Apply For An Alameda Marriage License
We set the date! What do we need to do to get our marriage license in Alameda, California?
To get a marriage license in Alameda, California, you will need to go in person together to the Alameda County Clerk-Recorder’s office in Oakland at 1106 Madison Street, Oakland, CA 94607. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office is closed on holidays. Marriage license requests are only accepted before 4 p.m.
If you have other questions about marriage licenses in Alameda County, you can try calling the County Clerk-Recorder’s office at 1-510-272-6362 or visit the office website at http://www.acgov.org/auditor/clerk/ml.htm. The site includes e-mail addresses in case you prefer to e-mail your questions.
What requirements do we need to meet to get a marriage license in Alameda?
You should both be at least 18 years old. Make sure you bring a valid form of photo I.D. when you go to the County Clerk-Recorder’s office.
What other requirements should we be aware of?
The main requirement is that you are both of age and currently unmarried. Blood testing is not a mandatory requirement for marriage licenses in California, and you do not need to be a resident of Alameda to receive a marriage license.
How long is our Alameda County marriage license good for?
Your Alameda County marriage license expires after 90 days.
How much will our marriage license cost?
Marriage licenses cost $96 in Alameda County, but the fee includes your marriage license and also one certified copy of your marriage certificate.
Can we choose who performs our marriage ceremony?
Yes. You can ask any authorized person to perform your marriage ceremony. Persons authorized to perform marriages in California include clergy members authorized by their respective denominations to perform marriages, judges, retired judges, and designated court officials.
If the person you would like to ask is not currently authorized, that person can become authorized to perform marriages by being deputized as a “One-Time Deputy Marriage Commissioner, Without Compensation.” The person that you choose should write a letter to Patrick O’Connell, Alameda County Clerk-Recorder, at 1106 Madison Street, Oakland, CA 94607, that includes the following information: name, address, and phone number of the persons to be married; date and place of the wedding; county where the marriage license was issued; and his or her own name, address, and phone number. The process costs $75.
If you would like to request a civil ceremony, you can request one at the Alameda County Clerk-Recorder’s office any business day before 3:45 p.m. You must bring your own witnesses, and you can also invite up to 29 guests.
After the marriage ceremony, what do we need to do to receive our marriage certificate?
After your marriage ceremony, you must return with the signed marriage license to the County Clerk-Recorder’s office so that your marriage can be recorded. In approximately two weeks, your marriage certificate will be ready for you to pick up.
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