Search Los Angeles County Marriage Records

How to Get a Marriage Record in Los Angeles County

Marriage records are held by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. The RR/CC issues two types of copies. Authorized certified copies establish identity. Informational certified copies do not. Both versions cost the same fee. Copies are available for marriages where the license was issued in Los Angeles County since 1852. Older paper marriage records may need a search by the Norwalk office or a referral to the County Archives. Public marriage records and confidential marriage records follow different access rules.

To order online, use the VitalChek-powered request page. VitalChek takes Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. A handling fee is added to the RR/CC copy fee. Online orders are processed within 20 working days from the date the order is received. If no record is found, the RR/CC issues a No Record Statement and the fee is not refunded. Mail and in-person options remain available through the Norwalk headquarters and the RR/CC branch network.

LA County Marriage License Application

Marriage licenses are issued by the RR/CC, not by the Superior Court. The marriage license application page tells couples to review eligibility, complete the online application, save the confirmation number, and schedule an in-person appointment. Appointments may be scheduled up to three weeks ahead. Both parties must appear in person. Both must bring valid photo ID. The license fee is paid at the appointment, not online. Eligibility rules are listed on the RR/CC eligibility page.

The RR/CC supports the lead-in image below. The RR/CC contact page shows the Norwalk headquarters and main phone lines used to reach the marriage license desk.

The contact page is the easiest way to confirm current hours and the Norwalk address before booking a license appointment. It also lists service categories that route public callers to the right unit.

Public vs Confidential Marriage Records

Los Angeles County offers two marriage license types. A public marriage license creates a public marriage record. A confidential marriage license creates a confidential marriage record. The two are not the same product. The public version requires one witness at the ceremony. The confidential version does not require a witness and is open only to the parties to the marriage or to a person with a court order. Couples should pick the right form before the appointment. Switching after issue is not simple.

The rules on who may receive a copy are on the RR/CC marriage record access page. Confidential marriage records are not issued as informational copies. Only the parties or a court order can pull them. Public marriage records are wider in access but still limited to authorized recipients for certified copies that establish identity. Everyone else gets the informational version marked as not valid for identity.

The access-rules page is the one to send to a sibling, parent, attorney, or law enforcement officer who needs to know whether they qualify for an authorized certified copy.

Authorized Recipients for Marriage Records

For public marriage records, authorized certified copies may be issued to a short list of people. The list is set by RR/CC and reflects state vital record rules. Anyone not on the list may still order an informational certified copy. The informational copy is stamped: INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY.

• One of the parties to the marriage, or a parent or legal guardian of a party.
• A law enforcement or government representative conducting official business.
• A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner.
• An attorney representing a party or the estate of a party.
• A person or agency empowered by statute or court appointment.

Note: Confidential marriage records are released only to the parties to the marriage or by court order, and informational copies are not issued for them.

Marriage License and Ceremony Fees

Fees published by the RR/CC for marriage records and ceremonies are listed below. The marriage license fee is paid at the appointment. Copy fees are paid at the time of order. VitalChek charges a handling fee on top of the copy cost.

Note: Copy fees are nonrefundable. A No Record Statement is issued when the search returns no match.

Express Marriage Ceremonies

The RR/CC offers express marriage ceremonies by appointment only. All seven RR/CC branch locations support express ceremonies. Each appointment is set for 45 minutes. Couples buy the license and hold the ceremony in the same visit. One witness must be present at the Marriage License window for a public ceremony. Family and friends wait outside. The RR/CC can supply a witness for $20 if a couple does not bring one. Confidential ceremonies do not need a witness.

Note: Express ceremony appointments fill quickly in Norwalk and at the Beverly Hills, Florence-Firestone, Lancaster, LAX/Courthouse, San Fernando, and East Los Angeles branches; book up to three weeks in advance.

RR/CC Branch Office Locations and Hours

The Norwalk headquarters is the primary public counter for marriage licenses, marriage record copies, and birth/death/marriage record services. Mail goes to Norwalk only. The branch office locations page lists each district office, the services it offers, and its public hours.

The branch list helps couples pick a closer office than Norwalk when buying a license or booking an express ceremony.

VitalChek Online Marriage Record Orders

VitalChek is the only online channel the RR/CC uses for certified marriage record copies. Orders are taken at the online request page. The page lists card types, processing time, copy fees, and the handling fee. Orders are processed within 20 working days from receipt. Same-day pickup is not part of the online channel. For same-day service, walk into Norwalk or Lancaster and present ID at the counter.

The Public Marriage Record Request PDF is the mail-in form. Mail the form, ID copy, and payment to the Birth, Death and Marriage Records Section, P.O. Box 489, Norwalk, CA 90651-0489. Allow time for mail handling on top of the 20 working day processing window.

How to Apply for a Los Angeles County Marriage License

The RR/CC application flow is short, but each step matters because skipping one will block the appointment. Couples should plan around the photo ID rule and the appointment window.

1. Review eligibility on the RR/CC eligibility page.
2. Complete the online marriage license application on the RR/CC site.
3. Save the confirmation number from the online application.
4. Schedule an appointment up to three weeks in advance.
5. Bring valid photo ID for each applicant to the appointment.
6. Buy the license at the RR/CC counter.
7. Schedule the ceremony, or use the express ceremony if booked.
8. Return or record the signed marriage certificate after the ceremony through the officiant.

Note: Confirmation numbers are required at check-in; couples without one are sent back to the online application.

Marriage License Field Table

The marriage license application asks for fields that match California law on identity, age, and license type. The table below mirrors the field inventory published with the RR/CC application flow. Exact web field labels are not exposed on the public application page, but each field maps to a license requirement.

Where Divorce Decrees Are Kept

Divorce decrees are court records, not RR/CC records. The RR/CC divorce record information page tells callers and visitors that divorce decrees are not issued by RR/CC and points them to the Superior Court. The Family Law Division of the Los Angeles Superior Court holds the case files, judgments, and orders for divorces filed in the county.

How to File for Divorce in Los Angeles County

California divorces are filed in the Superior Court of California for the county where one spouse lives. The statewide California Courts divorce self-help guide walks through residency, forms, service, disclosures, and judgment. Los Angeles County divorces are filed with the LA Superior Court Family Law Division.

1. Confirm California residency and Los Angeles County venue.
2. Use California Courts self-help divorce forms or hire an attorney.
3. File the petition in the LA Superior Court Family Law Division.
4. Serve the spouse or respondent under California rules.
5. Handle disclosures, custody and support, property, and any mediation.
6. Submit judgment documents to the court.
7. Use PAOS family law case access to track the case and pull copies.

Family Law PAOS Search

The LA Superior Court PAOS civil and family name search covers family law cases from 1983 to the present. The PAOS document image search covers family law document images from May 1, 2000 to the present, with the standard note that confidential documents, sealed cases, and courtroom-filed papers may not appear online.

Name search results show litigant names, case type, filing date, filing location, and the count of available imaged documents. To download a document image, the case number is required. Family law records may be redacted for child-protection reasons, and certain motions may be filed under seal.

Older Marriage Records Since 1852

The RR/CC keeps marriage records for licenses issued in Los Angeles County since 1852. That makes Los Angeles County one of the deepest marriage record holdings on the West Coast. Same-day in-person copy service is available for marriage records from 1995 forward at the Norwalk office. Older records may need a manual search.

Researchers tracing family or estate matters should call the Norwalk number at (800) 201-8999 before mailing a request for a pre-1995 record. For older divorce files that pre-date PAOS coverage, contact LA Superior Court Archives through the courthouse handling the original case. Genealogy researchers should also check the Los Angeles County Archives for transferred historical case files.

Related Los Angeles County Records

For estate matters, see Los Angeles County probate records. For broader public records and CPRA requests, see public records. For Superior Court clerk info, see Clerk of the Superior Court. For the full court records index, see court records.