Search Amador County Marriage Records

Amador County keeps marriage records at the Clerk-Recorder office in Jackson. You can apply for a marriage license there or request certified copies of existing certificates. Public marriage records are available to anyone. Confidential marriage certificates are restricted to the married parties or those with a court order. The license you get from Amador County works anywhere in California for 90 days. Both parties must appear together with photo ID to apply. Civil ceremonies are available by appointment if you want to get married at the county office. The staff handles marriage licenses, vital records, and recording services at the Jackson courthouse.

Amador County Clerk-Recorder Office

The Amador County Clerk-Recorder office is located at 810 Court Street in Jackson. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The phone number is 209-223-6468. Jackson is the county seat and the place where all marriage licenses are issued for Amador County. If you got married in Amador County, this is where you request certified copies of your marriage certificate.

Jackson sits in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The town has a historic downtown and serves as the government center for Amador County. Highway 49 runs through Jackson connecting it to other Gold Country towns. Highway 88 provides access to the Lake Tahoe area. The county office is in the courthouse complex in downtown Jackson. Street parking is available nearby. The office handles marriage licenses, vital records, and real property recording.

Amador County is a smaller county with a population around 40,500 people. This means the Clerk-Recorder office is less busy than urban county offices. Wait times are usually short. Staff can often help you right away during normal business hours. The office serves both county residents and people who want to marry in the scenic foothill area.

Payment options include checks, money orders, and credit or debit cards. Some counties charge extra fees for card payments. Ask about accepted payment methods and any additional fees when you call or visit. Bringing exact payment in the form of a check or money order can speed up the process.

How to Apply for a Marriage License

Both parties must appear in person at the Clerk-Recorder office in Jackson. You cannot apply by mail or complete the entire process online. Bring valid photo identification. A driver license works. So does a passport, state ID card, or military ID. Your identification must be current and show your photo, birth date, and issue and expiration dates.

Amador County issues both public and confidential marriage licenses. A public license becomes a public record once the marriage is solemnized and the license is returned to the county recorder. Anyone can request a copy. A confidential license remains private. Only the married parties can get copies unless a court orders otherwise. You choose which type when you apply. The fee and process are similar for both types.

The license is good for 90 days from the issue date. You can marry anywhere in California during that period. There is no waiting period in California. You can get married the same day you receive your license. No residency requirement exists. You do not need to live in Amador County or California to get a license here. The license works statewide.

If you were married before, be ready to provide information about when and how that marriage ended. Some counties ask for proof such as a divorce decree or death certificate. Call the Clerk-Recorder office at 209-223-6468 before you visit to ask what documents you need to bring. This saves a second trip if you are missing required paperwork.

Civil ceremonies are available by appointment. The county can perform your marriage at the courthouse. This option is convenient if you want a simple ceremony without a private officiant. Ask about ceremony fees and availability when you apply for your license. Some couples prefer to have the county perform the ceremony right after getting the license. Others take the license and arrange their own ceremony elsewhere.

Note: Both parties must appear together with photo ID to complete the marriage license application.

Obtaining Marriage Certificate Copies

The Amador County Clerk-Recorder issues certified copies of marriage certificates for marriages that took place in Amador County. If you were married in a different county, contact that county's office. The certificate fee is $19 per copy as of January 2026. This fee increased by $2 under Assembly Bill 64 which took effect at the start of 2026. The increase applies statewide.

Public marriage certificates are open records. Anyone can request them by paying the fee. You need to provide the names of both parties and the marriage date or an approximate date. The Clerk-Recorder staff will search their records and provide a certified copy if the record is found. Confidential marriage certificates are different. Only the two people named on the certificate can request copies. A court order is required for anyone else to access a confidential record.

In-person requests at the Jackson office typically get faster service. Visit during morning hours for the quickest turnaround. The office is less busy then. Bring identification and exact payment if possible. The staff will search the records while you wait in most cases. This is faster than mailing a request and waiting weeks for a response.

Mail requests are also accepted. Send a written request with the full names of both parties, the marriage date, and your contact information. Include payment for the certificate fee. Make checks or money orders payable to Amador County Clerk-Recorder. Mail to 810 Court Street, Jackson, CA 95642. Processing time for mail requests varies based on workload. Allow several weeks for the office to search the records, prepare the certificate, and mail it to you.

The Amador County Clerk-Recorder forms page may have application forms you can download and complete before you visit or mail. Check their website for current forms and instructions. Having forms filled out in advance can speed up the process when you visit in person.

Marriage License Information and Fees

The marriage license page on the Amador County website has details about current requirements and procedures. The fee schedule shows costs for marriage licenses, certificate copies, and other Clerk-Recorder services. Fees can change so check the current schedule before you visit or mail a request.

California law sets the basic fee structure but counties can add their own fees for certain services. The state certificate fee is $19 as of January 2026. Marriage license fees vary by county. Ask about the total cost when you call or visit. This includes any county fees on top of the base state fee. Some counties charge extra for ceremonies, rush service, or other options.

Payment by credit or debit card may include a transaction fee. This fee covers the cost of card processing. Checks and money orders usually do not have extra fees. Bring your checkbook or get a money order before you visit if you want to avoid card fees. The office will tell you the exact amount when you apply for a license or request a certificate.

Vital Records Access

The vital records section of the Amador County Clerk-Recorder office handles marriage certificates along with birth and death certificates. All vital records for events that occurred in Amador County are kept at this office. The same staff and procedures apply to all types of vital records. Proof of identity and relationship may be required depending on the type of record you request and the privacy laws that protect it.

California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 limits who can obtain certified copies of vital records. This law was enacted to prevent identity theft. Authorized individuals include the person named on the record, immediate family members, legal representatives, and certain government officials. An informational copy is available to anyone but it cannot be used to establish identity. The copy is stamped with a restriction noting its limited use.

If you need a copy for legal purposes such as applying for a passport, changing your name, or proving your marital status, request an authorized certified copy. If you need the information for genealogy or personal research, an informational copy works. The fee is usually the same for both types. The difference is the stamp and the legal validity of the document.

State Vital Records Alternative

The California Department of Public Health Vital Records division maintains marriage records for certain years. CDPH has public marriage records from 1905 to 2001 and from 2010 to present. They do not keep confidential marriage records. If your Amador County marriage falls within the years held by the state, you can request a copy from CDPH instead of the county. Processing at the state level takes 5 to 7 weeks. County service is faster if you can visit Jackson in person.

VitalChek provides online ordering for California vital records. Service fees apply for online orders. VitalChek coordinates with the state or county to fulfill your order. This option is convenient if you live out of state. Processing times are longer than in-person visits but may be faster than mailing a request directly to the county.

Nearby Counties

Amador County is surrounded by other foothill and mountain counties. El Dorado County lies to the north. Sacramento County is northwest of Amador. San Joaquin County borders to the west. Calaveras County is to the south and east. Alpine County borders to the east. Each county maintains its own marriage records through its Clerk-Recorder office. If you were married in a neighboring county, contact that county for your marriage certificate.

Travel between Gold Country counties is scenic but can take time due to winding roads. Highway 49 connects most of the foothill counties. Highway 88 provides access to mountain areas. Plan for drive time if you need to visit multiple county offices. The Amador County Clerk-Recorder in Jackson is the only office that issues marriage licenses for Amador County marriages.