Find Santa Clara County Marriage Records

Santa Clara County marriage licenses and certificates are handled by the County Clerk-Recorder office in San Jose at 70 West Hedding Street in the East Wing on the first floor. This office serves the entire county for all marriage services including license applications and certified copy requests. No appointment is necessary to apply for a marriage license in Santa Clara County. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo identification. The county offers both public and confidential marriage licenses following California state law. Santa Clara County also has a dedicated wedding chapel available for rent if you want to hold your ceremony at the clerk-recorder office. The office is open Monday through Friday with hours from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the main location. You can reach staff at (408) 299-5688 for questions about fees or requirements before you visit.

County Clerk-Recorder Office

The Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder office is in downtown San Jose. The address is 70 West Hedding Street, East Wing, 1st Floor. This is the main office for all marriage services in the county. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Some branch locations have different hours, typically 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Call ahead if you plan to visit a branch location.

Visit the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder website for detailed information on all services. The marriage license application page has step-by-step instructions. You can also review the fee schedule and download forms from the county website before you visit.

Getting a Marriage License

No appointment is needed to apply for a marriage license in Santa Clara County. Walk in during regular business hours. Both parties must come together. Bring valid photo ID such as a driver license, passport, state ID card, or military ID. The ID must show your photo, birth date, and issue and expiration dates.

If you do not have valid ID, you can use two credible witnesses instead. This option requires a $20 fee. The witnesses must know you and can verify your identity. This is an alternative if you lost your ID or cannot get one before your wedding date. Ask the clerk office about the witness process when you visit.

California does not require blood tests. There is no waiting period. Your license is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. You can marry anywhere in California during that time. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed license to Santa Clara County within 10 business days. The county will register the marriage and create the official certificate. You can usually purchase a marriage certificate 10 business days after the license is recorded.

Public and Confidential Licenses

Santa Clara County issues both public and confidential marriage licenses. A public license becomes part of the public record. Anyone can request a copy. You need at least one witness to sign the license at your ceremony. A second witness is optional. Public licenses are the most common choice in Santa Clara County.

A confidential license stays private under California law. Both parties must be 18 or older. You must be living together as spouses when you apply. No witnesses are required for the ceremony. Only the married couple can get copies unless a court orders otherwise. Confidential licenses follow California Family Code sections 500 to 511.

Both license types work anywhere in California. You can marry in any county with a Santa Clara County license. The ceremony location does not affect where you get your license. What matters is which county issues the license and which county registers it after the ceremony.

Marriage Ceremonies in Santa Clara County

You can choose any authorized person to perform your marriage ceremony. Priests, ministers, rabbis, and other religious officials can officiate. Judges and certain other officials also have authority under California Family Code Part 1. Santa Clara County has a wedding chapel for rent at the clerk-recorder office. This gives you a convenient place to hold your ceremony near where you get your license.

Ceremony costs in Santa Clara County vary. The estimated total cost ranges from $112 to $174 depending on the services you choose. This may include the chapel rental and other ceremony-related fees. Contact the clerk-recorder office at (408) 299-5688 for current ceremony pricing and availability. You need to schedule ceremonies in advance.

After your ceremony, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the county. The clerk-recorder office registers the marriage. This creates the official record. You can then order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Most people order at least one copy for their personal records and for legal purposes.

How to Get Marriage Certificates

You can request marriage certificate copies from Santa Clara County or from the state. The county offers faster service for marriages that occurred in Santa Clara County. Visit the clerk-recorder office in person or submit a mail request. You typically need to wait 10 business days after the license is recorded before you can purchase a certificate. This gives the county time to process and register the marriage.

The California Department of Public Health also has some Santa Clara County marriage records. CDPH keeps public marriage certificates from 1905 to 2001 and from 2010 to present. The state does not maintain confidential marriage records. State processing averages 5 to 7 weeks. The state fee is $19 per certified copy as of January 2026.

For marriages in Santa Clara County, contact the local clerk-recorder first. They have the original records. County processing is faster than the state. You need the names of both spouses and the approximate marriage date to request copies. Check the Santa Clara County fee schedule for current copy fees before you order.

Marriage Fees in Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County charges fees for marriage licenses and ceremonies. The estimated total cost for a marriage license ranges from $80 to $100. This covers the license itself and related processing. Ceremony costs are separate. The estimated total for a county-performed ceremony ranges from $112 to $174. These are estimates and actual fees may vary.

If you need credible witnesses because you lack valid ID, that adds a $20 fee. Certified copies of your marriage certificate have their own fees. The state charges $19 per certified copy as of January 2026 under Assembly Bill 64. County copy fees may match or differ from the state rate.

Check the current fee schedule on the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder website or call (408) 299-5688 before you visit. Make checks or money orders payable to Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder. All payments must be drawn on a U.S. bank. All fees are non-refundable even if a record is not found.

Cities in Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County is home to many Silicon Valley cities. Several have populations over 100,000. These include San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and Mountain View. All residents of these cities get marriage licenses through the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder office in San Jose. No city offices issue marriage licenses.

Nearby California Counties

Santa Clara County is in the South Bay area of the San Francisco Bay region. If your marriage occurred in a different county, contact that county's clerk office. Neighboring counties include:

• San Mateo County to the north
• Alameda County to the northeast
• Stanislaus County to the east
• Merced County to the southeast
• San Benito County to the south
• Santa Cruz County to the southwest