Santa Ana Marriage Records

Santa Ana marriage records are kept by Orange County since Santa Ana sits in Orange County. All licenses are filed at the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Office, which has its main site right here in Santa Ana at 601 North Ross Street. You can get a license, hold a civil ceremony, and request copies of marriage certificates at this Santa Ana office. Orange County keeps public marriage records and confidential marriage records according to state law. Both license types follow the same state rules but have different privacy protections for the people who marry.

Where to Get Marriage Licenses in Santa Ana

Santa Ana residents get marriage licenses at the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Office. The main office is in downtown Santa Ana. Both people must appear in person and show valid photo ID. You must fill out an online marriage application before you visit the office. Appointments are highly recommended and can be scheduled online through the county website.

The clerk office is at 601 North Ross Street in Santa Ana. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The office serves all Orange County residents and anyone who wants to marry in California. You do not need to live in Orange County to get a license here. Parking is available near the office in downtown Santa Ana.

There is another historic office at the Old County Courthouse at 211 West Santa Ana Blvd. Check with the main office to see what services are available at that site. All marriage licenses issued in Orange County are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. You can use the license anywhere in California within that time frame.

Marriage License Application Process

All customers must complete an online marriage application before visiting the Santa Ana office. You can find the application on the Orange County marriage services page. After you submit the form online, you schedule a time to visit the clerk office in Santa Ana with your future spouse. Both of you must show up together at the scheduled time.

Bring a valid photo ID with you. This can be a state ID card, driver license, passport, or military ID. The ID must have your photo, date of birth, and issue and expiration dates. Some counties ask for a birth certificate too, so check with the clerk office if you are not sure. If you were married before, you need to know the exact date your last marriage ended and how it ended. The clerk may ask for a copy of your final divorce decree or death certificate depending on how the prior marriage ended.

There are no citizenship or residency requirements to marry in California. You do not need to live in Santa Ana or even in California to get a license here. Blood tests are not required. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. If you are younger than 18, California law requires court approval and parental consent, but this is rare.

A marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. There is no waiting period. You can use the license immediately after you get it. The person who performs your ceremony must return the original license to the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Office within 10 days of the ceremony date. After the office records your marriage, you can request certified copies of your marriage certificate.

Public and Confidential Marriage Licenses

California offers two types of marriage licenses. A public marriage license is the standard option. It becomes a public record once the county recorder registers it. Anyone can request a certified copy of a public marriage certificate. A confidential marriage license is private. Only the two people who married can get copies of a confidential marriage certificate, unless a court orders the release.

Public licenses require at least one witness at the ceremony. You can have up to two witnesses sign the license. Confidential licenses do not require witnesses. To get a confidential license in Santa Ana, both parties must be at least 18 years old and living together as spouses when they apply. You must sign an affidavit stating that you live together.

Both license types cost about the same. Check the Orange County fee schedule for current rates. Both types are valid for 90 days and can be used anywhere in California. The main difference is privacy. If you want your marriage to be private, choose a confidential license. If you do not care if your marriage is public, choose a public license.

Civil Ceremonies in Santa Ana

The Orange County Clerk-Recorder Office in Santa Ana can perform civil marriage ceremonies. You need an appointment. You can schedule a ceremony at the same time you get your license or come back another day. The ceremony is short and simple. The fee for a civil ceremony is listed on the county fee schedule.

If you prefer, you can have a religious or private ceremony anywhere in California. The person who performs the ceremony must be authorized under California Family Code Section 400. This includes priests, ministers, rabbis, judges, court commissioners, and others. Even out-of-state ministers can perform marriages in California if they meet the requirements. You are not required to have a ceremony at the county office. You can take your license to any authorized person in the state.

After the ceremony, the officiant must complete the license and return it to the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Office within 10 days. The officiant usually handles this step. Once the office receives and records the license, your marriage is official. You can then request certified copies of your marriage certificate from the Orange County office in Santa Ana.

How to Get Marriage Certificate Copies

You do not automatically receive a copy of your marriage certificate after you marry. You must request and pay for certified copies. The fee for a certified copy is $19 per certificate as of January 2026. This fee went up by $2 due to Assembly Bill 64, which took effect on January 1, 2026.

You can get copies from the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Office in Santa Ana if you got your license there. Visit the office in person or send a request by mail. For in-person requests, bring valid photo ID and know the names of both spouses and the marriage date. You can also order copies through VitalChek online if you prefer. VitalChek charges additional service fees on top of the county fee.

Only authorized persons can get certified copies of public marriage records under California Health and Safety Code Section 103526. This includes the two people who married, their parents, children, grandparents, siblings, spouses, attorneys, and law enforcement. If you are not an authorized person, you can still get an informational copy. An informational copy is marked "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY." It cannot be used for legal purposes like changing your name on a driver license or passport.

Confidential marriage certificates are only available to the two people who married. If you need a copy of a confidential marriage certificate, you must show valid photo ID proving you are one of the spouses. The Orange County office will not release confidential marriage records to anyone else unless a court orders it.

Note: Allow at least 10 business days after your ceremony for the county to record your license before you request a certificate.

State Office vs County Office

California Department of Public Health Vital Records in Sacramento also keeps marriage records, but their collection has gaps. The state office has public marriage records from 1905 to 2001 and from 2010 to the present. They do not have records from 2002 to 2009 or before 1905. If your marriage falls in those gaps, you must get your certificate from the county.

The state office does not maintain confidential marriage records at all. Confidential marriage certificates are only available from the county clerk where the license was issued. For Santa Ana marriages, that means you must contact the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Office in Santa Ana.

Even if the state office has your record, the county office is usually faster. The state office takes 5 to 7 weeks to process mail requests. The Orange County office in Santa Ana can often provide copies the same day if you visit in person. For most Santa Ana residents, it makes more sense to use the county office rather than the state office.

Marriage Record Forms and Applications

You can find all marriage forms on the Orange County Clerk-Recorder website at www.ocrecorder.com/services/forms. The online marriage application is required before you visit the Santa Ana office. Complete the form at home to save time at your appointment.

If you need to amend your marriage record later, California Department of Public Health handles amendments for public marriage records. Use form VS 24 C, which you can download from the California Department of Public Health forms page. Confidential marriage records are amended through the county clerk office where the license was issued. Contact the Orange County office in Santa Ana for confidential marriage amendments.

California law allows you to change your middle or last name when you marry. You do not have to change your name, and both spouses do not need to have the same last name. If you want to change your name, enter the new name on your marriage license application. A certified copy of your marriage certificate with the new name serves as legal proof of the name change. This is covered under California Family Code Section 306.5, also known as the Name Equality Act provisions.

Orange County Marriage Records

Santa Ana is the county seat of Orange County. The Orange County Clerk-Recorder Office in Santa Ana serves all Orange County residents and anyone else who wants to marry in the county. For more details about Orange County marriage services, fees, office locations, and additional resources, visit the Orange County marriage records page.

View Orange County Marriage Records

Nearby Orange County Cities

Other large cities in Orange County also use the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Office in Santa Ana for marriage licenses and certificates. These cities include Anaheim, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, and many more. All Orange County residents go through the same office regardless of which city they live in.

Nearby cities with marriage record information:

• Anaheim
• Irvine
• Huntington Beach
• Garden Grove
• Orange