San Benito County Marriage Certificates and Licenses

San Benito County marriage records are managed by the County Clerk-Recorder-Elections office in Hollister. This office issues marriage licenses to couples who plan to marry anywhere in California. The office is at 440 Fifth Street, Room 206, in Hollister. You can reach staff by phone at (831) 636-4029 with questions about marriage licenses and certificates. Both parties must appear in person to apply for a license. You must be at least 18 years old to marry in California.

San Benito County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Office

The County Clerk-Recorder-Elections office in Hollister handles all marriage licenses and certificates for San Benito County. The office is at 440 Fifth Street, Room 206, Hollister, CA 95023. Call (831) 636-4029 during regular business hours to ask about requirements, fees, and procedures.

Staff at this office can help you with marriage license applications and requests for copies of marriage certificates. They follow California state law when issuing licenses and maintaining records. The office website at https://www.sanbenitocounty-ca-cre.gov/ has information about services offered by the Clerk-Recorder-Elections office.

When you visit the office to apply for a marriage license, both people who plan to marry must be there at the same time. Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, passport, or state ID card. If you have been married before, be ready to tell staff when your last marriage ended and how it ended.

Applying for a Marriage License in San Benito County

Both parties must visit the Clerk-Recorder-Elections office in Hollister at the same time to apply for a marriage license. You cannot send someone else to apply for you, and one person cannot apply alone. Each person needs a valid photo ID. The ID must show your date of birth and have an issue date and expiration date.

You must be at least 18 years old to get a marriage license in California. Emancipated minors are not exempt from this requirement. The marriage license may be obtained from any county in California, but you must file the license in the county where it was purchased. This means if you get your license in San Benito County, the officiant must return it to San Benito County after the ceremony.

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 San Benito County within 10 days.

If you were married before, you need to know the exact date your last marriage ended and how it ended. Death, divorce, dissolution, and nullity are the usual ways a marriage ends. Staff may ask you to provide proof, so bringing a copy of your final divorce decree or your former spouse's death certificate can help.

Public and Confidential Marriage Licenses

San Benito County offers both public and confidential marriage licenses. A public marriage license costs $75.00. A confidential marriage license costs $85.00. The price difference reflects the different handling requirements for each type of license.

A public license becomes part of the public record. Anyone can request a copy later. This is the most common type of license. It requires one witness to sign at the ceremony, and there is space for a second witness if you want.

A confidential license is kept private. Only the two people who got married can request copies. To get a confidential license, the couple must be living together as spouses at the time they apply for the marriage license. You must sign an affidavit stating this when you apply. Confidential licenses do not require witnesses at the ceremony.

Both types of licenses are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. You must have your marriage ceremony within that time frame. After the ceremony, the person who performs the marriage must return the license to San Benito County within 10 days. This is required by law.

Witness Requirements for Marriage Ceremonies

There is no age requirement in California for witnesses to a marriage ceremony. However, witnesses must be old enough to know that they are witnessing a marriage ceremony and must be able to sign their name. This means young children cannot serve as witnesses, but teenagers and adults can.

For public marriage licenses, at least one witness must sign the license. There is space for a second witness if you choose to have one. No more than two witnesses may sign a public license. Confidential marriage licenses do not require witnesses.

Only one officiant may sign the marriage license as the person who solemnized the marriage. If multiple people are involved in your ceremony, only one can sign the license as the officiant. The other people can participate in the ceremony, but only the authorized officiant signs the license.

Getting Copies of Marriage Certificates

After your marriage ceremony takes place and the officiant returns the license to the county, San Benito 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 January 1, 2026. This fee went up by $2 due to Assembly Bill 64.

You can request a certified copy in person at the Clerk-Recorder-Elections office in Hollister. 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 marriage information page on the county website has details about marriage services. You can learn about requirements, fees, and procedures for both licenses and certificates.

San Benito County Marriage Fees

San Benito County charges $75.00 for a public marriage license and $85.00 for a confidential marriage license. These fees are set by the county and may change, so call (831) 636-4029 to confirm current prices before you visit.

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.

Payment methods vary by office. Most Clerk-Recorder offices accept cash, checks, and money orders. Some offices also accept credit or debit cards, but there may be an extra service charge for card payments. When paying by check or money order, make it payable to the San Benito County Clerk-Recorder or as instructed by staff.

California Marriage 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 San Benito County within 10 days of the ceremony.

Amending Marriage Records

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.

To start an amendment, contact the San Benito County Clerk-Recorder-Elections 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 San Benito 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.

Nearby Counties

San Benito County is located in Central California. If you need records from nearby areas, these counties are close to San Benito County.

• Santa Clara County - north of San Benito County
• Santa Cruz County - west of San Benito County
• Monterey County - south of San Benito County
• Merced County - east of San Benito County