California marriage license during shelter in place

I think you just have to wait and see. I’m here in CA too. If our shelter in place gets lifted May 15th, then you could go to the clerk and get it then. It should be a fairly quick process. But I’m really not sure -depends what happens in the next two weeks. I hope you are able to!


I’m hoping to go get ours the second half of June, for our end of August wedding, and if we have to postpone wedding, then we’ll just reapply later.

California seems not to have provided any mechanism for getting marriage licenses, even in emergency situations (e.g., deployments, need to get married to get health insurance, immigration).

However, it appears you may be able to go through a "Fact of Marriage" court proceeding after the marriage, whenever the courts open up, to get a religious marriage during the pandemic retroactively recognized in spite of the absence of a license. http://www.scscourt.org/self_help/probate/probate_facts.shtml

I got our marriage license at Orange County Clerk back in February for our May 2 wedding, which is already postponed. It was easy to get one, you can apply online and submit all your informations and just wait til the Stay at Home order to be lifted. When the offices are back in business, take your fiancé and bring your IDs with you. 15 mintues or less (well if there's no line), you'll get the license asap.

Hi Audrina! I would see what you can do and submit online, and then just keep checking to see when the county clerk's office will be open!

View Quoted Comment Update: I found a way to get a license! In my own county nonetheless which feelings so lucky. In alameda county you can apply by mail for your marriage license you just have to have your officiant drop it off at the clerks office drop box. So yay. We will be able to elope on our date after all and then have big reception next May.

View Quoted Comment Looks like In LA county you can fill out an application but they won’t begin to process it until the office is open and then you have 15 days to go in and pick it up. So until offices are open, it’s not really helpful down here.

Great news! I don't know if you've seen the updates, but the Orange County Recorder is opening up for wedding licenses and drive up weddings! You need to make an appointment and fill out your paperwork online, but this may help everyone who is interested in getting their licenses (and/or getting married!). OC Marriage Services

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Hi Audrina, I'm in a similar situation to you. I also found that the Alameda office includes issuing MLs as a part of their essential services to continue to be provided, then sent an email for instructions per specified in the web page (probably on April 20-21?), but nothing heard back. How did you get the information: "you can apply by mail for your marriage license you just have to have your officiant drop it off at the clerks office drop box" ?

View Quoted Comment My fiancé and I are doing the same thing! Have you decided where you were going to elope?

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We will be having a small ceremony at my dads ranch up in mendocino. Having this ceremony now with just our parents and then our big wedding /renewing our vows as plane next May. What about you?