For those who require supporting documents to prove their identity or change of status, a marriage record is an excellent supportive document, as it is issued by a government agency. Marriage records have no expiry just like birth, death and divorce records and can serve a person well. They can use the document to prove a child's legitimacy, to be able to change one's name, and as a genealogy document to add to family history. To obtain marriage records California, it is best to know if you are eligible to get an authorized or an informational copy of the marriage certificate. Informational copies are available to the public and serves only as informational copy, meaning that any third person or parties can access the record. However, it does not have any power and cannot serve as a valid document. An authorized document, on the other hand, can serve as a supporting document and access is limited to several individuals only.
To get a copy of the marriage records, one can check the State's Vital Records division. The office contains marriage indexes ranging from 1949 - 1986 and 1998- 1999. Indexes are not certified copies but contain information where the marriage certificate was issued and the parties in the marriage. For certified copies, one can check out the County Recorder or the Clerk of the County Office. Marriage records are of two types - public and confidential marriage records. Public marriage records are available from the County Recorder's office.
Confidential records, on the other hand, are only given to the parties whose names appear in the marriage certificate and are available from the Clerk of the County Office. Each copy costs about $14 each when accessed through the CDPH. Cost for the record when obtained from the Clerk Office or County Recorder varies. It is important that one should call the office to know the updated fee.
Under the State Law (California Health and Safety Code 103526), the only people who are allowed to get a copy of authorized marriage records are those who have a relationship with the parties and those that are requesting in the performance of their duty or employment. This can be the parents, kids, siblings, spouse, law enforcers and those that are authorized to act in the parties' behalf.
To get a copy of the marriage records, one must first download all the forms required and a sworn statement from the CDPH site or the County Clerk. The sworn statement must be notarized, as the request will not be processed if the documents are incomplete. Also, include a payment fee form and the payment in money order or check. All checks must be US drawn. One can also request a money order from the USPS. Please do note that credit card and cash payments are not allowed. Cash sent together with the request will not be reimbursed should it get lost in the mail.
Processing time can take from 6 months onwards due to the high volume of requests that CDPH receives. For those who need the marriage and divorce records urgently, the fastest way to do so is to order online. Most states now offer online self-service for public records. In addition, other third party vendors also offer public record searches, which is the fastest way one can obtain the records. California has 58 counties all over and if one does not know where the marriage license was issued, it would take them some time to find the records. With online search, it would only take a few minutes or hours.
To get a copy of the marriage records, one can check the State's Vital Records division. The office contains marriage indexes ranging from 1949 - 1986 and 1998- 1999. Indexes are not certified copies but contain information where the marriage certificate was issued and the parties in the marriage. For certified copies, one can check out the County Recorder or the Clerk of the County Office. Marriage records are of two types - public and confidential marriage records. Public marriage records are available from the County Recorder's office.
Confidential records, on the other hand, are only given to the parties whose names appear in the marriage certificate and are available from the Clerk of the County Office. Each copy costs about $14 each when accessed through the CDPH. Cost for the record when obtained from the Clerk Office or County Recorder varies. It is important that one should call the office to know the updated fee.
Under the State Law (California Health and Safety Code 103526), the only people who are allowed to get a copy of authorized marriage records are those who have a relationship with the parties and those that are requesting in the performance of their duty or employment. This can be the parents, kids, siblings, spouse, law enforcers and those that are authorized to act in the parties' behalf.
To get a copy of the marriage records, one must first download all the forms required and a sworn statement from the CDPH site or the County Clerk. The sworn statement must be notarized, as the request will not be processed if the documents are incomplete. Also, include a payment fee form and the payment in money order or check. All checks must be US drawn. One can also request a money order from the USPS. Please do note that credit card and cash payments are not allowed. Cash sent together with the request will not be reimbursed should it get lost in the mail.
Processing time can take from 6 months onwards due to the high volume of requests that CDPH receives. For those who need the marriage and divorce records urgently, the fastest way to do so is to order online. Most states now offer online self-service for public records. In addition, other third party vendors also offer public record searches, which is the fastest way one can obtain the records. California has 58 counties all over and if one does not know where the marriage license was issued, it would take them some time to find the records. With online search, it would only take a few minutes or hours.
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