Del Norte County Marriage Records

Del Norte County marriage records are held at the County Clerk office in Crescent City. This is California's northernmost coastal county with about 27,000 residents. You can apply for a marriage license at the county office or request certified copies of marriage certificates for marriages that occurred in Del Norte 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 works anywhere in California for 90 days. Both parties must appear in person together with valid photo ID. The county seat of Crescent City is where all Del Norte County marriage licenses are issued. The office serves county residents and couples who want to marry in the scenic coastal and redwood area. Services may be more limited than larger urban counties so calling ahead is wise before you visit.

Del Norte County Clerk Office

The Del Norte County Clerk office is at 981 H Street, Suite 160, in Crescent City. The phone number is 707-464-7216. Crescent City is the county seat and the only incorporated city in Del Norte County. This is where all marriage licenses are issued for the county. If you were married in Del Norte County, this is where you request certified copies of your marriage certificate.

Del Norte County sits on the far northern California coast along the Oregon border. The county has a population around 27,000. Crescent City is the main population center. Highway 101 runs through the area along the coast. The county is known for redwood forests, coastal scenery, and Redwood National Park. The area is remote with limited services compared to urban California.

The County Clerk office handles marriage licenses, vital records, and other county clerk duties. The small population means fewer requests than urban county offices. Wait times are usually minimal. However, limited staff and the remote location mean services may not be as extensive as larger counties. Call ahead at 707-464-7216 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 to this remote area.

Weather in Del Norte County is cool and wet much of the year. Fog is common along the coast. Winters bring rain. Summers are mild but often foggy. Plan for cool weather if you visit regardless of season. The area's remote location means limited options for lodging and services. Plan ahead if you need to stay overnight or arrange a ceremony in the area.

Applying for a Marriage License

Both parties must appear in person at the County Clerk 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.

Del Norte 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. 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 staff can explain the differences if you have questions.

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 Del Norte 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 707-464-7216 before you visit to ask what documents you need. This prevents a wasted trip to this remote county if you are missing required paperwork. The drive to Crescent City from most California cities takes many hours so proper preparation is important.

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. This creates the official marriage record.

Note: Del Norte County is remote so plan your visit carefully and call ahead to confirm services.

Marriage Certificate Copies

The Del Norte County Clerk issues certified copies of marriage certificates for marriages that took place in Del Norte County. If you were married in another county, contact that county's 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 and does not expire.

In-person requests at the Crescent City 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. However, the remote location makes in-person visits impractical for most people. Mail requests are common for Del Norte County.

Send a written request with full names of both parties, the marriage date or approximate date, and your contact information. Include payment for the certificate fee. Make checks or money orders payable to Del Norte County Clerk. Mail to 981 H Street, Suite 160, Crescent City, CA 95531. Processing time for mail requests depends on workload. Allow several weeks for the office to receive your request, search records, prepare the certificate, and mail it back to you. Add extra time for mail delivery to and from this remote location.

Vital Records Services

The County Clerk office manages all vital records for Del Norte County including marriage certificates, birth certificates, and death certificates. The same small 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 protect 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 or genealogy, an informational copy works fine.

Confidential marriage records have additional restrictions beyond 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 lasts for the life of the record. It does not expire after a certain number of years.

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 Del Norte 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 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 Del Norte County in person. Given the county's remote location, online or mail ordering makes sense for most people. Processing takes longer than walking into an office but Del Norte County is too far for most California residents to visit just for a marriage record.

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 may be worth the extra fee given Del Norte County's remote location in far northern California.

Del Norte County Geography

Del Norte County covers coastal land and mountains in the extreme northwest corner of California. The county borders Oregon to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Crescent City is the county seat and only incorporated city. The population is about 27,000 spread over 1,000 square miles. Most of the county consists of forest land including parts of Redwood National Park and Six Rivers National Forest.

Highway 101 is the main route through Del Norte County. This is the only major highway. The area is about 80 miles north of Eureka and about 350 miles north of San Francisco. Travel times are long due to the winding coastal highway. The nearest major airport is in Medford, Oregon, about 100 miles to the northeast. Crescent City has a small airport with limited service.

The economy centers on timber, fishing, and tourism related to the redwood parks. Pelican Bay State Prison is a major employer. The area has cool wet winters and mild foggy summers. The remote location and small population mean limited services and businesses. Plan ahead if you need to visit Del Norte County for any reason.

Nearby Counties

Del Norte County borders only two other California counties due to its location in the far northwest corner of the state. Humboldt County is to the south. Siskiyou County borders to the east. Oregon's Curry County and Josephine County lie to the north. Each California county maintains its own marriage records through its County Clerk or Clerk-Recorder office. If you were married in a neighboring county, contact that county for your marriage certificate.

Travel between Del Norte County and other California counties takes considerable time. Highway 101 is the main route south to Humboldt County. Highway 199 connects to Siskiyou County and continues into Oregon. Roads are winding and can be slow. Winter weather can make travel difficult with snow in the mountains and storms on the coast. Plan for long drive times if you need to visit multiple county offices in this region. The Del Norte County Clerk office in Crescent City is the only place to obtain Del Norte County marriage licenses. Call 707-464-7216 for current information before making the long trip to this remote area.