ca Marriage License process

So we did it a year and a half ago and we did the application online and then just went to pick it up, we didn’t make an appointment to pick it up. It didn’t take very long at all! We just signed something, paid, and showed our IDs.

I didn’t do it the traditional way because the location nearest only does appointments (M-F) for the license and our schedules didn’t really permit that. We had to do it through a notary. So make sure you check your locations requirements in regards to the pickup.

View Quoted Comment Thanks for sharing! Just curious, how did you find out you can receive the license application through a notary? And how would you recommend it to other couples?

View Quoted Comment Thanks for sharing! Just curious, when you say "It didnt take very long at all!", do you mean like an hour or like 30 mins? And what time of the day did you go to pick it up?

View Quoted Comment The whole thing definitely took less than 30 minutes. We went at like 330 or 4 I believe. My husband is a teacher and he met me after the school day was done.

View Quoted Comment On the official website it says you can use a notary as well and it listed the acceptable notaries in the area.


Honestly if you can make it during business hours, I wouldn’t go the notary route because it was more expensive. It was just more convenient for us...so we paid for convenience.

We got ours last month in Orange County at the historic courthouse. We made an appointment online and filled out the paperwork. When we went in we were immediately served. The whole process took less than 5 minutes and cost $61 (vs. $91 in Los Angeles county).

We just got ours on Monday. You have to get it within 90 days and you dont have to be in the county you are getting married. For example we recently moved to NorCal and getting married in LA. We made an appointment online and filled out the application at the county clerk's office. After the wedding you have to return the license with the signatures either by mail or in person. Our license cost $89.

View Quoted Comment Thanks for sharing. Just curious, how did you book a pick up appointment at the registers office?

View Quoted Comment Go online to county website and there's a small button to click to make appointment. Then you pick the day and time. We were done within 30 minutes of going in and filling out the application. You only need an ID.