Los Angeles County Marriage Records
Marriage records in Los Angeles County are handled by the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk office at seven branch locations. Los Angeles is the most populous county in California with over 10 million residents. Both public and confidential marriage licenses are available at any of the seven offices. You must complete an online application before visiting in person. The county offers express marriage ceremonies by appointment at all locations. Los Angeles County has marriage records available from the 19th century through the present with some gaps handled by the state vital records office in Sacramento.
Los Angeles County Quick Facts
Registrar-Recorder County Clerk Offices
The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk operates seven offices that handle marriage licenses and certificates. The main office is in Norwalk. Six district offices serve different parts of the county. All seven locations offer marriage license services and express ceremonies by appointment. You can apply for a license at any of the seven offices no matter where you live in Los Angeles County or California.
Visit the LA County RR/CC website to start your online application. This form stays on file for 90 days. Both parties must appear together at one of the offices to complete the process and pay the fee. Bring valid photo ID such as a driver license or passport. If your previous marriage ended within two years, bring a copy of your divorce decree. Some offices may ask for other documents based on your situation in Los Angeles County.
| Norwalk Office |
12400 Imperial Highway Norwalk, CA 90650 Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday–Friday Phone: (562) 462-2137 or (800) 201-8999 |
|---|---|
| Beverly Hills Office |
Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Monday–Friday Phone: (800) 201-8999 |
| Compton Office |
Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Monday–Friday Phone: (800) 201-8999 |
| Lancaster Office |
Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Monday–Friday Phone: (800) 201-8999 |
| Van Nuys Office |
Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM Monday–Friday Phone: (800) 201-8999 |
| Pomona Office |
Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Monday–Friday Phone: (800) 201-8999 |
| Alhambra Office |
Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Monday–Friday Phone: (800) 201-8999 |
Only the Norwalk office has marriage records available for in-person viewing. The other six locations handle license applications and ceremonies but do not have the historic records database on site. If you need to search old records or view marriage certificates from past decades, you must visit the Norwalk location in Los Angeles County.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
Los Angeles County requires an online application before you visit an office. Go to the license application page and fill out the form. Both parties provide their information online. The application stays on file for 90 days. You have to complete the process in person within that time. Once you finish online, schedule a visit to any of the seven offices in Los Angeles County.
At the office, both people must appear together. Staff will verify the information from your online form. You will sign the application. Bring your photo ID. California driver license, passport, state ID card, or military ID all work. The ID must show your photo, date of birth, and issue and expiration dates. If you were married before, be ready to state when and how that marriage ended. Staff may ask for proof if the divorce or death happened recently in Los Angeles County.
Processing time is about one hour at the window if you arrive early. For same-day service, arrive by 3:00 PM at the Norwalk office or 3:30 PM at the district offices. Applications submitted after these times are picked up the next business day. Your license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued. There is no waiting period in California so you can marry the same day you get your license in Los Angeles County.
Choose between a public marriage license or a confidential marriage license. Public licenses require one witness at the ceremony. The county clerk can provide a witness for a $20 fee. Confidential licenses do not need witnesses. For confidential marriages, both parties must be at least 18 years old and must be living together as spouses at the time of application. Public marriage records are open to anyone. Confidential records are only available to the married parties or by court order in Los Angeles County.
Marriage Fees in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County sets its own fees for marriage licenses and services. The fees are higher than in some other California counties but include access to all seven office locations and the express ceremony option. You can pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card at the offices. Online orders of marriage certificates accept credit cards through the county portal or VitalChek in Los Angeles County.
Current fees for marriage services are as follows. A public marriage license costs $91. A confidential marriage license costs $85. Other denominations without clergy pay $90. The express civil ceremony fee is $25. If you need the county to provide a witness for your public marriage, that costs $20. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $19 as of January 2026 under Assembly Bill 64 which raised the fee by $2 in Los Angeles County.
Los Angeles County residents directly impacted by wildfires can request vital records including marriage certificates at no cost. This waiver supports recovery efforts after the declared state of emergency. Contact the Registrar-Recorder office to confirm eligibility and submit your request if you lost vital records due to fire in Los Angeles County.
Express Marriage Ceremonies
All seven offices in Los Angeles County offer express marriage ceremonies by appointment. The appointment time is set for 45 minutes. This includes both the license application and the ceremony. The county clerk officiates the ceremony in a small room at the office. You can bring guests but space is limited. Most offices allow a few family members or friends to attend in Los Angeles County.
View ceremony information on the county website to see how the process works. Book your appointment online when you fill out your marriage license application. The express ceremony costs $25 in addition to your license fee. This is a fast and affordable option for couples who want a simple civil ceremony without a large event in Los Angeles County.
For public marriages, you need one witness. The witness can be a guest you bring or you can pay $20 for the county to provide a witness. Confidential marriages do not require witnesses. After the ceremony, the officiant completes the license and files it with the county recorder. You can request certified copies of your marriage certificate within a few days once the record is registered in Los Angeles County.
Obtaining Marriage Certificates
After your ceremony, the officiant returns the completed license to the county clerk or recorder within 10 days. This is required under California law. Once the record is filed and registered, you can order certified copies. Los Angeles County offers several ways to get copies of marriage certificates. You can visit in person, order by mail, or use the online portal for faster service in Los Angeles County.
In-person requests are processed while you wait at the Norwalk office if the record is on file. The other six offices may have limited access to historic records. Call ahead if you need an older certificate from a marriage that took place years ago. Mail requests take longer. Send a completed application form with payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing time for mail orders is typically two to four weeks in Los Angeles County.
Online ordering is the fastest remote option. Visit the RR/CC website to order through the county portal or use VitalChek for expedited delivery. VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the certificate cost but offers faster shipping. You can get your certificate in a few business days with express shipping. The base fee for a certified marriage certificate is $19 as of January 2026 in Los Angeles County.
Only authorized persons can request certified copies of public marriage records. Under California Health and Safety Code section 103526, you must be a party to the marriage, an immediate family member, or have a legal interest. Informational copies are available to anyone but cannot be used for legal purposes. Confidential marriage certificates are only issued to the married parties or by court order in Los Angeles County.
Special Procedures for Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County has some unique policies due to its size and volume of marriage records. The California Department of Public Health no longer processes requests for marriages that took place in Los Angeles County during 1905 to 1948, 1987 to 1997, and 2000 to 2009. For these years, you must contact the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder directly. The state office will not handle these requests even though they fall within their normal date range for other California counties.
County staff cannot answer questions of a legal nature. This policy is stated on the license application. The clerk office cannot advise you on name changes, how to fill out forms for legal purposes, or interpret family law. Consult an attorney if you need legal advice about marriage or name changes in Los Angeles County. The clerk staff can only provide procedural information about how to apply for licenses or order certificates in Los Angeles County.
All documents submitted must be in English. If your birth certificate, divorce decree, or other documents are in another language, you must provide a certified translation. The translation must be notarized and attached to the original document. This applies to all seven office locations in Los Angeles County.
Common Questions About Marriage Records
Many people ask where they can view marriage records in Los Angeles County. Only the Norwalk office has records available for in-person viewing. This is the main office and archive location. The district offices handle current transactions but do not have the full historic database on site. Plan to visit Norwalk if you need to search for an old record or view original documents in Los Angeles County.
Another common question is how soon you can get a marriage certificate after the ceremony. The officiant must return the completed license within 10 days. Most officiants file it within a few days. Once the county records the marriage, you can request certified copies. This usually happens within one to two weeks of the ceremony. Check the FAQs page for more details about timing and procedures in Los Angeles County.
People also ask about the difference between public and confidential marriage licenses. Both types are legally valid. The main difference is privacy. Public marriage records become part of the public record once filed. Anyone can search for them and request copies. Confidential records are not public. Only the married parties can get copies unless a court orders release. If privacy is important to you, choose a confidential license. If you do not care who can see your record, a public license costs a bit more but works the same way in Los Angeles County.
Major Cities in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County includes the city of Los Angeles plus dozens of other incorporated cities. All residents use the same county clerk system for marriage licenses and certificates. You can visit any of the seven branch offices regardless of which city you live in within Los Angeles County.
Other major cities in Los Angeles County include Santa Clarita, Inglewood, Downey, Norwalk, Burbank, Compton, South Gate, El Monte, Alhambra, Carson, West Covina, and Hawthorne among many others. All of these cities use the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk for marriage records.
Nearby Counties
Los Angeles County borders several other California counties. If you are not sure which county issued your marriage license, check the address on your paperwork or contact the county clerk where the ceremony took place. Each county maintains its own marriage records.