Salinas Marriage Records

Salinas residents get marriage licenses through Monterey County. As the county seat, Salinas has the main County Clerk office located at 168 West Alisal Street. Couples must apply in person with valid identification. The county handles all marriage licenses and records for Salinas and the surrounding area. After the wedding ceremony, the signed license is returned to the county for recording. Public marriage certificates can be obtained by anyone, while confidential marriage records remain private between the married couple.

Monterey County Clerk Office

The Monterey County Clerk-Recorder office is right in Salinas at 168 West Alisal Street on the first floor. This makes it easy for Salinas residents to get their license without traveling far. Both people must appear in person with photo ID. Driver licenses, passports, or state ID cards all work. You cannot send someone else or apply by mail.

Call ahead at (831) 755-5041 to confirm hours and what you need to bring. Some counties ask for extra documents if you were married before. Knowing what to bring saves you a second trip. The office accepts cash, checks, and credit cards for payment. Make checks payable to Monterey County Clerk-Recorder.

Parking is available near the office in downtown Salinas. Bring all your documents and payment with you. If you have questions about what you need, call before you visit. Staff can tell you exactly what to bring based on your situation.

Getting Your Marriage License

You must be 18 years old to marry in California. California Family Code section 301 sets this age requirement. Minors under 18 need court permission and parental consent. This is uncommon and requires a judge to approve it in a hearing.

Monterey County offers both public and confidential marriage licenses. A public license becomes a public record after you marry. Anyone can look it up or request a copy later. A confidential license stays private. Only the two people who married can get copies. Confidential licenses require you to live together as a couple when you apply. This comes from California Family Code sections 500 to 511. You sign a statement saying you meet this requirement.

The license is good for 90 days from when you get it. You can use it anywhere in California during that time. If you do not marry within 90 days, it expires. There is no waiting period. You can marry the same day you get the license if you want. Most couples wait a few days or weeks to plan their ceremony, but you do not have to.

After your wedding, the officiant has 10 days to return the signed license to the county. This is required by California Family Code section 359. Once the county gets it back, they record your marriage in the official files. Then you can order a copy of your certificate.

California has no residency rule for marriage. You do not need to live in the state to marry here. People from other states or countries can come to Salinas to get married. The license works the same for everyone no matter where you live.

After You Get Married

Wait at least two weeks after your wedding before you request a certificate. The county needs time to enter the data into their 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 you a trip if it is not in the system.

You can get a copy in person at the county office in Salinas. Bring your ID and fill out a request form. Pay the fee and they give you the copy if your record is available. By mail takes longer. Send your request with payment to the office address. Allow a few weeks for them to process it and mail it back.

Online orders go through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. Choose California, then Monterey County. You pay extra service fees but it may be faster than mail. Expect 2 to 3 weeks for processing even with online orders.

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. Monterey County 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 uses like name changes or updating documents. Informational copies do not need a notary. They show the facts but do not have the seal. Most people need certified copies for official purposes.

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

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 falls 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 Monterey 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 saying you are married does not count under the law.

Anyone authorized by the state can 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 marry you. Ask the clerk office about that 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. These rules make California an easy place to get married.

Changing Your Name

You can change your name when you marry in California. Family Code section 306.5 lets you pick a new middle or last name on the license form. 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. After the county records your marriage, the certificate proves the name change. Use it to update your Social Security card, driver license, and passport. 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 combine names or make up a new one. The law is flexible. Just write what you want and the county records it that way.

Correcting Mistakes

If your certificate has wrong information, you can ask to fix it. Public marriage amendments go through the state health department. Confidential marriage amendments go through Monterey County. The process depends on what type of license you have.

Amendments in the first year are free. You just pay for a new copy. After one year, there is a $26 fee plus the copy fee. See the state fee page for details. Processing takes 9 to 11 weeks. Plan ahead if you need it soon.

Bring proof that the record is wrong. IDs, birth certificates, or other documents help show the right information. The state or county reviews your request and decides if they will approve it. Not all changes are allowed. They will explain what counts as valid.

Monterey County Resources

Salinas is the county seat of Monterey County. All marriage licenses and certificates for Salinas residents go through the county system. For more details on procedures, fees, and services, visit the Monterey County marriage records page.

View Monterey County Marriage Records