How to apply for marriage license?

garavito_16 · February 2011

The time has come to apply for a marriage license...but I have no idea where to begin?!? I clearly haven't researched this...where do I go? Talk about procrastination!

Vans18 · February 2011

Hello!

I applied online, it's faster and better. Here's the website. I think after you apply, it gives you instructions...not too sure its been a while but I think you go the next day to sign and pay and receive it. Very simple, nothing too confusing.

http://www.lavote.net/clerk/Marriages.cfm

HTH!

chrissyann02 · February 2011

Thank you for the helpful info!

Vans18 · February 2011

Oh and its cash or check only, NO credit/debit cards! Also you both must be present and have your ID's

garavito_16 · February 2011

Thanks Vans!!

crnota · February 2011

It also can take a long time to wait in line for it, even if you have already signed up online. It may depend on where you go- we went to the Van Nuys office and it took almost 3 hours in line! Horrible. It was a Friday afternoon, so that may be why. But definitely budget some time- don't expect to be able to just pop in and pick it up. Then you will be pleasantly surprised if there is no wait!

Vans18 · February 2011

omg crnota that's a long time

it only took us about 20 minutes. I went to the Norwalk location and i went around 1ish.

garavito_16 · February 2011

There's the frustrating part. I work and the earliest I can get off is 2:45ish, and then drive to Van Nuys! I wonder if that would leave us with enough time to get their, wait in line and get our license. I wonder if they open President's day?

RoMy215 · February 2011

Since it's a government run office, it's unlikely they would be open on President's Day. And since we're in California, you should call wherever you go to make sure they are open the day you want to go because of the mandatory furlough days.
That said...the license is valid for up to 90 days but there is no waiting period. Meaning- you COULD do it the day before if you needed. We went the Thursday before our wedding and it only took us about 20 minutes at the Beverly Hills courthouse. And I seem to remember using a credit card for payment. I want to say that they charged a small fee for it...but it was less than $5 if I remember correctly.
But DO fill in the information online first. I think that makes things go much faster.

ourwedding111111 · February 2011

Wow, it seems so easy to get your license in CA. We're getting married in MA where there is a waiting period, no application online or ability to get it before appearing and have it filled out ahead of time.

echavez311 · February 2011

We just got our marriage license on Vday at the Santa Barbara court house...took us about 15 minutes at the most. Paid with a credit card, no fee for using a cc, and it was only $87, btw the SB court house is beautiful!!!

lindseymuir · August 2012

We got ours at the LAX courthouse on a Friday morning at 8:30am. We got there 15 mins early, we were the first in line, and the total process only took 20 minutes! I had applied online the night before so they just printed it out, gave it to us to sign, and that was it. Definitely apply online first so you won't have the 1 hour wait time. We wrote a check because there was a $2 fee for the credit card.

How to apply for marriage license?

Re: How to apply for marriage license?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards