A California marriage license: hold the ceremony within 90 days, and the officiant returns it to the county within 10
To marry in California, you first apply to any county for a Marriage License. Once you have it, you hold the ceremony in California within 90 days, and after the ceremony the officiant returns the signed license to the issuing county within 10 days to be recorded. Only after it's recorded can you request certified copies of the marriage certificate.
Fees, appointment systems and witness rules vary by county, so below we use the official pages of four counties as examples: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange and San Mateo. This applies to California only; other states have different rules, see How to get a Marriage License.
First choose Public or Confidential
California has two kinds of license:
- Public: At least 1 witness must be present at the ceremony, and the marriage record is a public record.
- Confidential: The couple must already be living together, and no witness is needed; the marriage record is available only to the two parties (San Francisco County, checked 2026-10-14). Los Angeles County also states that copies of a confidential record can be requested only by the parties themselves or by court order.
Which one you choose affects who can request copies later and whether you need a witness. If your spouse will be applying for U.S. immigration status, the copies will be used in immigration filings; for the immigration process, see the visa and documents site.
Fees and appointments in four counties
| County | Public / Confidential | Appointments and applying |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | US$91 / US$85 | See the county website |
| Orange County | US$61 / US$66 | Both of you must complete the online application before coming to the office; appointments are strongly recommended, and walk-ins are served in order of arrival |
| San Francisco County | See the county website | Appointment required, and the application is submitted when you book; appointments can't be rescheduled, and cancellations aren't refunded |
| San Mateo County | See the county website | No requirement to be a local resident or a U.S. citizen |
Dates checked: 2026-10-22 for Los Angeles, Orange and San Mateo counties; 2026-10-14 / 10-22 for San Francisco County. We did not open San Francisco County's fee page this time.
A license issued by any California county can be used for a ceremony anywhere in California (San Francisco County, San Mateo County). You don't have to apply in the county where you live.
What to bring on the day
- Both of you, in person, each with a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a passport or driver's license (San Francisco County, Orange County). San Francisco County also accepts a resident alien card and a military ID; if your ID doesn't show your full legal name, bring a certified copy of your birth certificate or your Social Security card.
- The date your previous marriage ended: San Francisco County requires the exact date; if it ended less than 90 days ago, bring a certified copy of the divorce, annulment or death certificate, with the court seal and the clerk's signature.
- Documents in other languages: San Francisco County requires an English translation by a court-certified or ATA-certified translator, submitted together with the original.
- Language: Orange County requires both of you to be able to read, speak and understand English; otherwise, bring a witness who can interpret. The county does not provide interpreters.
Fill in the application with your name spelled exactly as it appears in English on your ID. Later, when you register the marriage in Taiwan, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) will compare the names on the certificate and the passport.
Witnesses and the ceremony
A ceremony under a Public license needs at least 1 witness. Orange County states that the county does not provide witnesses under any circumstances; Los Angeles County, for a civil ceremony performed at the county office, can provide a witness for US$20 (checked 2026-10-22).
A civil ceremony (a courthouse wedding, a short ceremony performed by county staff) is not the same system as Taiwan's notarized marriage; legally, what matters is whether the license was returned and recorded after the ceremony. Examples of ceremonies at the county:
- Los Angeles County: US$35, by appointment only with payment in advance; you must have the license before booking, and the ceremony takes about 15 minutes (checked 2026-10-14).
- San Francisco City Hall: 6 guests or fewer, no walk-ins; for more than 6 guests, or weekends, evenings and holidays, you need to book one of City Hall's venue options (checked 2026-10-14).
If you'd like a friend or relative to officiate, Los Angeles County offers a Deputy Commissioner for a Day program, with a fee of US$75.
Marry within 90 days, return it within 10
The two deadlines point in opposite directions:
- The license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue and can't be used after it expires (San Francisco County, Orange County, San Mateo County). Orange County states that expired licenses are not refunded.
- Within 10 days after the ceremony, the completed license must be returned to the issuing county to be recorded (San Mateo County, checked 2026-10-22).
The return is usually handled by the officiant. A week or two after the ceremony, confirm with the issuing county that it has been recorded (see item 9 on the checklist).
Request certified copies after recording
Once it's recorded, request a certified copy from the issuing county. Copies of a Confidential license can be requested only by the parties. For how many to order and what they're for, see How many copies of the marriage certificate to order (item 10 on the checklist).
If you're registering the marriage in Taiwan, a California certificate goes to the TECO office in San Francisco (Northern California) or Los Angeles (Southern California) for authentication, depending on the issuing county; see Which TECO office to send your marriage certificate to and Married in the U.S., registering in Taiwan: five steps. The TECO office in Los Angeles requires the full long-form certificate and doesn't accept an abstract.
Frequently asked questions
Can we marry in California if we're not California residents?
Yes. Orange County states there are no citizenship, residency or blood test requirements; San Mateo County doesn't require residency or citizenship either.
How long is a California marriage license valid?
90 days from the date of issue, and the ceremony can take place anywhere in California. If it expires, you have to apply again.
How many witnesses do you need to marry in California?
At least 1 for a Public license; a Confidential license needs no witness, but the couple must already be living together.
Every step in California, from applying for the license to registering in Taiwan, is listed with its timing on the My Wedding Plan checklist: confirming the recording is item 9, certified copies item 10, and registering in Taiwan item 15. There's a free version, and you can start without leaving an email address; once you choose both partners' status, the relevant items are added to the list.
Sources (checked 2026-10-22)
- San Francisco County: Get a marriage license (checked 2026-10-22)
- San Francisco County: Have a civil ceremony at City Hall (checked 2026-10-14)
- Los Angeles County RR/CC: Fees (checked 2026-10-22)
- Los Angeles County RR/CC: Ceremonies (checked 2026-10-14)
- Orange County Clerk-Recorder: Marriage (checked 2026-10-22)
- San Mateo County: How to Get Married in California (checked 2026-10-22)
- Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles: Marriage certificate authentication (checked 2026-10-14)