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Santa Clara County exact answer

Are witnesses required for a marriage in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County, standard (public) license: at least one witness must be present at the ceremony. The office charges $32 for a county witness for couples who do not have one. 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.

Published rule and conditions

Marriage ceremony witness rule
Standard (public) license: at least one witness must be present at the ceremony. The office charges $32 for a county witness for couples who do not have one. 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

You must have at least one witness present at your ceremony.

Issuing office

Santa Clara County Office of the County Clerk-Recorder

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Official sources for this answer

  • Fee scheduleSanta Clara County Office of the County Clerk-Recorder - checked July 26, 2026

    Marriage Services. Hours: 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. Marriage license fees (est. total cost): $80.00 - $100.00. Standard License $80.00. Credible witness fee (2 signatures for marriage license applicant lacking proper identification) $20.00. Confidential license $83.00. Marriage ceremony (est. total cost): $112.00 - $174.00. Marriage ceremony (in Chapel) $112.00. Witness fee, for couples lacking a witness (which is required for all standard marriage ceremonies) $32.00. Express marriage ceremony (at window) $174.00. Other marriage services: Certified copy of marriage certificate $19.00. One-day deputy marriage commission $80.00. Chapel usage fee (per 10 minutes) $40.00.

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

    Page last updated 27 April 2017. 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

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