Los Angeles County Marriage Record Search

A Los Angeles County marriage record search allows individuals to access and request copies of official documents containing details about marriages recorded in the county. Primary examples of these official documents include marriage licenses and certificates.

Los Angeles County marriage records are legal proof that two persons were allowed to marry (marriage license) and are legally married (marriage certificate). Additionally, certain types of marriage records are required to conduct legal processes like changing the name on an individual’s driver's license, passport, and social security card after marriage and taking on their spouse’s surname. Furthermore, a married couple's descendants and family members can access their marriage records during genealogical research to trace their family lineage.

Marriage records are not part of Los Angeles County Court Records. As a result, they are maintained separately from family law records like divorce decrees, child custody orders, and adoption records. Generally, marriage records are preserved as vital records by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk and the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR)

Are Marriage Records Public?

Yes. In Los Angeles, there are public marriage records and confidential marriage records. Select individuals are allowed access to public marriage records, including:

• One of the parties to the marriage and their parent, legal guardian child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner.
• Members of a law enforcement agency and other government agencies that require the record to conduct their official business as provided by law
• An attorney of one of the parties to the marriage or who is representing the party’s estate
• An individual or entity authorized by a California statute or a court-appointed representative to act on behalf of one of the parties to the marriage or their estate

On the other hand, confidential marriage records are only available to the parties to the marriage or by court order.

Types of Marriage Records in Los Angeles County

In Los Angeles County, marriage records are classified into two (2) categories: marriage license and marriage certificate.

Marriage Licence: This is an official document that prospective couples must obtain before they can get legally married. It is important to note that obtaining a marriage license does not constitute being legally married; it merely authorizes couples to get legally married. Prospective couples must meet specific eligibility requirements to obtain a marriage license in Los Angeles County. These include:

• Both parties must be unmarried when applying for a marriage license.
• Both parties must be present when applying for a marriage license and provide proof of identity and age document for photo and age verification.
• If either party had been married, they must present written proof of a divorce or the dissolution of their previous marriage, provided the event occurred within the last two years.
• If the parties entered into a State Registered Domestic Partnership, they must present proof of termination, provided the termination occurred within the last two years. Additionally, they must provide a copy of their Declaration of Domestic Partnership.
• Any party under 18 must present a Notarized Parent or Guardian Consent Statement and a Superior Court order permitting them to obtain a marriage license.

A marriage license is valid for 90 days after it is issued and can only be used within this timeframe.

Marriage certificate: This official document legally proves that a couple is married. In Los Angeles County, a marriage certificate is issued by the County Clerk's Office after a marriage license issued by the officer has been completed and returned for recording following a civil or religious marriage ceremony.

How to Find Marriage Records in Los Angeles County

Record seekers can find Los Angeles County marriage records through:

• The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
• The California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR)
• Authorized third-party websites

Los Angeles County Marriage License Lookup

Unfortunately, the Los Angeles County Clerk's Office does not provide searchable databases for inquirers to look up marriage licenses. The office only provides different means record seekers can use to request local marriage license records.

Therefore, third-party websites that offer marriage record search services are the only viable means for inquirers to look up Los Angeles County marriage license records. These websites are easy to use and searchable by supplying the name of a party to a marriage or a case number. However, users may be charged a fee for conducting searches, and they can also order marriage records from these third-party websites for a fee or subscription.

Where Do I Get A Certified Copy Of My Marriage Certificate

In Los Angeles County, an individual can order a certified copy of their marriage certificate from the Los Angeles County Clerk’s Office or the California Department of Public Health—Vital Records (CDPH-VR).

The Los Angeles County Clerk’s Office provides two avenues interested persons can use to order a certified copy of their marriage certificate: in-person and by mail. Notwithstanding how an individual requests their marriage certificate from the Clerk’s Office, they will be charged a $17 fee per certified copy of a public marriage record or confidential marriage record they request. For in-person requests, record seekers must complete an online application and schedule an in-person appointment through the County Clerk’s dedicated vital record website before their visit. Generally, individuals can schedule appointments up to three (3) weeks in advance, and requesters must come along with their valid photo ID and required fee payment during their appointment date.

Acceptable forms of payment of fees for in-person requests include cash, check, money order, debit/credit card, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay. Checks must be made to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, and the signer must present a valid identification at the time of purchase. Meanwhile, debit/credit card, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay payments are subject to a $1.75 service fee and a maximum limit of $15,000.

Only marriage certificates from 1995 will be available for purchase on a record seeker's scheduled appointment date for in-person requests. Marriage certificates were recorded between 1852 and 1994, and all informational certified copies were mailed within 20 business days of receiving the request.

To order a marriage certificate by mail from the Los Angeles County Clerk’s Office, record seekers can utilize the Application for Marriage Record and Certificate of Identity form or the Application for Confidential Marriage Record and Certificate of Identity form. Depending on the type of marriage certificate an individual wishes to request, either form must be completed. Furthermore, the requester must sign the application and Certificate of Identity and have the Certificate of Identity notarized. The completed, signed, and notarized forms must be mailed along with the required payment fee (via checks or money orders payable to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk) to:

Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Birth, Death, and Marriage Records Section
P.O. Box 489
Norwalk, CA 90651-0489

Mail-in requesters can expect to receive their request record by mail within 20 business days from the date the request is received.

On the other hand, CDPH-VR can only provide certified copies of certificates for public marriages recorded in Los Angeles County between 1905 and 1999, as well as 2008 and 2023. Note that the CDPH-VR can not provide certified copies of certificates for the years 2000 through 2007. The CDPH-VR accepts requests submitted via Electronic Submission or mail-in request using VS 113a - Application for a Certified Copy of Marriage Record (also available in Spanish). To request a copy of a sealed record, requesters can use the CDPH 9126 - Application for Requesting a Sealed Record. The CDPH-VR fee for certified marriage records is $17 per copy, and acceptable forms of payment for mail-in requests are checks or money orders payable to CDPH Vital Records.

Get a Marriage Certificate Online in Los Angeles County

Neither the Los Angeles County Clerk’s Office nor the CDPH-VR provides online resources individuals can use to order marriage certificates online. As a result, record seekers must rely strictly on authorized third-party websites to order a Los Angeles County marriage certificate online. These websites offer fast processing time for requests and a user-friendly interface that makes them easy to use. Users can search most third-party websites by party name or case number. However, users are typically charged a fee or subscription to conduct a search or request a marriage certificate through these third-party websites.

Find Public Marriage Records Free Online

There is no definite way to find free public Los Angeles marriage records online. Marriage records are generally only available online through third-party websites, and these websites usually charge users a fee to access them. Nonetheless, users may access basic information about marriage records on some third-party websites for free.