Los Angeles County marriage license
To marry in Los Angeles County, you apply to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. There, both applicants must appear together and there is no residency requirement.
- Fee
- $91Confidential marriage license: $85
- Waiting period
- NoneMarry the same day
- License valid
- 90 daysFrom issuance
- Both must appear
- YesTogether, at the same time
Reviewed July 30, 202614 official sourcesSee sources
Where to apply
- Apply online
- Yes
The Online Marriage License System starts the application only. Both parties must still appear together in person to obtain the license; the RR/CC does not issue a license remotely.
Official requirementThis website will allow you to apply for your Marriage License online!
- Apply in person
- Yes
Licenses are purchased in person by appointment. Appointments can be scheduled up to three weeks in advance at any of the seven RR/CC branch locations.
Official requirementThis appointment is for the purchase of a marriage license only. Once you purchase your license you will be able to schedule a ceremony appointment.
When to apply
We will work out when you can apply. We never ask for names, dates of birth or any other personal detail.
Who must appear
- Both applicants
- Yes
Proxy marriage is not permitted in California, other than the statutory exception for a member of the Armed Forces stationed overseas in a conflict or war.
Official requirementTo obtain a marriage license in Los Angeles County both parties must be present together and provide "Proof of Identity" and age documents (photo and age verification is mandatory).
- Residency
- No residency or citizenship requirement. Applicants do not need to live in Los Angeles County or in California.Official requirement
There is no residence or citizenship status requirement
Identification and personal information
We list what the office says it may ask for. We never collect any of it.
- Identification
- Each applicant must present photo identification proving both identity and age — photo and age verification is mandatory
- Driver's license
- Passport
- Alien resident card
- All documents must be in English; a document in another language must be submitted with a notarised English translation by a certified translator
- Expired identification is not accepted
The RR/CC publishes these three examples of acceptable identification rather than a closed list. Some California counties additionally ask for a birth certificate.
Official requirementAcceptable forms of I.D. are: Driver's license / Passport / Alien resident card
- Social Security number
This office does not publish this. Confirm with them directly before relying on it.
The RR/CC does not publish whether a Social Security number is required on the marriage license application.
Not published by this office- Age
- Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. A confidential marriage license is available only to applicants who are 18 or older — a minor may not purchase one.
Both parties must be unmarried; a previous marriage is valid until the final date of dissolution. A blood test and health certificate are not required.
Official requirementYou must be at least 18 years old. Persons under 18 with written consent from at least one parent (or legal guardian) AND permission from a California Superior Court Judge may marry.
- Applicants under 18
- An applicant under 18 must provide a notarised parent or guardian consent statement and an order from the Superior Court granting the minor permission to obtain a marriage license. Emancipated minors are not exempt from this process, and a minor may not obtain a confidential marriage license.Applies in some cases
A person "Under 18" must provide a Notarized Parent or Guardian Consent Statement and an order from the Superior Court granting the minor permission to obtain a marriage license.
Prior-marriage documents
- If a marriage ended
- A certified copy of the divorce or dissolution is required if the previous marriage ended within the last two years. If it ended more than two years ago, written proof may not be required, but the date of the final dissolution must be given at the time the license is requested. The same two-year rule applies to the termination of a State Registered Domestic Partnership.
This two-year threshold is specific to Los Angeles County and differs from other jurisdictions.
Applies in some casesCertified copy of a divorce or the dissolution of a previous marriage is required if the event occurred within the last two years or less
Fee and payment
- Fee
- $91Confidential marriage license: $85. A civil ceremony at an RR/CC office is $35 more; an RR/CC-provided witness is $20; the Deputy Commissioner for a Day programme is $75.
Fee for a public marriage license, from the RR/CC fee schedule. A higher schedule has been approved by the Board of Supervisors but is not yet in effect — see source conflict notes.
Official requirementPublic Marriage License $91
- Payment methods
- Cash
- Check payable to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk — valid identification of the signer is required at time of purchase
- Money order payable to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
- Debit or credit card — American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa ($1.75 service fee, $15,000 maximum)
- Apple Pay and Samsung Pay ($1.75 service fee, $15,000 maximum)
E-checks, temporary checks and foreign checks other than Canadian and Mexican are not accepted.
Official requirementWe accept: Cash / Check: Make payable to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. / Money order: Make payable to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. / Debit/Credit card: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa ($1.75 service fee and maximum limit of $15,000) / Apple Pay and Samsung Pay: ($1.75 service fee and maximum limit of $15,000)
Waiting period and expiration
- Waiting period
- None
No such requirement appears in the state statute that governs how a marriage is made here. The office itself publishes nothing either way.
Established from the governing statute, not from an office statement — neither the RR/CC nor the California Department of Public Health says anything either way. California Family Code Division 3 is the closed scheme for marriage licensing: Part 2 (sections 350-360) governs issuance of a public license, Part 3 Chapter 2 (sections 420-426) governs solemnization, Part 4 Chapter 1 (sections 500-511) governs the confidential license, and Part 5 (sections 550-560) governs remote issuance. Read end to end, none of them requires any time to pass between issuance and the ceremony. The only clock the statute ties to issuance is the 90-day outer limit in section 356, mirrored for the confidential license in section 504, and section 421 requires only that the license be presented before the ceremony. One genuine waiting rule sits elsewhere in the division and is a different clock: section 304(b) makes a party aged 17 or younger eligible to request a license no earlier than 30 days after the court order granting permission to marry. Separately, RR/CC scheduling is not a legal wait — a ceremony appointment cannot be booked until the license has been purchased, though an express appointment covers both in one 45-minute visit.
Official requirementA marriage license issued pursuant to this part expires 90 days after its issuance. The calendar date of expiration shall be clearly noted on the face of the license.
- Waiver
This does not apply here.
No such requirement appears in the state statute that governs how a marriage is made here. The office itself publishes nothing either way.
There is no waiting period between issuance and the ceremony under California law, so there is nothing to waive, and Family Code Division 3 contains no waiver provision.
Not applicable hereA marriage license issued pursuant to this part expires 90 days after its issuance. The calendar date of expiration shall be clearly noted on the face of the license.
- License expires
- 90 days
Measured from the date the license is issued. A license that expires unused cannot be revived — a new license must be purchased. This is a different clock from the online application, which is held on file for 90 days from the date it is submitted.
Official requirementNow that you have your marriage license, which is valid for 90 days, you and your future spouse may be married by your choice of one of the following persons qualified to perform marriage ceremonies:
- Where it is valid
- A public marriage license issued in Los Angeles County may be used for a ceremony anywhere in California, but not outside California. The license must be filed in the county where it was purchased, so a Los Angeles County license is recorded only by the Los Angeles County RR/CC.
California differs from Illinois here: the license is not restricted to the issuing county for the ceremony, only for filing.
Official requirementYou are not required to get married in the county where you purchase the public marriage license; however, you must be married in California. You must file the license in the county where it was purchased.
Witness and ceremony notes
- Witnesses
- A public marriage license requires at least one witness at the ceremony. The license has space for a second witness, and no more than two witnesses may sign — a license returned with more than two signatures is rejected and a duplicate must be bought. A confidential marriage license requires no witness at the ceremony and no witness signs it. At an RR/CC express ceremony one witness must be present at the Marriage License window; the RR/CC can supply a witness for $20.
The confidential license is available only to parties living together as spouses at the time they apply, who must sign an affidavit on the license attesting to that. A confidential record is registered with the County Clerk and only the couple may buy copies.
Official requirementAll express ceremonies require valid identification and one witness to be present at the Marriage License window. Any family and friends will need to wait outside. If the couple does not have a witness, the RR/CC can provide a witness for a fee of $20. Confidential Marriage Licenses do not require a witness.
- Officiant
- Officiants do not register with the Los Angeles County Clerk. A ceremony may be performed by a priest, minister or rabbi of any religious denomination who is 18 or older; an active or retired judge, commissioner or assistant commissioner of a California court; a City Clerk while in office; a Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages; a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors; or a person who holds or formerly held an elected city or county office. The RR/CC performs civil ceremonies by appointment for $35, prepaid, at all of its offices; outside officiants may not perform ceremonies in RR/CC chapels.
A ceremony appointment is not given until the license has been purchased. Ceremonies are scheduled for 15 minutes and may be rescheduled once without a new fee.
Official requirementI am an ordained minister; do I need to register with the County Clerk? No, you do not need to register with this office to perform a marriage ceremony.
Returning and recording the license
- After the ceremony
- After the ceremony the completed license must be returned to the RR/CC Norwalk office to be recorded. The office does not automatically send a copy of the marriage certificate; a marriage records request must be submitted, and it may be filed at the same time the certificate is sent in for recording.
The RR/CC records only certificates for licenses it issued. A license obtained in another California county or another state cannot be recorded here.
Official requirementOnce you are married, you must return your marriage license to our Norwalk office to be recorded.
- Processing
- The license is purchased in person at the appointment. A ceremony appointment cannot be booked until the license has been purchased.
An express appointment covering both the license and a ceremony is 45 minutes and is available at all seven RR/CC branch locations, by appointment only. There is a five-minute grace period; a later arrival has the appointment cancelled.
Official requirementThis appointment is for the purchase of a marriage license only. Once you purchase your license you will be able to schedule a ceremony appointment.
Ordering the certified record afterwards is a separate request: official certified copy page
Access and language
- Published notes
- Official requirement
- Los Angeles County states it endeavours to conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Accessibility problems can be reported by email to the RR/CC, which asks for the department, a description, the device and browser, and any assistive technology used
- The marriage license pages are published in English, Spanish, Chinese and Korean
- The Online Marriage License System is available in English and Spanish
We endeavor to design and maintain our websites in conformance with recognized accessibility standards, including: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA / Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Common questions
- How much does a marriage license cost in Los Angeles County?
- The fee is $91, set by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Confidential marriage license: $85.
- Is there a waiting period for a marriage license in Los Angeles County?
- No. There is no waiting period — the license can be used as soon as it is issued.
- How long is a Los Angeles County marriage license valid?
- The license is valid for 90 days from issuance. A ceremony after that date requires a new license.
- Do both partners have to appear in person in Los Angeles County?
- Yes. Both applicants must appear together to complete the application.
- Do we have to be residents to marry in Los Angeles County?
- No residency or citizenship requirement. Applicants do not need to live in Los Angeles County or in California.
Each answer restates the verified rule above; the official wording and sources are in the numbered sections.
Sources and reviewed date
Every fact above is quoted from one of these pages. Reviewed July 30, 2026.
- Marriage Licenses, Ceremonies, and Certificates: What You Need to KnowLos Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
- EligibilityLos Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
- Apply for a Marriage LicenseLos Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
- Marriage License and Ceremony FeesLos Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
- Ceremonies — General InfoLos Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
- Marriage Licenses & Ceremonies — Frequently Asked QuestionsLos Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
- Recording Your Marriage CertificateLos Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
- Online Marriage License SystemLos Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
- AccessibilityCounty of Los Angeles / Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
- California Marriage License General InformationCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Records · state-level source · retrieved 2026-07-26
- Types of Marriage LicensesCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Records · state-level source · retrieved 2026-07-26
- California Family Code, Division 3, Part 2 — Marriage License (sections 350-360)State of California — Legislative Counsel, California Legislative Information · state-level source · retrieved 2026-07-30
- California Family Code, Division 3, Part 3, Chapter 2 — Solemnization of Marriage (sections 420-426)State of California — Legislative Counsel, California Legislative Information · state-level source · retrieved 2026-07-30
- California Family Code, Division 3, Part 4, Chapter 1 — Confidential Marriage: General Provisions (sections 500-511)State of California — Legislative Counsel, California Legislative Information · state-level source · retrieved 2026-07-30
Recorded conflicts
- Fees are mid-change. The RR/CC fee schedule page publishes the fees currently charged — public marriage license $91, confidential marriage license $85, civil ceremony $35, RR/CC-provided witness $20 — while the marriage general-info page carries a notice that the Board of Supervisors has approved a higher schedule of $176 / $220 / $44 / $26 that takes effect 30 days after the Board adopts an official fee ordinance. The published fee here is the current $91; the approved schedule is not yet in force and the notice gives no adoption date.
- Two different 90-day clocks appear on RR/CC systems. The Online Marriage License System states that an unfinished online application is kept on file for 90 days from the date it is submitted; the license itself is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued. These are not the same period and an applicant who counts from the online submission will misjudge the ceremony deadline.
- The waiting period is established from statute, not from an office statement. Every RR/CC marriage page and both CDPH marriage pages were re-checked on 30 July 2026 and none says whether a ceremony may be held immediately after issuance. Rather than infer a zero from that silence, this record reads the governing scheme: California Family Code Division 3 exhaustively governs marriage licensing, and Part 2 (sections 350-360), Part 3 Chapter 2 (sections 420-426), Part 4 Chapter 1 (sections 500-511) and Part 5 (sections 550-560) were each read end to end. None imposes a waiting period between issuance and the ceremony, so as a matter of law there is none; the field carries determination "statutory_absence" so a reader can judge the reasoning. A February 2024 RR/CC press release announced same-day marriage licenses and civil ceremonies at the Norwalk headquarters for Valentine's Day, but that was a single-day event notice and is not relied on here.
- The Apply page still carries an undated notice that the LAX district office 'will be temporarily closed for renovations' and that the RR/CC anticipates 'reopening before the New Year'. The notice has no year and cannot be confirmed as current, so it is not published as a fact; the same page and the ceremonies page both state that appointments are available at all seven branch locations.
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