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Los Angeles County exact answer

Who can perform a marriage ceremony for a license from Los Angeles County?

This answer belongs to the issuing office and task named above. It does not substitute a statewide summary or infer a rule the office does not publish.

Direct answer

In Los Angeles County, 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.

Published rule and conditions

Officiant and ceremony rule
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 requirement

I 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.

Issuing office

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk

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Official sources for this answer

  • Ceremonies — General InfoLos Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk - checked July 30, 2026

    All civil ceremonies are by appointment only and must be prepaid. An appointment will not be given until you have your marriage license. The ceremony fee is $35. All ceremonies are scheduled for 15 minutes. Outside ministers/officiants are not allowed to do ceremonies in our chapels. All express ceremonies require valid identification and one witness to be present at the Marriage License window. 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.

  • Marriage Licenses & Ceremonies — Frequently Asked QuestionsLos Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk - checked July 30, 2026

    How can I pay? We accept: Cash / Check: Make payable to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Valid identification of the signer is required at time of purchase. / Money order / Debit/Credit card: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa ($1.75 service fee and maximum limit of $15,000) / Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. We do not accept: E-Check / Temporary check / Foreign check (with the exception of Canada and Mexico). Do I need to bring any documents with me if I have been previously divorced? Yes. If you have been divorced within the last two (2) years you will need to bring your order of dissolution. What if my Identification Card is expired? All parties must bring a government issued Identification Card to confirm identity. Expired Identification Cards will not be accepted. I 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. What happens if I'm late to my appointment? We provide a five (5) minute grace period. If you exceed that grace period your appointment will be cancelled.

  • Recording Your Marriage CertificateLos Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk - checked July 30, 2026

    Once you are married, you must return your marriage license to our Norwalk office to be recorded. We do NOT automatically send you a copy of your marriage certificate. Now 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: A priest, minister or rabbi of any religious denomination who is 18 years of age or older / An active or retired Judge, Commissioner, or Assistant Commissioner of a court in this State / A City Clerk, while that person holds office / A Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages / A member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors / A person who holds or formerly held an elected office of a city or county.

Answer boundary

MarriageLicenseCheck is an independent reference, not the issuing office or legal advice. Applicant facts, timing, prior marriages, and document type can change the result. The official office decides what it will accept.

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