Marriage License
A San Bernardino County marriage license is issued through the County Recorder-Clerk and is required before a marriage ceremony can create an official marriage under the county process described here. Couples need to complete the marriage license application, schedule an in-person appointment, bring acceptable identification and any required supporting documents, choose the appropriate type of license, and complete a ceremony within the license period. The information below explains the application process, eligibility requirements, license types, current county fees, ceremony choices, document rules, and common issues that can delay an appointment.
Marriage License Process
The San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk issues marriage licenses and also performs civil marriage ceremonies. The county organizes the process into four main stages: completing the application, booking an appointment, deciding how the marriage ceremony will be performed, and appearing in person to receive the license.
Couples should begin with the county's official Marriage License & Ceremony service. The marriage application must be completed before entering the office. Completing the application alone does not issue a marriage license and does not make the applicants married.
Application Before the Appointment
Both applicants must satisfy the county's marriage license requirements and complete the marriage application before obtaining the license. The county warns that failing to complete the application before the appointment can delay service and may require the appointment to be rescheduled.
The application is therefore only the first part of the process. After it is completed, the couple must schedule an in-person appointment. Marriage services are provided by appointment, and both parties generally must physically appear together to purchase the license.
In-Person Appointment
Both applicants must appear together at their scheduled appointment. The license is issued in person through the Recorder-Clerk at a county location providing marriage services, including the Hall of Records or the High Desert Government Center.
The county specifically states that both parties must physically appear to purchase the license. Couples who cannot meet that requirement should contact the Recorder-Clerk rather than assuming that one applicant can complete the transaction for both people.
Before attending the appointment, applicants should review the official marriage license requirements because identification, recent divorce documents, language needs, or age-related requirements can affect whether a license can be issued during the scheduled visit.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
Adult applicants must be unmarried and at least 18 years old. California does not require applicants to be residents of the state, and U.S. citizenship is not required to marry in California.
For most adult applicants, preparation should focus on four areas:
Both applicants must currently be unmarried.
Both applicants must appear together in person at the appointment.
Applicants must present acceptable identification establishing identity and age.
Additional documents may be required when a recent divorce or annulment is involved.
Recent Divorce or Annulment
If either applicant was divorced or had a marriage annulled within the previous six months, the Recorder-Clerk requires a certified copy of the Judgment of Annulment or Final Decree of Dissolution before issuing the marriage license.
A Notice of Entry of Judgment does not satisfy this requirement because the county does not treat it as the final dissolution document. Applicants affected by this rule should bring the required certified final document to the appointment rather than relying on other paperwork from the court case.
No Residency Requirement
Applicants do not have to live in San Bernardino County or elsewhere in California to obtain a California marriage license through the county. The county also states that a person does not have to be a United States citizen to marry in California.
These rules concern eligibility for the marriage license itself. They should not be confused with the separate residency requirement for the county's Commissioner for One Day program, which applies when a friend or family member seeks a special appointment to perform the ceremony.
No Waiting Period
There is no waiting period between purchasing the marriage license and having the ceremony. The county also states that California has not required blood tests for marriage licenses since January 1, 1995.
A couple may therefore have a County Clerk ceremony at the time the license is issued if that service has been arranged as part of the appointment. Couples may also take the license to another authorized officiant and hold the ceremony later, as long as the ceremony takes place within the license's 90-day validity period.
Identification for Both Applicants
Valid photo identification is required. The county lists several forms that may be accepted:
Driver's license.
State-issued identification card.
Passport, which must be in English.
Military service or military dependent identification card.
Alien registration card, formerly referred to as a Green Card.
Identification card issued by the U.S. Government.
If an applicant does not have identification containing both a photograph and birth date, the county allows two identification documents to establish identity and age. One must provide a photograph and the other must provide a birth date.
Alternative Identity Documents
Examples of documents that can establish the photographic portion of identity include a school identification card or employee identification card. Documents that may establish birth date include a certified copy of a birth certificate, baptismal certificate, or adoption records.
An applicant without government-issued picture identification should contact the County Clerk's Office to discuss available options before the appointment. This can help prevent arriving with documents that do not meet the county's requirements.
Foreign-Language Documents
Documents written in a foreign language must be translated into English. The translator's signature must be notarized with a full acknowledgement.
Applicants should also consider the language requirements for the appointment itself. Both parties must be able to read, speak, and understand English or Spanish. If they cannot, the couple must bring a translator when obtaining the marriage license.
Public and Confidential Licenses
San Bernardino County offers more than one type of marriage license. The choice affects public access to the marriage record and witness requirements, so applicants should know which license they intend to request before their appointment. The county's marriage license types page explains the distinctions and also addresses special licenses involving minors, religious circumstances, delayed marriages, and declarations of marriage.
Regular Public License
A regular marriage license becomes a public record and may be used anywhere in California. A public marriage ceremony requires at least one witness in addition to the person performing the ceremony.
For the ceremony itself, the county describes a public marriage as involving four people: the two unmarried persons, the individual solemnizing the marriage, and one witness.
Confidential Marriage License
A confidential marriage license is not open to the public. Copies are issued only to the couple unless access is provided through a decree signed by a Superior Court judge.
No witness is required for a confidential marriage ceremony. The county describes the ceremony as involving the two unmarried persons and the person solemnizing the marriage.
Applicants requesting a confidential license must be living together as spouses. Confidential marriage licenses may also be issued by notaries specifically authorized to issue them in San Bernardino County.
The county maintains an official list of authorized notaries, but applicants should distinguish that authorization from ordinary notary services. A general notary commission by itself is not the same as county authorization to issue confidential marriage licenses.
Marriage License Fees
The county's current forms and fee information and Recorder-County Clerk fee schedule list charges for marriage licenses, ceremonies, replacement or duplicate licenses, certificates, and related services. Fees that directly affect many couples include the following:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Marriage license or replacement license | $120 |
| Confidential marriage license or replacement license | $135 |
| Marriage ceremony | $100 |
| Marriage license duplicate | $40 |
| Confidential marriage license duplicate | $40 |
| Affidavit for duplicate marriage license | $10 |
| Marriage ceremony witness | $21 |
| Deputy Commissioner for One Day | $100 |
| Renewal of marriage vows | $48 |
Card payments are subject to a 3.5% surcharge. The county states that American Express, Cash App cards, prepaid cards, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay are not accepted payment methods.
Applicants should distinguish the marriage license fee from the ceremony fee. Paying for and receiving a license does not by itself constitute a marriage. A ceremony still has to be performed.
The 90-Day Ceremony Period
After the marriage license is issued, the couple has up to 90 calendar days from the date the license was purchased to complete the marriage ceremony. If a ceremony is not performed during that period, the county's stated marriage process has not been completed within the license period.
The original marriage license must be presented to the person performing the ceremony. Couples planning a ceremony after their County Clerk appointment should keep the original license available for the officiant rather than treating the document as paperwork that can be set aside until after the wedding.
The county's marriage ceremony guidelines explain what must happen after issuance, including completion of the license by the officiant and the return of the completed original document.
Choosing a Marriage Ceremony
San Bernardino County describes three primary ceremony options after the application and appointment stages. A couple may have County Clerk staff perform the ceremony, use another authorized person, or arrange for a qualified friend or family member to become a Commissioner for One Day.
County Clerk Ceremony
Deputy Commissioners of Civil Marriage perform civil marriage ceremonies through the county. Ceremony services are currently provided at the time the marriage license is issued and are available by appointment.
This option allows the license issuance and ceremony to take place as part of the same county visit when arranged accordingly. A public marriage still requires a witness. A confidential marriage does not require one.
Another Authorized Officiant
A couple may instead receive the license and have an authorized person perform the ceremony later, provided it is completed within 90 days of issuance.
The county's authorized marriage officiants information identifies several categories of people who may solemnize marriages. These include qualifying priests, ministers, rabbis, and authorized persons of religious denominations; certain judges and magistrates; current Members of Congress; specified California constitutional officers and legislators; certain local elected officials; and County Clerk officials and appointed Deputy Commissioners.
The person performing the marriage ceremony must be at least 18 years old.
Commissioner for One Day
A friend or family member who is not otherwise authorized to solemnize marriages may be able to participate through the Recorder-County Clerk's Commissioner for One Day program. This is a one-event appointment rather than an ongoing authorization.
The Commissioner for One Day requirements state that the bride, groom, or person performing the marriage ceremony must reside in San Bernardino County. The proposed commissioner must also be at least 18 years old, complete the Deputy Commissioner for One Day application, and be prepared to present current government-issued identification.
The couple must be prepared to present the marriage license before the marriage is solemnized. If the proposed officiant has already been ordained, the county states that the person does not need to apply through this program.
Commissioner for One Day service is by appointment only, and the county instructs applicants to schedule at least six weeks before the ceremony date. Once approval is granted, the county provides instructions for completing the license, sample wedding vows, and a copy of the commission.
Completing the Marriage License
The officiant has responsibilities after performing the ceremony. The officiant must complete the appropriate portions of the marriage license in permanent black ink. The required information includes the date, city, and county of the marriage, as well as the officiant's printed name, signature, title, and religious denomination when the officiant is a clergy member.
For a public marriage, the officiant must also obtain the required witness information, including the witness's complete address, printed name, and signature.
After the ceremony, the solemnizer is responsible for returning the completed original marriage license to the Recorder-County Clerk in the county where the license was issued. The county requires the completed original to be returned within 10 days of the marriage ceremony.
Witness Rules
Witness requirements depend on the type of marriage license. A regular public marriage requires one witness. A confidential marriage does not require witnesses.
This distinction matters when couples are arranging a small ceremony. A public ceremony cannot consist solely of the couple and officiant because the county requires one witness. For a confidential ceremony, the couple and authorized officiant satisfy the stated participant requirement.
Marriage Licenses for Minors
A different process applies when one or both parties are under 18. A court order must be obtained before the County Clerk can issue the license, and a certified copy of that order must be presented when the marriage license is issued.
The county states that the requirement also applies to emancipated minors. Its marriage information further indicates that judge and parental consent for the minor must be obtained and filed with the County Clerk before issuance.
Minors cannot be issued a confidential marriage license under any circumstances. The county identifies court form FL-910, “Request for Minor to Marry,” for the court-order process.
Special Marriage License Situations
Most applicants will use either a regular public or confidential marriage license, but the county identifies additional license or record procedures for less common circumstances.
Religious Marriage Without Clergy
A license is available for people whose religious beliefs involve entering marriage without the participation of a minister, priest, rabbi, lay leader, or another person otherwise authorized to solemnize marriages. Applicants dealing with this situation should use the county's marriage license type information rather than assuming the regular ceremony process applies.
Court Order Delayed Marriage
A court order delayed marriage license may apply in certain situations involving a prior ceremony or a missing marriage record. Examples identified by the county include a marriage performed without a valid license, an expired license where the couple will not participate in another ceremony, or circumstances in which requirements for another declaration procedure cannot be met.
The county also identifies this process for recording a marriage that occurred in another state or country when the original record no longer exists because it was destroyed or lost.
Declaration of Marriage
A Declaration of Marriage applies to people seeking to declare an already existing licensed California marriage when no official record exists and more than one year has passed since the marriage date.
This procedure is distinct from obtaining a new marriage license. Couples should not use a standard marriage license application as a substitute for the county's process for an older marriage with a missing official record.
After a Foreign Marriage
The county states that a person legally married in another country does not need to marry again in the United States simply to make that marriage legal here. A legally valid foreign marriage should be recognized or accepted in the United States, although proof of the marriage may be required.
The county recommends having at least one certified copy of the marriage record. This situation should not be confused with applying for a new San Bernardino County marriage license before a new ceremony.
Marriage Records After the Ceremony
Marriage licensing and marriage record searches are related but separate county services. The license authorizes the marriage process, while a marriage certificate is associated with the recorded marriage after the ceremony paperwork has been completed and returned.
The Recorder-County Clerk provides an official public access self-service system for indexed record information. The county cautions users that the index functions like a library card catalog: it guides users to information contained in referenced documents but should not be relied upon as a substitute for the underlying document.
When searching the index, users are advised to try all possible spelling variations of names and other available search criteria to maximize results. A public marriage record is generally open to authorized members of the public, while access to a confidential marriage certificate is restricted.
Common Causes of Delay
Many avoidable problems occur before the license is issued rather than during the ceremony. Applicants can reduce the risk of a delayed or rescheduled appointment by matching their preparation to the county's stated requirements.
Do not arrive without first completing the marriage license application.
Both applicants should appear together for the in-person appointment.
Bring acceptable identification establishing both identity and age.
Bring a certified final divorce or annulment document when the prior marriage ended within the last six months.
Do not substitute a Notice of Entry of Judgment for the required final dissolution document.
Translate foreign-language documents into English and obtain the required notarization of the translator's signature.
Bring a translator if both applicants cannot read, speak, and understand either English or Spanish.
Choose the correct public or confidential license before the appointment, particularly when witness requirements or record privacy are important.
Do not assume that purchasing the marriage license makes the couple legally married; the ceremony is a separate required step.
Plan the ceremony within 90 calendar days of purchasing the license.
Relevant County Office
San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk
222 West Hospitality Lane, San Bernardino, CA 92415
909-387-8306
Marriage License FAQs
Can the County Clerk tell us which marriage license type is best?
No. San Bernardino County explains that the County Clerk and deputy clerks are not permitted to provide legal advice or help applicants decide which license is legally appropriate for their circumstances. Couples who are unsure about less common options, such as a religious license, delayed marriage license, or Declaration of Marriage, may want to discuss their situation with an attorney before purchasing a license. The county's marriage license types page provides the official requirements for each available category.
Does an ordained friend need to become a Commissioner for One Day?
Not necessarily. San Bernardino County specifically states that an officiant who is already ordained does not need to apply through the Commissioner for One Day program. Whether an ordained person may legally solemnize the marriage depends on whether the person falls within an authorized category under California law. Couples can review the county's authorized marriage officiants information before making ceremony arrangements.
How much does a marriage certificate cost after the marriage is recorded?
The Recorder-County Clerk's fee schedule lists a marriage certificate or marriage record search at $19. The same $19 fee applies to a confidential marriage certificate or search. These charges are separate from the marriage license and ceremony fees. Applicants planning to obtain certified documentation after the marriage should review the county's Recorder-County Clerk forms and fees for the current schedule and available request forms.
Is there a special fee for correcting an older marriage record?
Yes. The county fee schedule lists a $26 fee for an affidavit to amend a marriage license when the amendment is requested one year or more after the date of the event. Because an amendment involves an existing marriage record rather than a new license, couples should use the Recorder-County Clerk's official procedures and forms applicable to record corrections.