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Los Angeles County exact answer

Where can a marriage license from Los Angeles County be used?

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, 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.

Published rule and conditions

Where the license 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 requirement

You 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.

Issuing office

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk

Open the issuing office

Official sources for this answer

  • Marriage Licenses, Ceremonies, and Certificates: What You Need to KnowLos Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk - checked July 30, 2026

    Our office only records marriage certificates for marriage licenses that were issued in Los Angeles County. If your license was obtained in another California county or another state, we cannot record your certificate and will not have your marriage record on file. Notice: Marriage License Fee Update — The Board of Supervisors has approved updated fees that will go into effect after the Board adopts an official fee ordinance. New Fees (Effective 30 Days After Official Ordinance Adoption): Marriage License: $176 / Confidential Marriage License: $220 / Marriage Ceremony: $44 / Ceremony Witness Service: $26.

  • Types of Marriage LicensesCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Records - checked July 26, 2026

    Public Marriage License: You 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. Emancipated minors are NOT exempt from this process. You 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. You must have at least one witness present at your ceremony. The license contains a place for two witnesses if you prefer. You may NOT have more than two witnesses sign the official marriage license. Confidential Marriage License: The participating parties must be at least 18 years old. Minors may NOT purchase a confidential marriage license. The participating parties must be living together as spouses at the time they apply for the marriage license, and must sign an affidavit on the license attesting to those facts. No witnesses are required to be at the ceremony, AND no witnesses sign on the marriage license.

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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