Inyo County Clerk – Recorder & Registrar of Voters

Marriage licenses can be obtained at the County Clerk-Recorder's Office
located in the Court House at 168 N. Edwards Street, Independence Ca 93526.

Licenses are issued between the hours of 8:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday (legal holidays excluded)

Both applicants must be 18 Years and Over
Both applicants must be present
Applicants must have valid identification with birth date (i.e., driver's license, passport, etc.)
Applicants will need to know their parents full birth names, including their mother's maiden names
Applicants will need to know the state or country of birth of their parents
If either party has been previously married, they will need the date of dissolution of the most recent previous marriage
The fee for issuing the license is $34 - We will accept cash, a money order, check or debit/credit cards. Note: We currently do not have the capability to accept VISA.

New as of 1/1/2010 - If one or both of the parties want to have their new name(s) shown on the marriage license, the new name must be entered on the marriage license application at the time they are applying for the marriage license. The parties may choose any of the following middle or last names as the name they wish to be known as after marriage [FC § 306.5(b)(2)]:

A person may adopt any of the following middle names:

The current last name of either spouse
The last name of either spouse given at birth
A hyphenated combination of the current middle name and the current last name of the person or spouse
A hyphenated combination of the current middle name and the last name given at birth of the person or spouse

A person may adopt any of the following last names:

The current last name of either spouse
The last name of either spouse given at birth
A name combining into a single last name all of a segment of the current last name of the last name of either spouse given at birth
A hyphenated combination of last names

NOTE: You may not change your first name using this process. IMPORTANT: You may not amend the marriage license after it has been issued to add or change the name you wish to be known as after you are married. The name you indicate on the marriage license application will be your name on the marriage license/certificate and cannot be changed by the County Clerk.

No blood tests are required
No waiting period - the license may be used upon issuance
License is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance
Marriage ceremony may be performed anywhere in the State of California

It is unlawful for our employees to answer questions of a legal nature. County Clerk staff cannot advise you how to complete the marriage license application as it relates to your entry of a new name or retention of your former name on the marriage license application. For your protection, if you have any questions regarding whether you should or should not list your new name on the marriage license application, and/or how the Name Equality Act of 2007 may affect you, please consult an attorney prior to applying for your marriage license.