Step 1 Decide what type of Marriage license you what; Public or Confidential and meet the requirements for either. | Step 2 Fill out the Marriage Application and provide the required documentation. | Step 3 Go to the County Clerks office and pay the application fee. |
Marriage licenses and requirements (Step 1)
There are 2 types of Marriage Licenses; Public and Confidential.
A Public Marriage License will allow anyone to request a copy of your Marriage Certificate once you are married. You can get married anywhere in California and you will need two witnesses with you when you turn in your marriage license application.
When a Confidential license is issued for a marriage, the marriage record will be maintained as Confidential. ONLY the married couple may obtain copies of the marriage certificate, EXCEPT by order of the Superior Court. Once a Confidential marriage license is issued, the ceremony must be performed within the County of Riverside. You will not need two witnesses when you turn in your marriage license application.
PLEASE NOTE: The office of the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder strongly advises that a Public marriage license be issued except in those instances where the confidentiality of the marriage date is important. It has been our experience that complications frequently arise when copies are requested and can ONLY be issued to the married couple.
To obtain a Public marriage license you must meet the following requirements:
To obtain a confidential marriage license you must not only meet the requirements for a Public marriage license, you must also meet the following requirements:
A Public Marriage License will allow anyone to request a copy of your Marriage Certificate once you are married. You can get married anywhere in California and you will need two witnesses with you when you turn in your marriage license application.
When a Confidential license is issued for a marriage, the marriage record will be maintained as Confidential. ONLY the married couple may obtain copies of the marriage certificate, EXCEPT by order of the Superior Court. Once a Confidential marriage license is issued, the ceremony must be performed within the County of Riverside. You will not need two witnesses when you turn in your marriage license application.
PLEASE NOTE: The office of the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder strongly advises that a Public marriage license be issued except in those instances where the confidentiality of the marriage date is important. It has been our experience that complications frequently arise when copies are requested and can ONLY be issued to the married couple.
To obtain a Public marriage license you must meet the following requirements:
- Both parties MUST be 18 years of age or older. If one or both parties are under 18, then a court order for the minor must be obtained before a license can be issued. This applies to emancipated minors as well. The minor must bring the original court order.
- Both parties MUST come into the office TOGETHER to obtain the marriage license.
- Both parties MUST have a valid, current picture I.D. The I.D. must be government issued. Some examples include: State issued Drivers License or I.D. card; Military I.D.; Green Card; Naturalization Certificate; Passport.
- If either party has been divorced or has had a dissolution of a State Registered Domestic Partnership within 90 days of the issuance of the marriage license, a copy of the FINAL Dissolution IS REQUIRED. We will take a copy of the register of actions showing the written final decree of dissolution has been entered. The divorce paperwork does not need to be certified. A copy of a Minute Order IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
To obtain a confidential marriage license you must not only meet the requirements for a Public marriage license, you must also meet the following requirements:
- Both parties must be 18 years of age or older.
- Both parties must swear in writing that they have already been living together.
- The marriage ceremony may be performed ONLY in Riverside County.
Marriage Application (Step 2)
Now you will need to fill out the marriage application. To print a marriage license application click here.
County Clerks Office (Step 3)
The County Clerk's office issues marriage licenses Monday thru Friday (except holidays) from 8:00am to 4:00pm. Licenses are valid for 90 days.
Riverside County Clerk
2724 Gateway Drive
Riverside, CA 92502
951.486.7000
The fee for a public marriage license is $90.00
The fee for a confidential marriage license is $100.00
Riverside County Clerk
2724 Gateway Drive
Riverside, CA 92502
951.486.7000
The fee for a public marriage license is $90.00
The fee for a confidential marriage license is $100.00