is all the county needs to give you a license.

Requesting Marriage Certificates

Wait about two weeks after your wedding to request a certificate. The county needs time to enter the data into the system. If you try too soon, they may not find your record yet. Call first if you are in a hurry to see if your record is ready. This saves a wasted trip.

You can get a copy in person at any Riverside County office. Take your ID and fill out a request form. Pay the fee and they give you the copy if your record is in the system. By mail takes longer. Send your request with payment to the office address. Allow a few weeks for processing and delivery.

Online orders go through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. Choose California, then Riverside County. You pay extra fees for the service but it may be faster than mail. Expect 2 to 3 weeks for processing even with online orders. The county site has info on vital records services if you want more details.

The fee is $19 per certificate as of January 2026. This went up by $2 due to AB 64. All California counties charge this amount. Riverside may add fees for rush service or same-day copies. Ask about extra charges when you order if you need it fast.

For a certified copy, you must sign your request in front of a notary. Certified copies have an official seal and work for legal purposes like name changes. Informational copies do not need a notary. They show the facts but do not have the seal. Most people need certified copies for things like updating licenses or filing taxes.

Note: Only the married couple can get confidential marriage certificates unless a court orders otherwise.

California State Records

The California Department of Public Health keeps some marriage records at the state level. They have public marriages from 1905 to 2001 and from 2010 forward. If your marriage is outside that range, go to the county. The state does not have confidential marriages. Those stay with the county clerk.

State copies take 5 to 7 weeks to process. County copies are much faster. Most people skip the state and get what they need from Riverside County. The state office is in Sacramento at P.O. Box 997410, CA 95899-7410. Their phone is (916) 445-2684 if you need to call them.

To order from the state, use form VS 113-A. Download it from the CDPH forms page. Fill it out and mail it with payment. Include a notarized sworn statement if you want a certified copy. Informational copies do not need the notary part.

Marriage Law in California

California law defines marriage as a civil contract between two people. See California Family Code section 300 for the full definition. You must get a license and have a ceremony to be legally married. Just living together or agreeing you are married does not count.

You can have anyone authorized by the state perform your ceremony. Clergy, judges, and some county workers can do it. The county clerk can appoint someone to be a deputy for a day if you want a friend or family member to perform the ceremony. Ask about this program when you get your license.

California does not require blood tests or a waiting period. Some states do, but not this one. You can get your license and marry right away. The state also has no residency rule. You do not have to live in California first. Tourists and people from out of state can get married here without any wait time.

Changing Your Name

You can change your name when you marry in California. Family Code section 306.5 allows you to pick a new middle or last name on the license application. You do not have to change your name if you do not want to. Neither person is required to take the other person's name.

Write the new name on the form when you apply for the license. After the county records your marriage, the certificate proves the name change. You can use it to update your Social Security card, driver license, passport, and other documents. No extra court order is needed if you do it when you marry.

Both people can change their names. One can change and the other can keep their name. You can also combine names or make up a new one together. The law is flexible. Just write what you want on the form and the county will record it that way.

Correcting Your Certificate

If there is a mistake on your certificate, you can ask to fix it. Public marriage amendments go through the state health department. Confidential marriage amendments go through Riverside County. The process depends on what type of license you have.

Amendments in the first year are free. You only pay for the new copy. After one year, there is a $26 fee plus the cost of the copy. See the state fee schedule for current prices. Processing takes 9 to 11 weeks for amendments. Do not count on getting it fast.

Common reasons to amend include wrong names, wrong dates, or missing information. You need proof that the information is wrong. Bring documents like IDs or other records that show the right information. The state or county reviews your request and decides if they will make the change.

Riverside County Resources

Riverside is the county seat of Riverside County. All marriage licenses and certificates for Riverside residents go through the county system. For more details on procedures, office locations throughout the county, and fees, visit the Riverside County marriage records page.

View Riverside County Marriage Records

Nearby Cities

Other cities in Riverside County also handle marriage records through the county system. Check these links for nearby locations:

• Moreno Valley
• Corona
• Murrieta
• Temecula