Public records such as birth, death and marriage are important as they contain vital information that can be used by the individual to establish their identity and serve as their supporting document. For those individuals who want to obtain certified copies of marriage in California, they may do so by requesting the records from the Department of Public Health Vital Records Division. Do note that the office issues two types of certified copies - Authorized and Informational certified copies. It is necessary for the person requesting the records to know which one they need.
Authorized copies are copies that only certain individuals can obtain and can be used to establish the identity of the parties named in the certificate. Under the California Law, these individuals are those: that have legal affinity to the registrant including their parents or legal guardians, children and siblings, individuals that were handed with a court order such as an attorney or an agency in compliance to the requirements of the Court, law enforcement agencies who need the document in order to conduct their business, those individual(s) appointed by the court to act on behalf of the registrant and those individuals that are agents of a funeral establishment. For those individuals not mentioned above, they are only entitled to obtain an information copy. Informational copies have the same content but have a legend that indicates that it is not a valid document to establish the person's identity.
To obtain a certified copy from the CDPH office, one must fill up an application form as well as have a sworn statement notarized and included in the request. Payment should also be attached to the request. Fees are as follows: Marriage certificates - $14, Dissolution of marriages copies - $13 and Affidavit to Amend Marriage certificate - $20. Fees for amendments may be waived by the Department in certain instances.
Processing time would sometimes exceed a period of six months for certified copies and two months for marriage amendments, which would begin after the Office receives the request. For those who require the documents urgently, they can send in their request at the County Recorder Office where the license was issued. Certified copies fees and other costs might differ from that of the State's office and as such, one should contact the county responsible.
The first step in obtaining a marriage certificate is to determine if the record is available from the CDPH Vital Record Division. The Office provides public and confidential marriage records. Confidential records are only obtainable by the two parties named in the certificate and are only available from the County Clerk's Office. Download the pamphlet available from the Records Division. Once all the requirements are met, send the application form, notarized sworn statement and the fee to the CDPH Office. Only checks and money order drawn from a US bank or issued by the USPS are accepted. For no records, the Office will release a Certificate of No Public Records to the person requesting the copies. Fees are not refundable. Send the entire document to the address of the office through mail or through courier.
As the CDPH is experiencing heavy volume for marriage certificates, processing can take up to 6 months. For those who urgently require marriage and divorce records, they can send their marriage request to the County Recorder's Office and divorce request to the Superior Court Office. One can also check other online search portals that offer searches for private and public records. This is by far the most convenient and fastest way for one to get the information they need.
Authorized copies are copies that only certain individuals can obtain and can be used to establish the identity of the parties named in the certificate. Under the California Law, these individuals are those: that have legal affinity to the registrant including their parents or legal guardians, children and siblings, individuals that were handed with a court order such as an attorney or an agency in compliance to the requirements of the Court, law enforcement agencies who need the document in order to conduct their business, those individual(s) appointed by the court to act on behalf of the registrant and those individuals that are agents of a funeral establishment. For those individuals not mentioned above, they are only entitled to obtain an information copy. Informational copies have the same content but have a legend that indicates that it is not a valid document to establish the person's identity.
To obtain a certified copy from the CDPH office, one must fill up an application form as well as have a sworn statement notarized and included in the request. Payment should also be attached to the request. Fees are as follows: Marriage certificates - $14, Dissolution of marriages copies - $13 and Affidavit to Amend Marriage certificate - $20. Fees for amendments may be waived by the Department in certain instances.
Processing time would sometimes exceed a period of six months for certified copies and two months for marriage amendments, which would begin after the Office receives the request. For those who require the documents urgently, they can send in their request at the County Recorder Office where the license was issued. Certified copies fees and other costs might differ from that of the State's office and as such, one should contact the county responsible.
The first step in obtaining a marriage certificate is to determine if the record is available from the CDPH Vital Record Division. The Office provides public and confidential marriage records. Confidential records are only obtainable by the two parties named in the certificate and are only available from the County Clerk's Office. Download the pamphlet available from the Records Division. Once all the requirements are met, send the application form, notarized sworn statement and the fee to the CDPH Office. Only checks and money order drawn from a US bank or issued by the USPS are accepted. For no records, the Office will release a Certificate of No Public Records to the person requesting the copies. Fees are not refundable. Send the entire document to the address of the office through mail or through courier.
As the CDPH is experiencing heavy volume for marriage certificates, processing can take up to 6 months. For those who urgently require marriage and divorce records, they can send their marriage request to the County Recorder's Office and divorce request to the Superior Court Office. One can also check other online search portals that offer searches for private and public records. This is by far the most convenient and fastest way for one to get the information they need.
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