A marriage license must be purchased by all persons to be married prior to having a ceremony performed (FC 359).  Couples are not required to have both a religious ceremony and a civil ceremony.  A license may not be issued if either party of the applicants lacks the capacity to enter into a valid marriage, or when either of the parties is under the influence of an intoxicating liquor or narcotic drug at the time of application.

Separate appointments are required for the license and the ceremony, use the links below to save your spot.

License/Licencia

Ceremony/Ceremonia

•  Fee is $50.00 - Public License $55.00 - Confidential License
• Marriage licenses are issued from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. Appointments are required, use the link below to schedule.
•  Government issued or photo ID is required to verify your name by birth, adoption, court-ordered name change, or naturalization and date of birth.  If the name on your ID is incorrect, please bring in copies of your birth certificate, adoption, name change, or naturalization.
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older. Additional requirements apply if a minor is applying to be married.
• The license is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance.
• The license may be used in any county within the State of California.
• If divorced within the last 6 months, copy of dissolution/decree will be required.
• If both or either party does not speak English or Spanish, a third-party translator that is fluent in both English and the couple's native language must be present when the license is purchased.

Schedule an appointment to purchase your license. THIS APPOINTMENT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CEREMONY!

YOU MUST SCHEDULE THE CEREMONY SEPARATELY. VISIT OUR CIVIL WEDDING CEREMONIES PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Programe una cita para comprar una licencia de matrimonio.

Please complete the below application and submit in-person to purchase your marriage license.  Please note that both parties to the marriage must be present to purchase a marriage license.   Please have all required information available and complete to ensure that we are able to issue your license.

             Marriage License Application                                                  Matrimonio Licencia Solicitud

If your fiancée is incarcerated in Madera County, you must use the application provided below. 

Inmate Marriage License Application: Complete the application and bring to the County Clerk's office at your scheduled appointment. 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Name Equality Act of 2007 (AB 102 Ch 567, Statues of 2007):  All issued marriage licenses include the new middle and last names to be taken by either party after the marriage has occurred.  It is the responsibility of the parties to be married to understand what changes may be made when applying for the marriage license.  Please note that the new name fields may not be amended unless a clerical error has occurred; other corrections/amendments may require a court order.

The Name Equality Act 

Marriage certificates are available for purchase 1-2 weeks after the date of ceremony for a fee of $17.00; this fee is separate and NOT included in the license fee.  (Free copies ARE NOT automatically provided to couples after their marriage.)  Registration will depend upon when the license is received from the officiant.  Certified copies may be purchased by completing the application below or visiting vitalchek.com.

Marriage Certificate Application/Solicitud de Acta de Matrimonio

Protect your family’s health! Learn about diseases or conditions that can be passed down in families (and other health topics) from the California Department of Public Health. Please view this information online or request it by emailing or calling CDPH.

This document contains contact information of family planning and birth controls clinics in Madera County and shall be provided to all marriage license applicants.

Family Planning Info Sheet

If you are performing a wedding ceremony, please review the below documents for instructions on how to complete the marriage license.

For Public Marriage Licenses

For Confidential Marriage Licenses

Additional information for wedding officiants is also provided by the California Department of Public Health:

CDPH - Frequently Asked Questions by Marriage Officiants