How to get married at Robert Presley Detention Center?

Pass Notary & Weddings provides complete jail wedding services at Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, CA. Although it is a Riverside County facility, the marriage license is obtained through the San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk. Call or text 951-723-7254.

How to get married at West Valley Detention Center?

Pass Notary & Weddings provides complete jail wedding services at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. The marriage license is obtained through the San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk. Call or text 951-723-7254 to begin.

What if the inmate ID is expired for a jail wedding?

An expired ID is not a barrier to the jail wedding process. For the Inability to Appear notarization, California law allows use of the facility-issued jail ID. For the marriage license, a certified copy of a birth certificate combined with any photo ID such as a work ID, school ID, or expired government-issued ID can be used as an alternative. Contact Pass Notary & Weddings at 951-723-7254 to discuss your situation.

What happens after the jail wedding ceremony?

The signed marriage license must be recorded with the County Clerk's office. You can mail it via FedEx or drop it off in person. It typically takes three weeks for the County Clerk to record the license. Once recorded, the marriage is legally official. Certified copies of the marriage certificate can be requested for $19 each.

How to Get Married in Jail in San Bernardino and Riverside County

Jail weddings,marriage ceremony, wedding officiant near me, Redlands, California

Call or text me at 951-723-7254

Yes, you can get married while your fiancé is in jail in California. The process requires a notarized Inability to Appear form, a marriage license from the County Clerk, a wedding ceremony performed at the jail by an authorized officiant, and recording the signed license with the county. The complete process typically takes three to five days.

Pass Notary & Weddings provides complete jail wedding packages in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, handling every step from the initial Inability to Appear notarization through the ceremony and license recording. Abraham Zamora is an authorized wedding officiant with over 25 years of experience and coordinates the entire jail wedding process — including arranging a separate commissioned notary for the Inability to Appear notarization. He has performed jail weddings at Robert Presley Detention Center, West Valley Detention Center, San Bernardino County Detention Center, and Larry D. Smith Detention Center. Call or text 951-723-7254 to get started.

What Do You Need for a Jail Wedding in California?

Before starting the jail wedding process, you need to gather the following documents and information:

Valid identification for both you and your fiancé. For the non-incarcerated partner, a valid non-expired government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID is required. For the incarcerated partner, the facility-issued jail ID can be used for the Inability to Appear notarization. For the marriage license at the County Clerk's office, if a valid government-issued ID is not available, a certified copy of a birth certificate combined with any photo ID — such as a work ID, school ID, or even an expired government-issued ID — can be used as an alternative. Call or text 951-723-7254 to discuss your specific situation.

Divorce decree paperwork, if either party has been previously married and divorced within the past year. This is a county requirement — not optional.

Proof of incarceration showing the inmate's current housing location and booking number. Pass Notary & Weddings can help you obtain this documentation if you do not already have it.

The marriage license application fee, which is paid directly to the County Clerk's office at the time of the appointment. The fee is currently $100.

If you have all of these items ready, the process can typically begin immediately. If any item is missing or you have questions about your specific situation, call or text 951-723-7254 and we will help you determine your options before scheduling anything.

Step-by-Step: How the Jail Wedding Process Works

Step 1: Inability to Appear Notarization

The first step is getting an Inability to Appear form signed and notarized by the incarcerated person. This legal form authorizes the County Clerk to issue a marriage license without the inmate being physically present at the clerk's office.

Pass Notary & Weddings arranges for a commissioned notary to visit the jail, meet with the inmate, verify their identity, and notarize the Inability to Appear form on-site. This step is handled entirely by Pass Notary & Weddings — you do not need to arrange anything at the jail yourself.

The Inability to Appear form is the most critical document in the jail wedding process. Without it, the County Clerk cannot issue the marriage license. This is where many couples get stuck, because most notaries are not experienced with jail visits and do not know the facility-specific scheduling procedures.

Step 2: Marriage License from the County Clerk

Once the Inability to Appear form is notarized, you need to visit the County Clerk's office to apply for the marriage license. Abraham Zamora accompanies you to this appointment to assist with the process and ensure all paperwork is completed correctly.

For San Bernardino and Riverside County facilities (West Valley Detention Center, San Bernardino County Detention Center, Robert Presley Detention Center, Larry D. Smith Detention Center), the marriage license is obtained at the San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk's office at 222 West Hospitality Lane in San Bernardino.

The marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. The ceremony must be performed within that window.

Step 3: Wedding Ceremony at the Jail

After the marriage license is issued, Pass Notary & Weddings schedules the wedding ceremony at the detention facility. Abraham Zamora performs the ceremony as an authorized wedding officiant. Ceremonies are available in both English and Spanish.

During the ceremony, the incarcerated person signs the marriage license. Abraham Zamora completes the officiant section of the license and signs as the person who solemnized the marriage. The ceremony follows all facility rules regarding visit length, physical contact, and approved items.

The specific scheduling process and rules vary by facility. Abraham is familiar with the procedures at every jail listed on this page and handles the scheduling coordination directly.

Step 4: Recording the Marriage License

After the ceremony, the signed marriage license must be recorded with the County Clerk's office that issued it. You can either mail the signed license (FedEx is recommended for tracking) or drop it off in person at the County Clerk's office.

It typically takes the County Clerk's office three weeks to record the marriage license. Once the license is recorded, the marriage is official. You can request a certified copy of the marriage certificate from the County Clerk for a fee of $19.

Pass Notary & Weddings provides guidance on the recording process and ensures the license is filled out correctly so there are no delays or rejections.

How Much Does a Jail Wedding Cost?

The total cost of a jail wedding includes several components: the Inability to Appear notarization, the County Clerk's marriage license fee, the officiant's fee for the ceremony, and travel to the jail.

Jail wedding packages from Pass Notary & Weddings start at $899 at Robert Presley Detention Center, West Valley Detention Center, San Bernardino County Detention Center, and Larry D. Smith Detention Center. This includes the Inability to Appear notarization, marriage license appointment assistance, the wedding ceremony at the jail, and guidance on recording the license. The county marriage license fee of $100 is paid separately and directly to the County Clerk's office. Pricing for facilities outside of these locations may vary depending on distance.

The package approach saves you the cost and complexity of hiring a separate notary, officiant, and coordinator. Many couples who try to arrange a jail wedding on their own encounter delays because they hire a notary who isn't authorized or experienced with jail visits, or because paperwork is filled out incorrectly. The complete package eliminates these risks.

Jail Wedding Services by Facility

Getting Married at Robert Presley Detention Center — Riverside, CA

Robert Presley Detention Center is located at 4000 Orange Street, Riverside, CA 92501. Although It is a Riverside County facility, the marriage license is obtained through the San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk's office at 222 West Hospitality Lane in San Bernardino.

Pass Notary & Weddings has performed multiple jail weddings at Robert Presley Detention Center and is familiar with the facility's specific scheduling process, visitor requirements, and ceremony procedures. The Inability to Appear notarization, marriage license appointment, and ceremony scheduling are all handled by Pass Notary & Weddings.

To begin the jail wedding process at Robert Presley Detention Center, call or text 951-723-7254.

Getting Married at West Valley Detention Center — Rancho Cucamonga, CA

West Valley Detention Center is located at 9500 Etiwanda Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739. It is a San Bernardino County facility, so the marriage license is obtained through the San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk's office at 222 West Hospitality Lane in San Bernardino.

Pass Notary & Weddings provides complete jail wedding services at West Valley Detention Center, including the Inability to Appear notarization, marriage license appointment assistance, the wedding ceremony, and guidance on recording the license.

To begin the jail wedding process at West Valley Detention Center, call or text 951-723-7254.

Getting Married at San Bernardino County Detention Center — San Bernardino, CA

San Bernardino County Detention Center (Central Detention Center) is located at 630 East Rialto Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92415. The marriage license is obtained through the San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk's office at 222 West Hospitality Lane in San Bernardino.

Pass Notary & Weddings provides complete jail wedding services at San Bernardino County Detention Center. Call or text 951-723-7254 to start the process.

Getting Married at Larry D. Smith Detention Center — Banning, CA

Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility is located at 1627 Hargrave Street, Banning, CA 92220. Although It's a Riverside County facility, the marriage license is obtained through the San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk's office at 222 West Hospitality Lane in San Bernardino.

Pass Notary & Weddings provides complete jail wedding services at Larry D. Smith Detention Center. Call or text 951-723-7254 to start the process.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jail Weddings

Can you get married while in jail in California?

Yes. California law allows incarcerated individuals to marry. The process requires a notarized Inability to Appear form signed by the inmate, a marriage license issued by the County Clerk, a ceremony performed by an authorized officiant at the facility, and recording the signed license with the county. The non-incarcerated partner handles the steps outside the jail, while the incarcerated partner signs the Inability to Appear form and participates in the ceremony.

What is an Inability to Appear form?

An Inability to Appear form is a legal document that allows the County Clerk to issue a marriage license when one partner cannot physically appear at the clerk's office. For jail weddings, the incarcerated person signs this form, and a notary public notarizes it at the jail. The notarized form is then presented to the County Clerk in place of the inmate's physical presence. Without this document, the County Clerk cannot process the marriage license application.

Can a notary perform a wedding in jail in California?

A notary public cannot perform a wedding ceremony solely in their capacity as a notary. Additionally, the person who notarizes the Inability to Appear form cannot also officiate the ceremony — because the officiant's name appears on the marriage license, the notary would be notarizing a document containing their own name, which California law does not allow. Pass Notary & Weddings handles this by using Abraham Zamora as the wedding officiant and a separate commissioned notary for the Inability to Appear notarization, so both roles are covered properly within one service.

How long does the jail wedding process take?

The complete process — from the initial Inability to Appear notarization through the ceremony — typically takes three to five days. The timeline depends on how quickly the required documents are gathered, the County Clerk's appointment availability, and the jail's scheduling process for the ceremony visit. In some cases, the process can be completed in a day or two.

How much does a jail wedding cost?

Jail wedding packages from Pass Notary & Weddings start at $899 at Robert Presley Detention Center, West Valley Detention Center, San Bernardino County Detention Center, and Larry D. Smith Detention Center. This includes the Inability to Appear notarization, marriage license appointment assistance, the ceremony, and recording guidance. The county marriage license fee of $100 is paid separately to the County Clerk's office. Call or text 951-723-7254 for pricing at other facilities.

Does the non-incarcerated partner need to be present at the jail for the Inability to Appear?

No. The Inability to Appear form is signed only by the incarcerated person. The notary visits the jail, verifies the inmate's identity, and notarizes the form. The non-incarcerated partner does not need to be present for this step. The non-incarcerated partner's involvement begins at the County Clerk's office when applying for the marriage license.

What if the inmate's ID is expired?

An expired government-issued ID is not a barrier to the jail wedding process. For the Inability to Appear notarization at the jail, California law allows the notary to use the inmate's facility-issued jail ID for identification, so a government-issued ID is not required for that step. For the marriage license at the County Clerk's office, a valid non-expired government-issued photo ID is the standard requirement. However, if that is not available, alternatives exist — for example, a certified copy of a birth certificate combined with any photo ID such as a work ID, school ID, or even an expired government-issued ID can be used. Contact Pass Notary & Weddings at 951-723-7254 to discuss your specific situation before assuming the process cannot move forward.

Can the ceremony be performed in Spanish?

Yes. Abraham Zamora is fully bilingual and performs jail wedding ceremonies in both English and Spanish. All steps of the process — including the Inability to Appear notarization, marriage license appointment, and the ceremony — can be conducted in Spanish.

What happens after the ceremony?

After the ceremony, the signed marriage license must be recorded with the County Clerk's office that issued it. You can mail the signed license (FedEx is recommended for reliable tracking) or drop it off in person. It typically takes three weeks for the County Clerk's office to record the license. Once recorded, the marriage is legally official. You can then request certified copies of the marriage certificate from the County Clerk. The fee is $19 for each copy.

Do I need witnesses for a jail wedding?

No. Jail weddings use a confidential marriage license, which does not require witnesses. Additionally, most detention facilities only allow a maximum of two visitors at a time — the officiant and the non-incarcerated partner — so no additional individuals are permitted to attend the ceremony. This means you do not need to arrange for anyone else to be present.

Start Your Jail Wedding Process Today

Pass Notary & Weddings provides complete jail wedding packages at Robert Presley Detention Center, West Valley Detention Center, San Bernardino County Detention Center, and Larry D. Smith Detention Center. Abraham Zamora handles every step — from coordinating the Inability to Appear notarization and getting the marriage license through performing the ceremony and guiding you through license recording.

Call or text 951-723-7254 to discuss your situation and start the process. You can also email [email protected]. Bilingual service available in English and Spanish. Serving all of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.