Marriage

MARRIAGE LICENSE AND CEREMONY SERVICE UPDATE: 

The Contra Costa Clerk-Recorder’s office is pleased to announce that we are offering a special venue for couples who wish to exchange wedding vows. The office is partnering with the National Park Service to host weddings at the historic John Muir House, located at 4202 Alhambra Avenue in Martinez on Friday, May 27th, 2022. Please click HERE for more information.

You must schedule an appointment to have your ceremony at our location.  At this time, we are not accepting walk-in ceremonies.  

For civil marriage ceremonies performed at our location, you may bring up to 5 guests. Only one witness to the marriage ceremony will be required to sign the license.

A marriage license must be obtained prior to having a ceremony.  To complete a marriage license online, click HERE. 

To schedule a ceremony appointment, click HERE.

The Clerk-Recorder grants Deputy Commissioner status to individuals to conduct a single ceremony. A $50 fee applies. For a Deputy Commissioner Packet, click HERE.

 

Order an existing marriage license
Click here to order an existing Marriage License online or by mail. 
Apply for a marriage license
Click here to apply for a marriage license online. Please note, the application online is for your convenience only.  Both applicants must come into our office to complete the process and receive your marriage license.  Should you wish to print a copy of the application and bring it with you, fill out the printable marriage license form instead of the online form.  There are two pages to the application.  Make sure you print and bring both pages with you.  For the printable application, click on Marriage License Application.

What is the difference between a Public and a Confidential License?

Public: The ceremony may take place anywhere in the State of California, at least one witness must be present to sign the license, and applicants must be unmarried and at least 18 years of age .  If a minor is obtaining a marriage license, a certified copy of the court order will be required. The marriage record is made available to the public upon formal request.

Confidential: Parties to the marriage must be living together as spouses, no witnesses are allowed to sign the marriage license, and applicants must be unmarried and at least 18 years of age.  The marriage record is only made available to the named parties on the document.

Marriage License Fees

We accept cash, credit and debit cards.  Credit and debit cards are subject to an additional service fee. Checks are not authorized for marriage licenses and wedding ceremonies. For fees related to obtaining a marriage license, as well as ceremony fees, please click on the fee link at the right side of this page.

Wedding Ceremony Information
Click here for information regarding wedding ceremonies in our office.
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding events are held quarterly at unique locations throughout Contra Costa County.

Please visit our homepage for upcoming events.

Past events:

John Muir House – 8/16/19

Mount Diablo Summit – 5/24/2019

John Muir House – 2/14/2019

California Theatre – 11/30/2018

Rosie The Riveter/WWII Home Front – 9/7/2018

Mount Diablo Summit – 5/25/2018

John Muir House – 2/14/2018

Holiday Weddings
Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and other holidays are popular for couples to be married, with our ceremony rooms specially decorated for the occasion.

Visit our homepage for upcoming wedding events.

Past events:
Halloween 2017

Where can I obtain a copy of my divorce certificate / decree?

The County Clerk-Recorder’s office does not handle divorce documents, judicial orders, restraining orders, case files or case records.  For online information regarding those documents please go to the website for the Superior Court http://cc-courts.org/.