What Happens After You Sign Your Marriage License?

California Marriage Licenses:

After your marriage is solemnized by an authorized wedding officiant (an ordained minister, pastor, priest, reverend, judge or justice of the peace) then your officiant must sign and complete the marriage certificate at the bottom of your marriage license. If you purchased a public marriage license, at least one adult witness must also sign the document. If the Officiant Guy is officiating your wedding and providing your California marriage license, he can provide you with a notarized “Customer Copy” of your wedding license right after your wedding ceremony.

california confidential marriage license

The Officiant’s Responsibility

Your officiant is then responsible for submitting the marriage license to the county of origin within 10 days. The thing that is unique about Chris, the Officiant Guy, is that he hand delivers your license to the County Clerk’s Office instead of mailing it in. That ensures that it gets there on time, that it is acknowledged by a clerk at the County Clerk’s Office and that it is processed sooner since the County Clerk’s office processes marriage licenses in the order they are received.

You can request to turn the marriage license in yourself. However, too many couples get busy and forget that very important responsibility. In the case of military couples, it is actually better for them to turn in the marriage license if one of them can show proof of deployment. Otherwise, it’s best to give it to Chris.

When Will You Get Your Marriage Certificate?

Any County Clerk’s Office is pretty overloaded and they may take 6 to 8 weeks to complete the recording process. Don’t panic if you have been married for as long as a few months and your marriage is still not yet recorded. The County Clerk is a governmental agency. They do things at their own pace because they have to verify all the facts on your marriage license. If any of the information is incorrect, then expect delays. That’s why accuracy is important.

Patience is the best method when any dealing with the County Clerk’s Office, That is why we recommend that you ask the Officiant Guy to provide your license. His notarized copy is accepted by insurance companies, financial institutions, most employers, and often the Social Security Administration.

Getting Certified Copies, Chris Can Help

Unfortunately, there is a bit of paperwork and legwork you need to do to get certified copies of the marriage license after your wedding.

Please go to this page and answer the form at the bottom of the page if you would like Chris to fill out and get the paperwork to you for a certified copy of your marriage license.

If you failed to order enough certified copies of your marriage license then you’ll need to go in person to the County Clerk’s office and stand in the terribly long lines or you must download an application for a new certified copies and a Certificate of Identity which you must have notarized before your mail your certified copy request to the County. If your marriage license and certificate was already recorded it will still take several weeks before you receive your new certified copies of your marriage certificate.

This wedding officiant recommends that you order three certified copies at the time of your marriage, one for each of you and one for an off-site location, either a safety deposit box or a relative’s house. However, the request for a marriage certificate needs to be notarized which is why we recommend that you order those at the time of your wedding ceremony. It will be much easier to deal with it at the time of your wedding.


Click below to find more information about getting a marriage license in California:
California Marriage License Information
Can I Get a Marriage License After Our Wedding Ceremony?
Confidential Marriage License California
Confidential Marriage License vs Public Marriage License
Copy of California Marriage License
Do You Get a Marriage License Before Or After The Wedding?
Getting a Copy of the Marriage Certificate
How Much Does a Marriage License Cost in Los Angeles, California
Marriage License and Marriage Certificate Precision
Marriage Requirements in California
Orange County Marriage License
Submit Your Los Angeles County Marriage License Information
The Wedding Laws California
What is a Confidential Marriage License in California?
When You Forgot to Get a Marriage License Before Your Wedding