Obtaining a Marriage License

Pursuant to Family Code 359, applicants to be married shall first appear together in person before the county clerk to obtain a  marriage license in San Bernardino County.

Marriage Ceremony

The laws of the state of California make it unnecessary for person performing marriages to file credentials with the clerk of the court or with anyone else. The county and state are removed fron any responsibility for verification of credentials. Any such concern for verification is totally at the discretion of the parties to the marriage.

Marriage Certificate Copies

The County of San Bernardino office only has records of marriages for licenses purchased from us. For all other marriage license records you must contact the county in which the license was purchased or contact the State Office of Vital Records, 304 S. Street, PO Box 730241, Sacramento, CA. 94224-0241.

Phone Number 916-445-2684.

Obtaining a Marriage License

General Requirements:

Applicants must be unmarried

Minimum age requirement is 18 years

Valid photo I.D. required such as

Drivers license

State issued I.D. card

Passport

Military service or military dependent I.D. card

Allien registration card (Green Card)

I.D. card issued by the U. S. Government

If a form of identification which includes both a photograph and birth date is not available, the use of two other identification documents will be necessary to prove identity and age (one with a photograph and one with a birthdate) Some examples of these types of documents are:

School Identification card

Employee identification card

Certified copy of a birth certificate

Adoption records

If either applicant has been divorced or had an annulment within the last year, we will need a certified copy of the JUDGMENT OF ALLULMENT OR FINAL DECREE OF DISSOLUTION before issuing a license. Note: a “Notice of Entry of Judgment” is not a final dissolution document.

Both applicants must apply together

All persons who are members of a religious society or denomination not having clergy for the purpose of solemnizing marriages, must let the clerk know they need a VS 115 form (Family Code, section 425)

Determine the Type of Marriage License you Require

There are five types of marriage licenses depending on each person’s legal status or religious beliefs. Before you purchase a marriage license you may want to consult an attorney. If you have questions concerning which type of marriage license will best meet your needs neither the County Clerk  nor his deputies are permitted by law to give legal advice. The first two licenses listed below are the most common types of marriage licenses.

Regular Public License    
$83.00
This license is open to the public, may be used anywhere in the stage of California, requires one witness besides person performing ceremony.

Confidential License    
$85.00

This license is not open to the public, photocopies will only be issued to couple, ceremony must take place in San Bernardino County,no witnesses are required, applicants must be living together as husband and wife.

License for Denomination

Not Having Clergy

$83.00

This license is to be used by those persons who~due to religious beliefs are entering into a marriage without the participation of a minister, priest, rabbi, lay leader or other person authorized to solemnize marriages.

Declaration of Marriage

$83.00
To be used by those persons who wish to declare an already existing licensed California marriage for which no official record exists, & more than one year has passed since the date of the marriage.

Court Order Delayed Marriage

This license is required under any of the following situations:

~When a marriage was performed without benefit of a license or the license was expired and the couple is unwilling to sign and acknowledge on the marriage license that they are not married and/or they do not agree to participate in a second ceremony.

~When the requirements to be issued a License and Certificate of Declaration of Marriage cannot be met because the marriage occurred less that on year ago, the couple cannot provide two witnesses who were present at the ceremony; or there is only one spouse available to apply.

~ To record a marriage which occurred in another state or country where the record no longer exists, e.g., was destroyed or lost. Please call 909-386-8916 for more information.

Appear in San Bernardino County

Clerk’s Office

~Please call 909-387-8334 and schedule an appointment from 8:00 a.m.-3:30p.m.,
Monday-Friday, excluding holidays.

~Couples sill be directed to a kiosk to enter their information from the marriage license application form

~Once the information has been entered into the computer, couples will be directed to a County Clerk window to proofread the license, take their oath, show valid identification, sign the license and provide any necessary additional documentation (such as a divorce record, etc.) to complete the marriage license issuance process.

~The original marriage license will be issued to the couple

Note: refunds may not be granted once a license is purchased.

Marriage License for Minors

 For additional information please contact:

San Bernardino District Court

351 North Arrowhead San Bernardino, Ca. 92414

909-387-3912

Marriage Ceremony Information

~Ceremony must be performed within 90 calendar days of purchase of marriage license.

~Couple is present the original marriage license to the person who will be solemnizing the marriage.

~A Public Marriage requires a minimum of four people. An unmarried male, an unmarried female, person solemnizing the marriage, One witness (second is optional)

~A Confidential Marriage requires a minimum of three people. An unmarried male, an unmarried female, person solemnizing the marriage

~After the ceremony, the person solemnizing the marriage is to complete the officiant’s portions of the marriage license in black ink & obtain complete address and signature(s) of witness(es) (if applicable)

~Solemnizer is to return the completed original marriage license to the County Recorder/Clerk in the county in which the license was issued within ten days of the marriage ceremony.

Marriage Certificate Copies

Photo copies of the marriage certificate may be purchased approximately one week after the original marriage license is received and recorded in the Recorder/County Clerk’s office by completing a marriage certificate application form. Enclosing a fee of $14.00 for each copy requested will complete the process of your application.

 Any questions or concerns please contact
Hall of Records 222 West Hospitality Lane San Bernardino, Ca. 92415-0022
(909) 386-8916 or (909) 387-8334