Obtaining a Confidential Marriage License

Quick Guide

The instructions you are about to read pertain solely to obtaining a Confidential Marriage License (i.e., this is not a Public License) through a Notary Public certified to provide such license for marriage ceremonies officiated within Riverside County, CA.

These instructions may not apply to obtaining such license directly from the Riverside County Recorder's Office. Please contact a Riverside County Recorder's office for clarification as to their requirements respecting the issuance of a Confidential Marriage License.

Both parties seeking a Confidential Marriage License must personally appear before the issuing notary public. There are no exceptions. The notary public will contact you to schedule an appointment. You must bring with you appropriate identification. See the following qualifying I.D.

To obtain a marriage license you must meet the following requirements:

1. Both parties MUST be 18 years of age or older.

2. Both parties MUST come into the office TOGETHER to obtain the marriage license.

3. Both parties MUST have a valid, current picture I.D. The I.D. must be government issued. Some examples include: State issued Drivers License or I.D. card; Military I.D.; Green Card; Naturalization Certificate; Passport. If the applicant is age 18 to 21, a current school I.D. along with a certified copy of a birth certificate is acceptable. If a person DOES NOT have acceptable I.D., then all of the following is required:

- A CERTIFIED copy of birth certificate.

- At least 2 documents with their name on it that only they would have, such as: Utility bills; pay stub; medical card; insurance policy; school records.

- A third party who has known the applicant for at least two years, who does have valid I.D. and is willing to sign an affidavit of identity under the penalty of perjury.

- If either party has been divorced or has had dissolution of a State Registered Domestic Partnership within 90 days of the issuance of the marriage license, a copy of the FINAL Dissolution IS REQUIRED. We will take a copy of the register of actions showing the written final decree of dissolution has been entered. The divorce paperwork does not need to be certified. A copy of a Minute Order IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

- If a State Registered Domestic Partnership has been issued the couple in the past, proof of same is necessary.

A Confidential Marriage License issued by the Riverside County Clerk to a notary public shall be valid only for a period of 90-days after its issuance by such County Clerk. The ceremony MUST be performed within Riverside County.

You must be an unmarried man and an unmarried woman at least eighteen (18) years of age. A Confidential Marriage License will not be issued to anyone under the age of 18 years, even if such person is an Emancipated Minor.

You must be able to swear under penalty of perjury that you are living together at the time the license is purchased. There is no set time that you must be living together to qualify for a Confidential License.

If either applicant has been divorced within 90 days of the issuance of the marriage license, a copy of the FINAL Decree IS REQUIRED. The Register of Action showing that the written final Decree of Divorce has been entered is acceptable. The divorce paperwork does not need to be certified. A copy of a Minute Order IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. If an applicant has been divorced for a period in excess of 90 days of the issuance of the marriage license, such applicant must provide the actual date of divorce (i.e., the date the final decree was entered).

This type of license is only issued to couples having their marriage service performed by an authorized officiant of Joyful Weddings & Marriages. Because Confidential Marriage Licenses create a private record of marriage that is only accessible by either party in the marriage or by court order we ALWAYS obtain a certified copy for every couple. Additional copies may be ordered by mail using the correct county form. The form will need to be notarized verifying that the person requesting a copy of the license is one of the parties to the marriage.

Should anyone other than the couple (including future children) desire access to the marriage record, it can only be obtained through court order. Because of the foregoing, Joyful Weddings & Marriages will only arrange for the issuance of a confidential marriage license when a certified copy of the license is also purchased at the time of the wedding service.

To obtain a Public or Confidential Marriage License directly from the county and to expedite the process, we suggest that you first complete the Marriage License Application / Worksheet and then call a California Recorder's Office for an appointment. Ask as to the other specific items and/or information they require in order to issue you a license.

Quick Guide

Call Joyful Weddings & Marriage toll free at 877-627-7996 and we will instruct you as to the proper documentation that the Notary Public will require in order to issue your Confidential Marriage License and how best to transmit the information.

 

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