California - How to obtain a Marriage Certificate

Advertisement

Procedure

California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

Before you submit a request to the CDPH, determine whether the marriage or divorce record you want is available from CDPH Vital Records and if you can obtain an authorized copy or an informational copy.

CDPH Vital Records only accepts orders submitted by mail. Complete and send the application form along with a Notarized sworn statement (if applicable) and check or money order for the certified copy fee to:

California Department of Public Health

Vital Records - MS 5103

P.O. Box 997410

Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

If using a courier service that requires a physical address for delivery, please use the following address:

California Department of Public Health

Vital Records - MS 5103

1501 Capitol Avenue

Sacramento, CA 95814

Notes:

• Fill out a separate application for each record requested.
• Make sure that you have completed all items required on the application, and provide as much information as possible to help locate the record, otherwise your request may be returned to you for correction.
• Fees are payable to CDPH Vital Records via check or money order. International money orders for out-ofcountry requests should be payable in U.S. dollars. Fees are also nonrefundable per state law.
• If the CDPH cannot locate the record based on the information you provided, California Health and Safety Code authorizes CDPH to maintain the fee for the search itself, and a Certificate of No Public Record (CNPR) will be issued.
• You must have your sworn statement notarized if ordering an authorized copy. Having your sworn statement notarized is not necessary if you are ordering an informational copy. However, unless an informational copy is indicated on the application form, applications received without a notarized sworn statement will be returned to the sender.
• A certified copy fee must accompany all requests for copies of vital records.

Applying Online - VitalCheck

Go online and simply follow the steps to place an order. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service and all major credit cards are accepted.

Advertisement

Required Documents

For requests submitted to CDPH:

• Completed Application Form
• Notarized sworn statement (if applicable)

Office Locations & Contacts

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Vital Records does not currently have a public counter. However, you may contact them by mail:

California Department of Public Health
Vital Records MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

Customer Service:
Office Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:00am to 4:00 pm (Pacific Standard Time)
Phone: (916) 445-2684
Email: [email protected]

County Recorder Offices
CDPH Website

Certificates may also be obtained from your local county office. Use the contact information below to inquire.

Alameda County : 1106 Madison St; Rm 101 Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: 510-272-6362

Alpine County : 99 Water St PO Box 158 Markleeville, CA 96120
Phone: 530-694-2287

Amador County : 500 Argonaut Lane Jackson, CA 95642
Phone: 209-223-6468

Butte County : 25 County Center Dr; Oroville, CA 95965
Phone: 530-538-7691

Calaveras County : 891 Mountain Ranch Rd; San Andreas, CA 95249
Phone: 209-754-6376

Colusa County : 546 Jay St; Colusa, CA 95932-2443
Phone: 530-458-0500

Contra Costa County : 730 Las Juntas St; PO Box 350; Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: 925-646-2360

Del Norte County : 981 H St; Crescent City, CA 95531
Phone: 707-464-7204

El Dorado County : 360 Fair Ln; Placerville, CA 95667
Phone: 530-621-5490

Fresno County : 2221 Kern St. Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: 559-488-3003

Glenn County : 526 W Sycamore St PO Box 391 Willows, CA 95988
Phone: 530-934-6419

Humboldt County : 825 5th St; Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: 707-476-2384

Imperial County : 940 W Main St; El Centro, CA 92243
Phone: 760-482-4220

Inyo County : 168 N Edwards St PO Box F Independence, CA 93526
Phone: 760-878-0218

Kern County : 1655 Chester Ave Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: 661-868-6440

Kings County : 1400 W Lacey Blvd Hanford, CA 93230
Phone: 559-582-3211

Lake County : 255 N Forbes St; Lakeport, CA 95453
Phone: 707-263-2368

Lassen County : 2610 Riverside Drive Susanville, CA 9

Eligibility

Authorized Copy

Individuals who can obtain an authorized copy of a birth or death certificate as stated by California law:

• The registrant (person listed on the certificate) or a parent or legal guardian of the registrant. A child, grandparent, grandchild, brother or sister, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant.
• A party entitled to receive the record as a result of a court order, or an attorney or a licensed adoption agency seeking the birth record in order to comply with the requirements of Section 3140 or 7603 of the California Family Code.
• A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business. (Companies representing a government agency must provide authorization from the government agency.)
• An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant's estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the registrant or the registrant's estate. (If you are requesting a Certified Copy under a power of attorney, please include a copy of the power of attorney with the application form.)
• Any agent or employee of a funeral establishment who acts within the course and scope of his or her employment and who orders certified copies of a death certificate on behalf of an individual specified in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (a) of Section 7100 of the Health and Safety Code.

Informational Copy

If you cannot obtain an authorized copy under California law, you may request for an informational copy instead. An informational copy contains the same information as an authorized copy, but will have a legend across the face with the statement "Informational, not a valid document to establish identity."

Notes:

• Authorized and informational copies are both certified copies.
• A notarized sworn statement is required for all requests for authorized certified copies of marriage certificates.

Fees

For requests submitted to CDPH: $15.00 fee per copy requested

• Fees are payable to CDPH Vital Records via check or money order. Checks must be drawn on a United States bank. Money orders must be drawn on a United States bank or issued by the United States Postal Service. International money orders for out-of country requests should be payable in U.S. dollars. Fees are also nonrefundable per state law.
• Do not send cash by mail. CDPH cannot be held responsible for fees paid that are lost, misdirected, or undelivered.

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

For requests submitted to CDPH:

• Application for Certified Copy of Marriage Record

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents which would help other people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Processing Time

The amount of time needed to process your request may occasionally increase as volume of applications being processed by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) increases. The County Recorder Offices can sometimes process requests faster than the CDPH.

Following are processing time for marriage record amendments and issuance of a certified copy of the amended record (if you paid for a copy):

• Public Marriage Record: Can exceed 6 months

Instructions

The California Department of Public Health Vital Records does not collect or maintain information about whether a marriage was between individuals of the opposite sex or the same sex.

You may obtain your certificate either from the CDPH (only accepts orders submitted by mail) or from your local County Recorder Office (in person or by mail).

Public Marriage Records

CDPH Vital Records is experiencing lengthy delays in the processing time for marriage records due to the increased and urgent need for certified copies of birth certificates as proof of identity. Because of this processing time can easily exceed 6 months, you should submit your request for a marriage record to the County Recorder's Office in the county where the marriage license was issued.

Confidential Marriage Records

Certified copies of confidential marriage records are only available from the County Clerks Office in the county where the confidential marriage license was issued. Only the two individuals named on the marriage certificate can obtain copies of confidential marriage records.

Required Information

• The full name of the groom
• The full name of the bride, to include her maiden name
• The marriage date
• The county in which the license was issued
• The requesters relationship to the parties named on the marriage certificate
• The requesters reason for obtaining the certificate

Need for the Document

Marriage is a legal contract binding two people together, granting them rights and obligations. A Marriage Certificate is an official statement that two people are married.

A copy of the marriage certificate is often necessary when you apply for administrative procedures such as obtaining a passport or applying for certain social benefits.

Following are procedures on how you can obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate.