A Yolo County marriage license is issued by the Clerk-Recorder’s office at 625 Court Street, Room B01, in Woodland. Both partners appear together, present valid photo ID, take an oath, and pay the fee: $99 for a public license or $90 for a confidential license. There is no residency requirement and no waiting period, so you can marry the same day the license is issued.
Who Can Apply
California requires both people to be at least 18 and capable of consenting to the marriage.1California Legislative Information. California Code FAM 300 – Validity of Marriage Neither partner can already be married to someone else. You must obtain the license from a county clerk before the ceremony takes place.2California Legislative Information. California Code FAM 350 – Marriage License
Both partners must appear in person. California does not allow proxy marriages, with one narrow exception for an active-duty military member stationed overseas in an armed conflict, who may authorize someone to appear through an original, notarized power of attorney. Outside that situation, no one can stand in for an absent partner.
Each person brings original, unexpired photo identification showing a photograph, date of birth, and issue and expiration date. A state driver’s license or ID card, a passport, or a military ID all qualify.3California Department of Public Health. California Marriage License General Information
If Either Partner Was Previously Married
The application asks for the exact date any prior marriage or registered domestic partnership ended and how it ended: divorce, annulment, or death. If either partner’s divorce was finalized within the past six months, you must bring physical copies of the court documents to the appointment. Without that paperwork, the clerk cannot issue the license.4Yolo County ACE Department. Marriage
Public License or Confidential License
Yolo County offers two license types. The difference comes down to witnesses and privacy.
Public License
The public license costs $99.5Yolo County ACE Department. Marriage Services Fees At least one witness must be present at the ceremony and sign the license afterward. Once recorded, the marriage certificate is a public record, and anyone can request a copy.
Confidential License
The confidential license costs $90 and is only available to couples already living together as spouses.6California Legislative Information. California Code Family Code 500 – General Provisions No witnesses are required at the ceremony. Only the two spouses or a court can obtain a certified copy of the marriage record.7Yolo County ACE Department. Marriage Certificate Request You sign a declaration under penalty of perjury that you have been living together; the county does not ask for a lease or other proof, but the statement carries legal weight.
How to Apply
Yolo County lets you complete the marriage license application online before your office visit, which shortens the time you spend at the counter. The application collects detailed information from both partners:
- Current legal names and full names at birth
- Date and place of birth for each partner
- Each parent’s full birth name and state or country of birth8Yolo County Assessor Clerk Recorder and Elections. Marriage License Application Information
- Number of prior marriages, how each ended, and the date it ended
Get the parent information right the first time. Those details are permanently recorded on the marriage certificate, and correcting them later takes a separate amendment process and additional fees. If you’re missing a parent’s birthplace, track it down before you start.
After you submit the application, both partners visit the Clerk-Recorder’s office together. The clerk verifies your ID, reviews the application, and administers a formal oath to both of you. Payment is accepted by credit or debit card, check, or cash. The clerk issues the license on the spot once the oath is taken and the fee is paid.
Fees at a Glance
All marriage-related fees charged by the Yolo County Clerk-Recorder’s office:5Yolo County ACE Department. Marriage Services Fees
- Public marriage license: $99
- Confidential marriage license: $90
- Civil marriage ceremony: $66
- Marriage room rental: $100
- Witness provided by the office: $23
- Commissioner for a Day authorization: $31
- Certified copy of marriage certificate: $17
- Duplicate marriage license (if the original is voided): $17
After the License Is Issued
The license is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. If the ceremony doesn’t happen in that window, the license expires and you buy a new one; there are no extensions.3California Department of Public Health. California Marriage License General Information California has no mandatory waiting period between the license and the ceremony.
The ceremony can take place anywhere in California. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed, signed license to the Yolo County Clerk-Recorder’s office within 10 days, either by hand delivery or postmarked before the deadline.9California Legislative Information. California Code FAM 359 – Marriage License Make sure your officiant knows about this deadline. It’s their legal obligation, but a missed return creates problems for you when you need proof of marriage for insurance, taxes, or a name change.
One detail that catches couples off guard: the license is voided by any alteration, erasure, strikeover, or use of correction fluid. All signatures must stay inside their designated boxes. If the office determines the document has been altered, you’ll need a $17 duplicate license and have to complete the ceremony paperwork again.4Yolo County ACE Department. Marriage
Civil Ceremonies at the Office
The Clerk-Recorder’s office performs civil ceremonies Monday through Friday. English ceremonies are offered at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and Spanish ceremonies at 1:30 p.m.4Yolo County ACE Department. Marriage The ceremony fee is $66, separate from the license fee. Walk-ins are not accepted, and popular time slots fill up, so book ahead.
The marriage room holds up to 20 people. If you have a public license, you need at least one witness; the office will provide one for $23 if you don’t have one.5Yolo County ACE Department. Marriage Services Fees Ring exchanges are allowed but not legally required.
Same-day license and ceremony is possible. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled ceremony time so the clerk has time to process the license.4Yolo County ACE Department. Marriage You can also rent the marriage room for $100 and bring your own officiant.
Who Can Officiate
California authorizes priests, ministers, rabbis, and leaders of any religious denomination, along with active or retired judges, court commissioners, and certain federal judges and magistrates. State legislators and Members of Congress from California districts may officiate while in office.
To have a friend or family member perform the ceremony, use the Commissioner for a Day program. Yolo County charges $31 for the authorization, which deputizes a specific person to solemnize your marriage.5Yolo County ACE Department. Marriage Services Fees
Changing Your Name on the License
Either or both partners can change their middle name, last name, or both through the marriage license, with no separate court petition. You select the new name on the license application before the ceremony, and the recorded certificate serves as your legal proof of the change.
Options for a new last name include your spouse’s current last name, either spouse’s birth last name, a hyphenated combination, or a single blended name using parts of both. Middle name options are similarly flexible. Decide before the office visit. Once the license is issued, you cannot go back and add a name change.
Ordering Certified Copies
Once the officiant returns the license and the county records the marriage, you can order certified copies. You’ll need them to update your name with the Social Security Administration, DMV, banks, and employers. Each certified copy costs $17.7Yolo County ACE Department. Marriage Certificate Request
Yolo County accepts four order methods: online through the county’s vital records portal with a 24-hour processing window, in person at the office where you receive the certificate on-site, by mail using a printed application in English or Spanish (one to two business days after receipt), or by fax with a signed application (also one to two business days).
For mail and fax requests for an authorized certified copy, the application must be signed before a notary public. An authorized copy is a full legal document usable to establish identity. Anyone who doesn’t qualify as an authorized recipient can request an informational copy, which is stamped to indicate it cannot be used for identification. For a confidential marriage, only the two spouses can order certified copies, and no informational copies are available to anyone else.7Yolo County ACE Department. Marriage Certificate Request
Office Location and Hours
The Yolo County Clerk-Recorder’s office is at 625 Court Street, Room B01, Woodland, CA 95695, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.10Yolo County ACE Department. Clerk-Recorder If you’re planning to get the license and hold a civil ceremony the same day, arrive early and give yourself margin.