Westminster Marriage Records

Westminster 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 Westminster 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. Westminster residents use these county facilities along with other residents throughout Orange County for all marriage-related services and document requests. The office provides both walk-in service and appointments for marriage license applications.

Orange County Clerk-Recorder

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.

Orange County charges $83 for a public 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. You can marry the same day.

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 after your marriage is registered. 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 but not required by law.

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 at all. 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 or databases. Employers, ex-spouses, family members, and the general public cannot request copies of your confidential marriage record. 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 on your marriage. The only difference is privacy and public accessibility.

Getting Certificates

The officiant returns your license to Orange County within 10 days. The county registers your marriage. Order certified copies for $19 each as of January 2026. Contact the county to order by mail or in person. For public marriage records, anyone can request copies. For confidential marriage records, only the married parties can request copies.

State Records

The California Department of Public Health keeps records for select years. State processing takes 5-7 weeks. Orange County is faster. Westminster residents typically use the county office for quicker results.

Nearby Cities

Westminster is in central Orange County. Garden Grove borders to the east. Huntington Beach is southwest. Santa Ana sits to the southeast. All use the same Orange County office.