A certified copy of a marriage certificate in California costs $19, whether you order it from the county recorder where the marriage was registered or through the California Department of Public Health.1California Department of Public Health. Vital Records Fees That $19 is per copy, and most couples order two or three. If you are asking because you are about to get married, the bigger expense comes earlier: the marriage license itself runs roughly $50 to $130 depending on the county, which pushes typical total spending to somewhere between $100 and $250 once you add a couple of certified copies and possibly a civil ceremony fee.
The Certificate Is Not the License
These are two different documents, and the $19 fee only applies to one of them. The marriage license is the authorization the county issues before your ceremony. The marriage certificate is the recorded proof that the marriage happened, created after your officiant returns the completed license to the county. When an employer, insurer, or the Social Security Administration asks for your “marriage certificate,” they want a certified copy of that recorded document.
What the County Charges for the License
License fees are set at the county level and are not standardized across California’s 58 counties. A few examples:
- Los Angeles County: $91 for a public license, $85 for a confidential license.2Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Marriage License and Ceremony Fees
- Contra Costa County: $95 public, $100 confidential as of January 2025.3Contra Costa County Clerk Recorder. Marriage License and Ceremony Fees
- Ventura County: $108 public, $122 confidential.4Ventura County Clerk and Recorder. Marriage Licenses
A confidential license is not automatically the pricier of the two; Los Angeles actually charges less for it. Call or check the website of the county clerk where you plan to apply for the current figure. Cash, checks, and credit cards are generally accepted.
If you want the county to perform the ceremony too, there is a separate charge. Los Angeles County, for example, charges $35 for a civil ceremony that takes about 15 minutes.5Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Civil Ceremony Information
Authorized Copies vs. Informational Copies
Both types of certified copy cost the same $19, but they are not interchangeable. An authorized certified copy is the full legal document that can be used to establish identity, change your name, or complete other legal transactions. An informational certified copy carries the same data but is stamped “Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity.”6California Department of Public Health. Authorized Copy vs. Informational Copy For a name change on your Social Security card, driver’s license, or passport, order the authorized version.
Who Can Order a Certified Copy
For a public marriage certificate, an authorized copy is available to a limited set of people under California Health and Safety Code Section 103526:7California Legislative Information. California Code HSC 103526 – Certified Copy and Verification of Records
- Either spouse
- A parent or legal guardian of either spouse
- A child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of either spouse
- A domestic partner of either spouse
Anyone outside those categories can still request an informational copy for the same $19. For a confidential marriage certificate, the restriction is tighter: only the two spouses themselves can obtain an authorized copy.8California Legislative Information. California Code FAM 508 – Confidential Marriage Certificate
Ordering Copies After the Wedding
Your officiant is required to return the completed license to the county recorder within 10 days of the ceremony.9California Legislative Information. California Code FAM 359 – Marriage License Only after the county records that filing does a certificate exist to order. Expect a few weeks between the ceremony and the moment copies become available.
You can request certified copies in person or by mail from the county recorder, or online through the California Department of Public Health’s ordering system. Each copy is $19.1California Department of Public Health. Vital Records Fees Ordering two or three at once is generally the practical move, since you will hand copies to Social Security, the DMV, your employer’s benefits office, and sometimes your bank or insurer.
What It Costs to Fix a Mistake
If the certificate comes back with a misspelled name or a blank field, you can correct most errors through the California Department of Public Health using Form VS 24C, the Application to Amend a Marriage Record.10California Department of Public Health. Application to Amend a Marriage Record (VS 24C) The “New Name” section cannot be amended this way. What the correction costs depends on how quickly you catch it:
- Within one year of the marriage: no amendment fee, but certified copies of the corrected record are still $19 each.
- After one year: a $26 amendment fee that includes one free copy of the corrected record; additional copies are $19 each.1California Department of Public Health. Vital Records Fees
CDPH does not amend confidential marriage certificates. For those, contact the county clerk’s office where the license was originally issued.10California Department of Public Health. Application to Amend a Marriage Record (VS 24C)
A Realistic Total
Adding it up, a couple marrying in California should plan on the county license fee (roughly $50 to $130), any civil ceremony fee if the county performs the wedding, and $19 for each certified copy of the resulting marriage certificate. Two or three copies is a reasonable starting order. If you spot an error later, budget another $19 per corrected copy, plus the $26 amendment fee if more than a year has passed.