Find Sacramento County Marriage Records

Sacramento County marriage records are handled by the County Clerk-Recorder office in downtown Sacramento. Couples can apply for marriage licenses online and then visit the office in person to complete the process. The office is at 600 8th Street and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Sacramento County maintains all marriage records for the county and provides certified copies of marriage certificates. Both public and confidential marriage licenses are available. The online application stays on file for 60 days, giving you time to schedule your visit.

Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder Office

The Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder office is at 600 8th Street in downtown Sacramento. This is where you go to apply for a marriage license or to get copies of marriage certificates. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can reach staff by phone at (916) 874-5521 to ask questions about requirements, fees, and procedures.

Sacramento County offers an online application for marriage licenses. You can fill out the application from home, and it stays on file for 60 days. After you submit the online application, both parties must visit the office in person with valid photo IDs to complete the process and pick up the license. This system saves time when you arrive at the office.

The office website at https://ccr.saccounty.gov/ has information about all services. You can find details about marriage licenses, vital records, fees, and forms. The website also has pages about civil ceremonies if you want to have your wedding at the county office.

How to Apply for a Marriage License

Start by filling out the online application on the Sacramento County website. The application asks for basic information about both parties. After you submit it, the application stays on file for 60 days. This gives you time to schedule your visit to the office. Both parties must appear in person at the same time to complete the application and pick up the license.

Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. A driver's license, passport, state ID card, or military ID will work. The ID must show your date of birth and have an issue date and expiration date. If you were married before, be ready to tell staff when your last marriage ended and how it ended. Death, divorce, dissolution, and nullity are the usual ways a marriage ends.

There is no blood test required in California. There is no waiting period, so you can use your license right away. The license is good for 90 days from the date it is issued. You must have your marriage ceremony within that 90-day period. After the ceremony, the person who performs the marriage must return the license to Sacramento County within 10 days. This is a legal requirement under California law.

Sacramento County offers both public and confidential marriage licenses. A public license becomes part of the public record. Anyone can request a copy later. A confidential license is kept private, and only the two people who got married can get copies. To get a confidential license, you must state that you are living together as spouses at the time you apply.

Civil Ceremonies in Sacramento County

Sacramento County offers civil ceremonies at the Clerk-Recorder office. A staff member can perform your marriage ceremony for you. This is a simple and quick option if you do not want a large wedding or if you want to get married right away after you pick up your license.

There is a fee for civil ceremonies. You should call (916) 874-5521 to ask about the current cost and to schedule a ceremony. Some offices require appointments for civil ceremonies, while others offer walk-in services. The ceremony is short and takes just a few minutes. You can bring guests if you want, but check with the office about how many people are allowed.

After the ceremony, the staff member who performed the marriage will handle returning the license to the county records. You do not need to worry about mailing it back. You can request certified copies of your marriage certificate right away or come back later to get them.

Getting Copies of Marriage Certificates

After your marriage ceremony takes place and the officiant returns the license to the county, Sacramento County processes it and files it as a marriage certificate. You do not get a copy automatically. You must request one and pay for it. Each certified copy costs $19 as of 2026. This fee went up by $2 due to Assembly Bill 64, a statewide law that applies to all counties in California.

You can request a certified copy in person at the Clerk-Recorder office at 600 8th Street in Sacramento. Bring your photo ID and be ready to provide details like the date of the marriage and the names of both parties. The office may ask about your relationship to the people on the certificate if you are requesting someone else's record.

For public marriage certificates, anyone can request a copy. For confidential marriage certificates, only the two people who got married can request copies. This is set by California law to protect the privacy of those who choose confidential licenses.

The vital records page on the county website has information about requesting different types of certificates. You can find out what information you need to provide and how long it takes to get a copy. Some people choose to request copies by mail if they cannot visit in person.

Sacramento County Marriage Fees

The cost of a marriage license varies by county in California. You should call the Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder office at (916) 874-5521 or check the fees page on the county website to get the current price for a public or confidential marriage license. Most counties charge between $60 and $100 for a license.

The fee for a certified copy of a marriage certificate is $19 per copy. This is the state-mandated fee as of January 1, 2026. If the office searches for a record and cannot find it, they will issue a Certificate of No Public Record. The search fee is not refunded even if no record is found. This policy exists because staff still spend time searching for the record.

Payment methods include cash, checks, money orders, and credit or debit cards. Some offices charge an extra service fee for card payments. When paying by check or money order, make it payable to the Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder or as instructed by staff.

California Marriage Law Requirements

You must be at least 18 years old to marry in California. Both parties must be unmarried at the time they apply for a license. Marriage by proxy is not allowed in California except in very limited military situations described in California Family Code Section 420(b).

California law requires that both parties, the officiant, and any witnesses be physically present together in the same location for the marriage ceremony. This is stated in California Family Code Section 420(a). Remote or online ceremonies are not valid under California law unless they fall under the narrow military exception.

The person who performs the marriage must be authorized to solemnize marriages in California. This includes judges, religious leaders, and certain other individuals listed in California Family Code Section 400. The officiant must sign the marriage license and return it to Sacramento County within 10 days of the ceremony.

Witnesses are required for public marriage licenses. At least one witness must sign the license, and there is space for a second witness. No more than two witnesses may sign a public license. Confidential marriage licenses do not require witnesses.

Correcting Marriage Certificate Information

If you need to change information on your marriage certificate after it is filed, you can request an amendment. The process depends on how long ago the marriage took place. For amendments within one year of the marriage, there is no fee for the amendment itself, but you still pay $19 for each certified copy of the amended certificate.

For amendments after one year, the fee is $26. This includes one certified copy of the amended certificate. Extra copies cost $19 each. Amendment processing can take time. The California Department of Public Health notes that amendment requests typically take 9 to 11 weeks to process at the state level. County processing times may differ.

To start an amendment, contact the Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder office or the California Department of Public Health. You will need to provide documentation that supports the change you are requesting. Common reasons for amendments include correcting spelling errors, updating names, or fixing other inaccuracies.

State-Level Marriage Record Resources

The California Department of Public Health Vital Records office in Sacramento keeps copies of all marriage records for the state. If you cannot get a record from Sacramento County, you can try the state office. The state office charges the same $19 fee for certified copies.

Processing at the state level takes longer. The average time is 5 to 7 weeks, and it can be longer if there are problems with your request. The state office recommends going to the county where the marriage took place whenever possible because it is faster.

The marriage license general information page on the state website has helpful answers to common questions about requirements and procedures.

Sacramento County Cities

Sacramento County includes several cities with populations over 100,000. Residents of these cities get their marriage licenses and certificates from the County Clerk-Recorder office in Sacramento.

• Sacramento
• Elk Grove
• Citrus Heights

Nearby Counties

Sacramento County is located in the Central Valley of Northern California. If you need records from nearby areas, these counties are close to Sacramento County.

• Placer County - north of Sacramento County
• El Dorado County - east of Sacramento County
• Yolo County - west of Sacramento County
• San Joaquin County - south of Sacramento County