A courthouse wedding in Los Angeles County: the ceremony is $35, by appointment only, paid in advance
A civil ceremony (a courthouse wedding, a short ceremony performed by county staff) at Los Angeles County costs US$35 for the ceremony, is by appointment only with payment in advance, and takes about 15 minutes. Before you book, you need a Marriage License: US$91 for a Public license, US$85 for a Confidential license. If you don't bring a witness to an Express ceremony, the county can provide one for US$20.
A civil ceremony is not the same system as Taiwan's notarized marriage; under U.S. law, what matters is whether the license was returned and recorded after the ceremony. Below is how Los Angeles County does it, step by step.
First get the Marriage License
Fees at the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) (checked 2026-10-22):
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Public Marriage License | US$91 |
| Confidential Marriage License | US$85 |
| Civil Ceremony | US$35 |
| Witness provided by the county (Express ceremony) | US$20 |
| Deputy Commissioner for a Day | US$75 |
The difference between Public and Confidential: Public needs at least 1 witness and the record is public; Confidential requires the couple to already be living together, needs no witness, and copies of the record can be requested only by the parties or by court order. A California license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue, and the ceremony can take place anywhere in California. For the full rules, see A California marriage license: hold the ceremony within 90 days.
Booking the civil ceremony
Los Angeles County's rules (RR/CC, checked 2026-10-22):
- All civil ceremonies are by appointment only, and you must pay in advance.
- You need a Marriage License before you can book; you can book the ceremony at the same time you buy the license. If you already have a license, call 1-800-201-8999 to book, and bring the license on the day.
- The ceremony takes about 15 minutes.
- You can reschedule once; after that, you pay again.
- Ceremonies can be held at any RR/CC office, and Express ceremonies are available at seven branch offices. How many guests you can bring depends on the location you choose; you'll be told.
- The county's chapels don't allow outside clergy or officiants. If you want your own officiant, find another venue.
Witnesses
- A ceremony under a Public license needs a witness. The county's Express ceremony page says one witness must be present at the Marriage License window, and if you don't have one, the county can provide a witness for US$20.
- A Confidential license needs no witness.
The witness's signature stays on the marriage certificate, so have them sign with the English name exactly as it appears on their ID.
Have a friend officiate for a day
If you'd like a friend or relative who isn't clergy to perform the ceremony, Los Angeles County has a Deputy Commissioner for a Day program (RR/CC, checked 2026-10-14):
- The fee is US$75; applying less than a month before the wedding adds a US$13 rush fee.
- Apply about two months ahead if you can; the officiant takes an online course and is sworn in.
- It's valid only in California; the officiant doesn't have to live in Los Angeles.
- Ordained clergy don't need to register separately.
Note: the county's chapels don't allow outside officiants, so if a friend or relative officiates, you need to find another venue.
After the ceremony
- California requires the license to be returned to the issuing county for recording within 10 days after the ceremony (San Mateo County official page, checked 2026-10-22).
- Once it's recorded, request a certified copy from Los Angeles County. Copies of a Confidential license can be requested only by the parties.
- If you're registering the marriage in Taiwan, certificates issued by Southern California counties go to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Los Angeles for authentication: US$15 per document, cash only at the counter, about 5 business days in person or about a month by mail; it requires the full long-form certificate and doesn't accept an abstract; your English name, date of birth and place of birth must match your passport (TECO in Los Angeles, checked 2026-10-14).
For the full steps to register in Taiwan, see Married in the U.S., registering in Taiwan: five steps.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a courthouse wedding in Los Angeles cost?
US$91 for a Public license (US$85 for Confidential) plus US$35 for the civil ceremony; if you don't bring a witness to an Express ceremony, a county-provided witness adds US$20.
Can we walk in and get married at Los Angeles County?
No. Civil ceremonies are by appointment only and paid in advance, and you need a license before you can book.
Can a friend officiate in the county's chapel?
No. The county's chapels don't allow outside officiants. If a friend serves as Deputy Commissioner for a Day, you need to find another venue.
From applying for the license to registering in Taiwan, the My Wedding Plan checklist lays out the timing: 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.
Sources (checked 2026-10-22)
- Los Angeles County RR/CC: Fees (checked 2026-10-22)
- Los Angeles County RR/CC: Ceremonies (checked 2026-10-22)
- Los Angeles County RR/CC: Deputy Commissioner for a Day Program (checked 2026-10-14)
- 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)