Access Colusa County Marriage Records

Colusa County marriage records come from the Clerk-Recorder office in the city of Colusa. This is a small agricultural county in the Sacramento Valley with about 21,000 residents. You can apply for a marriage license at the county office or request certified copies of marriage certificates for marriages that occurred in Colusa County. Both public and confidential marriage licenses are available. Public records are open to anyone while confidential certificates are restricted to the married parties or court orders. The license you get from Colusa County works anywhere in California for 90 days. Both parties must appear in person together with valid photo ID. The office handles marriage licenses along with vital records and property recording services for the county. Services may be more limited than in larger counties due to small staff size so calling ahead is recommended.

Colusa County Clerk-Recorder Office

The Colusa County Clerk-Recorder office is at 546 Jay Street, Suite 200, in the city of Colusa. The phone number is 530-458-0500. Colusa is the county seat. This is where all marriage licenses are issued for Colusa County. If you were married in Colusa County, this is where you request certified copies of your marriage certificate.

Colusa County sits in the Sacramento Valley in northern California. The county has a population around 21,000. Agriculture dominates the local economy. The county seat of Colusa is a small town along the Sacramento River. Interstate 5 runs through the western part of the county. Highway 20 crosses east-west through Colusa. The area is rural with wide open farmland.

The Clerk-Recorder office handles marriage licenses, vital records, and property recording. The small population means fewer requests than urban counties. Wait times are usually minimal. However, limited staff means services may not be as extensive as larger county offices. Call ahead to confirm someone is available to help you with marriage record services. Office hours may vary so checking before you visit saves a wasted trip.

Payment methods likely include checks, money orders, and possibly credit or debit cards. Ask about accepted payment methods and any additional fees when you call. Some counties charge extra for credit card transactions. Bringing exact payment by check or money order can speed up the process and avoid card fees.

Applying for a Marriage License

Both parties must appear in person at the Clerk-Recorder office with valid photo identification. A driver license, passport, state ID card, or military ID is acceptable. Your ID must be current and show your photo, date of birth, and issue and expiration dates. California law requires both parties to appear together. You cannot complete the license application by mail or entirely online.

Colusa 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 certified copy of a public marriage certificate by paying the fee. A confidential license stays private. Only the two parties named on the certificate can obtain copies unless a court orders otherwise. You choose which type you want when you apply.

The marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued. You can use it to marry anywhere in California during that time. No waiting period exists in California. You can get married the same day you receive your license. No residency requirement applies. You do not need to live in Colusa County or California to get a license here. The license works throughout the state regardless of where you obtain it.

If you were married before, be ready to provide details about when and how that prior marriage ended. Some counties ask for documentation such as a divorce decree or death certificate. Call 530-458-0500 before you visit to ask what documents you need. This prevents a second trip if you are missing required paperwork. The staff can tell you exactly what to bring.

Civil ceremonies may be available through the county office. Ask about this option when you apply for your license. Some couples prefer to have a county official perform a simple ceremony. Others take the license and arrange their own ceremony with a private officiant. The person who performs your marriage must sign the license and return it to the county within 10 days after the ceremony.

Note: Call ahead to confirm office hours and availability before traveling to Colusa.

Marriage Certificate Copies

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

Public marriage certificates are available to anyone who requests them and pays the fee. You need to provide the names of both parties and the marriage date or approximate date. The staff will search the records and provide a certified copy if the record is found. Confidential marriage certificates are restricted under California law. Only the married parties can obtain copies. A court order is required for anyone else to access a confidential marriage record. This privacy protection is permanent.

In-person requests at the Colusa office typically receive faster service than mail requests. The small office size usually means quick service with little or no wait time. Bring identification and payment. The staff will search while you wait in most cases. Mail requests are also accepted for people who cannot visit in person. Send a written request with 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 Colusa County Clerk-Recorder. Mail to 546 Jay Street, Suite 200, Colusa, CA 95932. Allow several weeks for processing and mailing.

Vital Records Services

The Clerk-Recorder office manages all vital records for Colusa County including marriage certificates, birth certificates, and death certificates. The same staff handles all types of vital record requests. California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 limits who can obtain certified copies of vital records. This law was enacted to prevent identity theft and unauthorized access to personal information.

Authorized individuals include the person named on the record, immediate family members, legal representatives, and certain government officials. Anyone can request an informational copy but it cannot be used to establish identity. The informational copy is stamped showing its restricted use. If you need a marriage certificate for legal purposes like applying for a passport or changing your name, request an authorized certified copy. If you need it for family history research, an informational copy works.

Confidential marriage records have additional restrictions beyond the normal vital records rules. California Family Code sections 500 through 511 govern confidential marriages. These records are sealed from public view. Only the married parties can obtain copies without a court order. This privacy protection does not expire. It lasts for the life of the record.

State Vital Records Access

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 Colusa County marriage falls within the years held by the state, you can request from CDPH instead of the county. State processing takes 5 to 7 weeks compared to faster county service.

VitalChek offers online ordering for California vital records through a contract with the state. Service fees apply on top of the certificate fee. VitalChek processes your order and coordinates with the appropriate agency to fulfill it. This option is convenient if you cannot visit Colusa County in person. Processing takes longer than walking into the county office but may be faster than mailing a request directly to the county.

The state fee for a marriage certificate is $19 as of January 2026. This matches the county fee. Online orders through VitalChek include additional service fees. Check the VitalChek website for current total costs. The convenience of online ordering may be worth the extra fee if you live far from Colusa County or prefer not to mail a request.

Colusa County Geography

Colusa County covers agricultural land in the northern Sacramento Valley. The county has no cities with populations over 100,000. The city of Colusa is the largest community and county seat with about 6,000 residents. Williams is another town in the county. Most of the county consists of farmland growing rice, almonds, walnuts, and other crops. The Sacramento River forms the eastern boundary of the county.

Interstate 5 provides the main north-south route through the western part of the county. Highway 20 crosses east-west through the city of Colusa. Highway 45 runs north-south along the river. The area is flat valley land. Summers are hot and dry. Winters are mild and wet. The county is about 60 miles northwest of Sacramento and about 100 miles north of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Nearby Counties

Colusa County is surrounded by other northern California valley and foothill counties. Glenn County lies to the north. Tehama County borders to the northwest. Butte County is to the northeast. Sutter County borders to the east and south. Yolo County is to the south. Lake County borders to the west. 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 Colusa County and neighboring counties is relatively easy on valley highways. Interstate 5 provides fast access to counties to the north and south. Highway 20 connects to foothill counties to the east and coastal areas to the west. The Colusa County Clerk-Recorder office in the city of Colusa is the only place to obtain Colusa County marriage licenses. Call 530-458-0500 for current office hours and to confirm services before you visit.