For those who require supporting documents to prove their identity or change of status, a marriage record is an excellent supportive document, as it is issued by a government agency. Marriage records have no expiry just like birth, death and divorce records and can serve a person well. They can use the document to prove a child's legitimacy, to be able to change one's name, and as a genealogy document to add to family history. To obtain marriage records California, it is best to know if you are eligible to get an authorized or an informational copy of the marriage certificate. Informational copies are available to the public and serves only as informational copy, meaning that any third person or parties can access the record. However, it does not have any power and cannot serve as a valid document. An authorized document, on the other hand, can serve as a supporting document and access is limited to several individuals only.
To obtain copies of the records, one must determine if the record they want is available from the California Department of Public Health Vital Records Division or CDPH. Public marriage indexes are available from the Vital Records Division. For those who want a certified copy of the public marriage record, they must visit or contact the County Recorder where the marriage was granted. Public marriages are open to the public. Currently, the CDPH has indexes for marriages that occurred from 1949-1986 and 1998-1999; the rest of the records are available from the County Recorder's Office.
Confidential records, on the other hand, are only given to the parties whose names appear in the marriage certificate and are available from the Clerk of the County Office. Each copy costs about $14 each when accessed through the CDPH. Cost for the record when obtained from the Clerk Office or County Recorder varies. It is important that one should call the office to know the updated fee.
Under California Health and Safety Code 103526, those who are eligible to obtain authorized and non-confidential marriage records include the following persons: registrants, legal guardians or parents, kids, brothers or sisters, their spouse, law enforcers who need the document in their investigation or report, adoption centers and agents or those who need the documents in behalf of their employment.
To get a copy of the marriage records, one must first download all the forms required and a sworn statement from the CDPH site or the County Clerk. The sworn statement must be notarized, as the request will not be processed if the documents are incomplete. Also, include a payment fee form and the payment in money order or check. All checks must be US drawn. One can also request a money order from the USPS. Please do note that credit card and cash payments are not allowed. Cash sent together with the request will not be reimbursed should it get lost in the mail.
The processing of the request(s) can take up to 6 months because of the high volume of request the office receives every day. For those who urgently need the records, they can contact the County Clerk office or they can also access online vendors that provide such services. Marriage and divorce records are available from online public search portals and this is the fastest way that one can obtain their records without having to visit the county clerk's office.
To obtain copies of the records, one must determine if the record they want is available from the California Department of Public Health Vital Records Division or CDPH. Public marriage indexes are available from the Vital Records Division. For those who want a certified copy of the public marriage record, they must visit or contact the County Recorder where the marriage was granted. Public marriages are open to the public. Currently, the CDPH has indexes for marriages that occurred from 1949-1986 and 1998-1999; the rest of the records are available from the County Recorder's Office.
Confidential records, on the other hand, are only given to the parties whose names appear in the marriage certificate and are available from the Clerk of the County Office. Each copy costs about $14 each when accessed through the CDPH. Cost for the record when obtained from the Clerk Office or County Recorder varies. It is important that one should call the office to know the updated fee.
Under California Health and Safety Code 103526, those who are eligible to obtain authorized and non-confidential marriage records include the following persons: registrants, legal guardians or parents, kids, brothers or sisters, their spouse, law enforcers who need the document in their investigation or report, adoption centers and agents or those who need the documents in behalf of their employment.
To get a copy of the marriage records, one must first download all the forms required and a sworn statement from the CDPH site or the County Clerk. The sworn statement must be notarized, as the request will not be processed if the documents are incomplete. Also, include a payment fee form and the payment in money order or check. All checks must be US drawn. One can also request a money order from the USPS. Please do note that credit card and cash payments are not allowed. Cash sent together with the request will not be reimbursed should it get lost in the mail.
The processing of the request(s) can take up to 6 months because of the high volume of request the office receives every day. For those who urgently need the records, they can contact the County Clerk office or they can also access online vendors that provide such services. Marriage and divorce records are available from online public search portals and this is the fastest way that one can obtain their records without having to visit the county clerk's office.
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