Fresno County Marriage Licenses and Certificates
Fresno County marriage records include all licenses and certificates issued by the County Clerk office. The office sits in downtown Fresno at 2281 Tulare Street. Both public and confidential marriage licenses are available to couples in Fresno County. No residency requirement exists for people who want to marry in California. Your license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. You can use it anywhere in the state. Fresno County serves over one million residents across the San Joaquin Valley. The clerk office handles marriage applications Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Civil ceremonies are available by appointment for couples who need an officiant in Fresno County.
Fresno County Quick Facts
County Clerk Office in Fresno
The Fresno County Clerk office handles marriage licenses and vital records. Located at 2281 Tulare Street in Room 302, the office serves walk-in customers during business hours. Both parties must appear together in person to apply for a marriage license. Staff can help you complete the application and answer questions about requirements in Fresno County.
Visit the Fresno County Clerk website for forms and information. The site provides details about required documents and current fees. An online pre-application may be available to save time when you visit. Check the website before you go to the Fresno County office.
The clerk office also maintains vital records including birth and death certificates. For marriage records, the office can provide certified copies of certificates on file. Call ahead if you have questions about document availability in Fresno County.
| Address |
2281 Tulare Street, Room 302 Fresno, CA 93721 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (559) 600-3470 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Website | co.fresno.ca.us/departments/county-clerk-registrar-of-voters |
Marriage License Application Process
Both parties must visit the Fresno County clerk office together. Bring valid photo ID such as a driver license, passport, or state ID card. Your ID must show your photo, date of birth, and issue and expiration dates. If you were married before, you need to know when and how that marriage ended. Some staff may ask for a copy of your divorce decree or death certificate in Fresno County.
No blood test is required in California. No waiting period applies after you get your license. You can marry the same day in Fresno County. The license remains valid for 90 days. After that time, it expires and you must apply again.
Choose between a public marriage license or a confidential marriage license. Public licenses require at least one witness at your ceremony. These records become public and anyone can request copies. Confidential licenses require no witnesses. Both parties must be 18 or older and living together as spouses. Only the married parties can get copies of confidential marriage records in Fresno County.
Check the Fresno County marriage page for detailed instructions. The page explains what documents to bring and how to complete the application. Online pre-applications may speed up your visit to the Fresno County office.
Fees for Marriage Services
Marriage license fees in Fresno County vary by license type. Public and confidential licenses have different costs. Call (559) 600-3470 to confirm current fees before you visit. Payment methods include cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards at the Fresno County clerk office.
Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $19 as of January 2026. This fee increased from $17 under Assembly Bill 64. The new rate applies throughout California. Additional copies ordered at the same time may cost less per copy in Fresno County.
Civil ceremony fees apply if you want the clerk to perform your marriage. Ask about ceremony availability and costs when you apply for your license. Appointments are required for ceremonies at the Fresno County clerk office.
The California Department of Public Health fee schedule shows state-level charges. County fees may differ. Always verify exact amounts with Fresno County before you visit or mail payment.
After the Marriage Ceremony in Fresno County
Your officiant must return the completed license to Fresno County within 10 days of your ceremony. This is required by California law. The officiant completes the ceremony information and gathers required signatures. For public marriages, one witness must sign. No witnesses are needed for confidential marriages.
Do not alter your marriage license after Fresno County issues it. Do not cross out errors or use correction fluid. Any changes void the license. You would need to pay for and get a new license if this happens. Write carefully when you fill out forms at the clerk office in Fresno County.
Once the county registers your marriage, you can order certified copies. You need these copies to change your name on official documents. Driver licenses, Social Security cards, passports, and bank accounts all require certified marriage certificates. Order multiple copies if you plan name changes in Fresno County.
Obtaining Certified Copies of Marriage Certificates
Contact the Fresno County Clerk office to request marriage certificate copies. Visit in person at 2281 Tulare Street for same-day service. Bring valid photo ID if you are a party to the marriage. For public marriage records, anyone can request copies in Fresno County. Confidential marriage certificates are only available to the married parties.
You can request copies by mail. Write to Fresno County Clerk, 2281 Tulare Street, Room 302, Fresno, CA 93721. Include both names, the marriage date, and your contact information. Enclose $19 per copy. Mail requests take one to two weeks to process in Fresno County.
The Fresno County vital records page provides information about ordering certificates. Online ordering through third-party vendors may be available. These services charge extra fees for processing and shipping. In-person visits cost less and provide faster service in Fresno County.
For old marriage records in Fresno County, the local office is your best source. The state only maintains certain years. Counties keep complete records for all marriages performed in their jurisdiction. Call (559) 600-3470 if you need help finding historical marriage records in Fresno County.
Marriage Laws and Requirements
California Family Code Part 1 governs marriage in all counties including Fresno County. Both parties must consent to the marriage. You must obtain a valid license before the ceremony. An authorized officiant must perform the marriage. The license becomes a certificate when Fresno County registers it after the ceremony.
You cannot marry if you are already married to someone else in California. Your previous marriage must end by death, divorce, or annulment before you can remarry. This applies in Fresno County as in all California counties. Marriage by proxy is not allowed except for military members deployed overseas under specific conditions.
Either spouse can change their middle or last name through marriage without a separate court petition. California Family Code section 306.5 allows name changes through marriage. Your marriage certificate is proof of the name change. Use certified copies to update your legal documents in Fresno County.
Cities in Fresno County
Fresno County includes several cities with populations over 100,000. All marriage licenses for these cities are handled by the Fresno County Clerk office in downtown Fresno. Major cities include:
Residents of these cities apply for marriage licenses at the county clerk office in Fresno. Each city does not maintain separate marriage records. All records are kept at the county level in Fresno County.
Nearby California Counties
Several counties border Fresno County. Each county maintains its own marriage records. If you need records from another county, contact that county clerk office directly. Nearby counties include:
Fresno County cannot provide marriage records from other California counties. You must contact the county where the marriage license was issued to get copies.