MarriageLicenseCheck

Santa Clara County marriage license

Issued by the Santa Clara County Office of the County Clerk-Recorder

To marry in Santa Clara County, you apply to the Santa Clara County Office of the County Clerk-Recorder. There, both applicants must appear together, there is no residency requirement and the license is valid throughout the state.

Fee
$80 standard license / $83 confidential license
Waiting period
NoneMarry the same day
License valid
90 daysFrom issuance
Both must appear
YesTogether, at the same time

Reviewed July 26, 202610 official sourcesSee sources

Where to apply

Santa Clara County Office of the County Clerk-Recorder

Apply online
Yes

The online form fills in the application before the visit; it does not issue anything. Both parties must still appear in person. An applicant who has not applied online is directed to one of the office's public computers to complete the application on arrival, so the online step saves time rather than replacing a step.

Official requirement

You may either fill out the application online prior to visiting our office.

Apply in person
Yes

Marriage license services run Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at 110 West Tasman Drive, First Floor, San Jose. The office asks that applications be submitted by 4:00 PM to be processed before close of business. No appointment is needed for a marriage license.

Official requirement

Both parties must appear in person with a valid photo government-issued ID. No copies or digital images are allowed. No appointment is necessary for a marriage license.

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
Official requirement

You and your future spouse must be present to apply for a license

Residency
There is no residency requirement. The California Department of Public Health states that you do not need to be a California resident to marry in California.

The Clerk-Recorder's office publishes no residency requirement of its own, either way. This field is recorded from the state vital records authority because California makes it uniform statewide.

Official requirement

You do not need to be a California resident to marry in California.

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 a valid photo government-issued ID — no copies and no digital images
  • Driver's license
  • Passport
  • Permanent resident card
  • An applicant without valid identification may instead bring two Credible Witnesses — friends or family members who have valid personal identification and can sign an affidavit verifying identity — for a $20 fee

The office names those three documents as examples rather than as a closed list. Applicants must also know their legal name, place and date of birth, and their parents' legal names and places of birth.

Official requirement

Both parties must appear in person with a valid photo government-issued ID. No copies or digital images are allowed.

Social Security number

This office does not publish this. Confirm with them directly before relying on it.

The office lists what applicants need to know and bring, and a Social Security number is not among them. No Social Security requirement is stated either way.

Not published by this office
Age
Both applicants must be single and 18 years of age or older.

A confidential license carries the same minimum under state rules, which add that a minor may never obtain a confidential license.

Official requirement

You and your future spouse must be present to apply for a license and must be: Single 18 years of age or older

Applicants under 18
An applicant under 18 needs written consent from at least one parent or legal guardian and permission from a California Superior Court Judge. Emancipated minors are not exempt from this process. A minor may obtain a public license only, never a confidential one.

The Clerk-Recorder's office does not publish a procedure for applicants under 18 — its published eligibility is simply 18 or older. This is the statewide rule from the California Department of Public Health, which directs applicants to their County Clerk's office for the local requirements. Contact the office before relying on it.

Applies in some cases

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.

Prior-marriage documents

If a marriage ended
If either applicant has been divorced, you must know the date of the divorce. If the divorce was within the last 90 days, bring a copy of the judgment of divorce.

The 90-day threshold is specific to Santa Clara County and differs from other California counties — Los Angeles County uses two years. State guidance adds that you must know how the last marriage ended, whether by death, dissolution, divorce or nullity. The Clerk-Recorder does not keep divorce records.

Applies in some cases

If divorced, you'll need to know the date of your divorce. If you divorced within the last 90 days, bring a copy of the judgment of divorce.

Fee and payment

Fee
$80 standard license / $83 confidential license

The office publishes an estimated total license cost of $80.00 to $100.00, because an applicant without valid identification also pays the $20 Credible Witness fee. Separate published fees: a civil ceremony in the chapel is $112, an express marriage ceremony at the service window is $174, a county witness is $32, a one-day deputy marriage commissioner is $80, chapel use is $40 per 10 minutes, a sterling silver ring is $20, and a certified copy of a marriage certificate is $19.

Official requirement

Standard marriage license: $80.00 Confidential marriage license: $83.00

Payment methods

This office does not publish this. Confirm with them directly before relying on it.

The office does not publish which payment methods it accepts for the license fee itself. It publishes them for two neighbouring services: the one-day deputy marriage commissioner fee is "payable by cash, check, or debit/credit card ($2.50 convenience fee applies for debit and credit cards)", and an in-person marriage certificate is $19.00 by cash or check or $21.50 by credit or debit card, the difference being a $2.50 convenience fee. Neither statement is about the license, so nothing is recorded here.

Not published by this office

Waiting period and expiration

Waiting period
None

The office publishes this directly rather than leaving it to be inferred: its express marriage service has couples apply for the license and marry at the service window in the same visit, with no pre-scheduling. Express ceremonies run Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the office supplies the witness as part of that service.

Official requirement

Couples arrive at our office, apply for a marriage license, and get married right at one of our 27 counter windows.

Waiver

This does not apply here.

There is no waiting period between issuance and ceremony, so there is nothing to waive.

Not applicable here

Couples arrive at our office, apply for a marriage license, and get married right at one of our 27 counter windows.

License expires
90 days

Measured from the date the license is issued. A license not used inside the 90 days cannot be extended — a new license must be applied for.

Official requirement

When you get your license, you need to complete your marriage ceremony within 90 days in the state of California. If you aren't married within the 90-day period, you'll have to apply for another license.

Where it is valid
The license permits a ceremony anywhere in the State of California, but not outside California. The signed license must be returned to the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder, which records only the licenses it issued, and the marriage record stays in the county where the license was bought.

California differs from Illinois here — the ceremony is not restricted to the issuing county, only the recording is.

Official requirement

Your license permits you to be married anywhere in the state of California.

Witness and ceremony notes

Witnesses
Standard (public) license: at least one witness must be present at the ceremony, and after the ceremony the wedding official and at least one witness sign the license. The office charges $32 for a county witness for couples who do not have one, and provides a witness as part of the express marriage service. Statewide rules add that the license has room for two witnesses and that no more than two may sign it. Confidential license: no witness is required at the ceremony and no witness signs the license.

The Clerk-Recorder's own pages describe the witness requirement for standard marriages only. The confidential-license exemption is recorded from the California Department of Public Health, which sets it statewide.

Official requirement

After the ceremony, the wedding official and at least one witness sign the license.

Officiant
The ceremony may be performed by clergy, a judge, retired judge or designated court official, a County Deputy Marriage Commissioner at the Clerk-Recorder's office, or a deputised relative or friend. The county has two wedding chapels, indoor and outdoor, available by reservation only, Monday to Friday between 11:00 AM and 3:30 PM, for $112 with a commissioner or $40 per 10 minutes if you bring your own officiant. An express ceremony at the service window needs no pre-scheduling, costs $174, runs Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., includes a county witness, and allows up to 2 guests with no music and no food or drink. A friend or family member can be deputised as a One-Time Deputy Marriage Commissioner for $80 by applying in person with current government-issued identification, the names of the couple, the date and location of the ceremony, and the county where the license will be issued.

The office does not publish a registration requirement for outside officiants.

Official requirement

You can be married by: Clergy Judge Clerk-Recorder's Office (marriage commissioner or vital-records clerk) Deputized relative or friend (one-day deputy commissioner)

Returning and recording the license

After the ceremony
After the ceremony the signed license must be returned to the Clerk-Recorder's Office at 110 West Tasman Drive, First Floor, San Jose, within 10 business days of being married. When the office receives and records the license, the license becomes the marriage certificate.

The county publishes the deadline in business days while the state publishes it in calendar days — see source conflict notes. The person who performed the ceremony is given the license before the ceremony and is responsible for it afterwards.

Official requirement

Return your signed marriage license to the Clerk-Recorder's Office within 10 business days of being married.

Processing
The license is issued during the same office visit: both parties appear, apply online beforehand or on an office computer, take a service ticket, and are called to a window. Applications must be submitted by 4:00 PM to be processed before close of business. A marriage certificate can usually be bought ten business days after the recorded license reaches the office.

A certificate is not sent automatically — it must be requested and paid for. The office warns that a record is unavailable if the event took place within the past four weeks, in which case you may pay and it is mailed once uploaded.

Official requirement

Typically you can purchase your marriage certificate ten business days after the license is received at the Clerk-Recorder's Office.

Ordering the certified record afterwards is a separate request: official certified copy page

Access and language

Published notes
  • The County states its web portal was built to provide alt attributes on non-decorative images for screen readers, logical tab order through links and form controls, font and background colour contrast for visitors with low vision, and content that works well with assistive technology
  • The County's web accessibility statement does not claim conformance with any particular WCAG version or level
  • Under Title II of the ADA the County will, on request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication; requests go to the OSEC Program Manager on (408) 441-4280, as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled event
  • The County will not place a surcharge on an individual with a disability to cover the cost of auxiliary aids, services or reasonable modifications
  • Website accessibility feedback is submitted through the County's Contact Us form, and ADA complaints go to the OSEC Program Manager
Official requirement

The County of Santa Clara will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in the County's programs, services and activities.

Common questions

How much does a marriage license cost in Santa Clara County?
The fee is $80 standard license / $83 confidential license, set by the Santa Clara County Office of the County Clerk-Recorder.
Is there a waiting period for a marriage license in Santa Clara County?
No. There is no waiting period — the license can be used as soon as it is issued.
How long is a Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County?
Yes. Both applicants must appear together to complete the application.
Do we have to be residents to marry in Santa Clara County?
There is no residency requirement. The California Department of Public Health states that you do not need to be a California resident to marry 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 26, 2026.

  1. Apply for a marriage licenseSanta Clara County Office of the County Clerk-Recorder · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  2. Get married in the state of CaliforniaSanta Clara County Office of the County Clerk-Recorder · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  3. Plan your marriage ceremonySanta Clara County Office of the County Clerk-Recorder · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  4. Express wedding ceremony guidelinesSanta Clara County Office of the County Clerk-Recorder · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  5. Fee scheduleSanta Clara County Office of the County Clerk-Recorder · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  6. Purchase a marriage certificateSanta Clara County Office of the County Clerk-Recorder · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  7. Web Content Accessibility Statement for santaclaracounty.govCounty of Santa Clara · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  8. Public Access Under the Americans with Disabilities ActCounty of Santa Clara · issuing authority · retrieved 2026-07-26
  9. California Marriage License General InformationCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Records · state-level source · retrieved 2026-07-26
  10. Types of Marriage LicensesCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Records · state-level source · retrieved 2026-07-26

Recorded conflicts

  • The return deadline is published in two different units. The Clerk-Recorder states the signed license must be returned "within 10 business days of being married", while the California Department of Public Health states that the person solemnizing the marriage must return it "within 10 days of the date of the ceremony". Ten business days is the longer window. The county's own wording is recorded, but a couple should not rely on the extra days without checking, because the return duty falls on the officiant under state law.
  • The office's own site was unreachable to plain HTTP clients during research — both the WebFetch tool and curl with a browser user-agent received HTTP 403 from the Cloudflare protection on santaclaracounty.gov and sccgov.org. Every fact here was read from the live pages in a real browser session instead.
  • The office does not publish a witness rule for confidential licenses. Its own pages state the witness requirement for standard marriages only, including a $32 county witness fee described as "required for all standard marriage ceremonies". The confidential-license exemption is recorded from the state vital records authority, which sets it uniformly across California.
  • The office publishes no minor procedure. Its eligibility statement is simply "18 years of age or older", so the under-18 route is recorded from the state vital records authority, which itself directs applicants back to their County Clerk for the local requirements.
  • The printable fee sheet linked from the fee schedule page as "Download and print the full PDF" is dated 3 July 2024 and could not be retrieved. The fee figures here come from the fee schedule web page and the Apply for a marriage license page, which agree with each other.
  • The online license application runs on scccroselfservice.org, a self-service portal rather than a government host. It is linked from the office's own Apply for a marriage license page as "Start your marriage license application" and is recorded as a navigation target only — no fact in this record comes from it. appointment_url is null because the office states that no appointment is necessary for a marriage license.

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